Photo Credit: Roush Fenway Racing
Ryan Reed and Roush-Fenway Racing unveiled their ‘NASCAR Throwback’ paint scheme for the NASCAR XFINITY Series race at Darlington Raceway in September.
Reed’s No. 16 Lilly Diabetes/American Diabetes Association Ford will carry a paint scheme similar to the one the 84-time winner ran in 1975, a season he earned three victories, including the Southern 500 at Darlington.
“Bobby Allison is a true icon in this sport,” said team owner Jack Roush. “I’m beyond honored to have one of our cars carry a paint scheme that Bobby ran. I look forward to making him proud at Darlington Raceway later this season.”
Bobby Allison was on hand at Roush-Fenway Racing to help make the announcement with legendary NASCAR artist and car designer Sam Bass, Roush and Reed. In his NASCAR career that spanned more than two decades, Allison accumulated one championship, 84 wins, 58 poles and led more than 27,000 laps in premier series competition. The car Reed will drive in the XFINITY race at Darlington won’t be the first of Allison’s throwback paint schemes to hit the track as Brad Keselowski honored he and his Miller High Life car from 1983 last year.
“I can’t wait for Darlington this year,” said Allison. “It will bring back a lot of memories seeing that car out on the race track. I’m just so happy to be a part of this throwback weekend, and I wish Ryan and his Roush Fenway team luck heading into Darlington.”
In addition to Sam Bass designing the paint scheme for the Labor Day Weekend race, he’ll have the honor of hand painting the Lilly Diabetes logo on the decklid of Reed’s car following inspection on the Friday of race weekend. Much like Reed, Bass also lives with Type 1 Diabetes, and he is excited for the opportunity to paint at the track as it will be something he’s yet to do in his time with NASCAR.
“I’ve been honored to do some pretty amazing things during my time in NASCAR, but painting a logo “Old School” on a racecar at the track is new for me,” said Bass. “What Ryan and his team are doing in the diabetes community is really special to me and I’m honored to be included with two things I’m so passionate about – NASCAR history and diabetes awareness.”
Several teams in both the NASCAR Sprint Cup and XFINITY Series garage will be participating in the NASCAR Throwback weekend this year including Richard Childress Racing, Hendrick Motorsports and Team Penske.
