Jeff Gordon to Don Iconic Rainbow Warrior Persona One Final Time in Bristol

Photo Credit: Axalta

When Jeff Gordon debuted in NASCAR Cup Series competition in the final race in 1992, it was difficult to miss the #24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet. Under sponsorship of DuPont Performance Coatings, the stock car not only wore the name of the popular paint company but its product. A multi-colour paint scheme accompanied by rainbows on the hood and side panels proved innovatively eye-catching in a period when the majority of professional stock car teams relied largely on a single colour. Created by now-famed motorsport artist Sam Bass, DuPont, Hendrick Motorsports and Jeff Gordon gained immediate notoriety. The #24 DuPont Chevrolet rainbow paint design's initial dazzle was eventually met with equally stunning performances on the track by the driver that would become one of the most winningest competitors in the NASCAR Cup Series.

A memorable part of Jeff Gordon's stock car racing career, the Rainbow paint scheme will make one final appearance as part of the driver's final year of competition on the NASCAR Sprint Cup circuit. Thanks to Axalta Coating Systems (the company once known as DuPont Performance Coatings prior to 2013), Gordon's Hendrick Motorsports-owned 2015 Chevrolet SS will wear the famous colouring for August's race at Bristol Motor Speedway. “We could not be more thrilled to see the rainbow paint scheme hit the track one more time under the lights in Thunder Valley. It will be a tribute to our long history with Jeff Gordon and the No. 24 Team at Hendrick Motorsports. We owe it to fans and our long-time customers who love the sport.” said Axalta's vice president and head of North American business Nigel Budden. Driver Jeff Gordon responded, “It’s cool this paint scheme will appear on the No. 24 Axalta Chevy SS one more time,” realizing how popular the Rainbow colouring is with fans.

The upcoming Saturday night race on August 22nd will be the last chance to see Jeff Gordon behind the wheel his #24 car with the Rainbow scheme. Worn on his race car for the majority of his career between 1992 and 2000, the Rainbow car and the efforts of the pit crew known as the "Rainbow Warriors" stood in victory with Gordon 52 times including twice for the Daytona 500. Two Cup Series championships also resulted during the period of the multi-colour DuPont paint scheme.