Skip to main content

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.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

A Canadian Star Car: Red Green's Possum Van

Clip of Possum Van during a Red Green Show season 1 scene transition.  It could be argued that the car someone regularly drives can be reflective of their personality. The level of character traits found in our automobiles can range from subtle to flamboyant as practicality, style, power, brand loyalty and other details are factors influencing our vehicle affection. On the big screen and silver screen, an automobile (frequently popularized as a Star Car) can be used to affirmatively to expand on a human character. Batman’s Batmobile, the Dodge Charger called the ‘General Lee’ in Dukes of Hazzard, the Volvo P1800 featured in the 1960s television version of The Saint, the Aston Martin DB5 driven by James Bond in some of the most famous spy movies are some popular examples where vehicles play a major role in reinforcing the appearance of fictional individuals. Due to the budgetary constraints of Canadian media productions, the presence of native Star Cars is rare. However, one success...

Honda’s Secret 30th Anniversary In Indy Car Racing

Photo Credit: Engine Developments Ltd. Too many times, forgetting an anniversary would end with someone spending time in the proverbial doghouse. This has apparently happened this year as the 2016 Verizon IndyCar Series season concluded with no major celebrations or recognition for what is 30 years since a major current partner of American open wheel racing began participation in the sport. The following article is a collection of the details I’ve learned as well as some insight from engine builder John Judd on what was a quiet 30th anniversary in the Verizon IndyCar Series. During the week where the 30th running of the Canadian street race now known as the Honda Indy Toronto, I was compelled to capture the flavour of the inaugural event. The viewing experience provided me some insight into a period of time where I was too young to absorb auto racing in the manner I do today. A race that featured television coverage with no regular onscreen statistics, the league used a local ...

The 1967 Indy 500: When An STP-Sponsored Turbine Almost Changed Racing

Photo Credit: Uncredited Photographer/IMS LLC Racing has always been the ultimate proving ground for automobiles. Not only has competition promoted innovations big and small, race cars have also influenced overall vehicle appearance. At the 1967 Indianapolis 500, the STP-Paxton TurboCar fielded by the late Andy Granatelli provided a shocking example of how much racing at the speedway evolved over 56 years. Ever since the first 500-mile event was held at the 2.5-mile rectangular oval Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 1911, the winning Marmon Wasp with a rearview mirror paved the way for what would be a grand showcase of automotive development. Accompanying “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing,” advancements in automobile technology showed greater sophistication with every passing decade in the quest for more speed. During the 1920s and 1930s, American race car designer Henry Miller offered groundbreaking engines to the Indianapolis 500. Miller also gave front-wheel drive technology it...