Tommy Baldwin Racing, which fields the No. 7 part-time in the NASCAR Cup Series, will run the 2020 Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway and the team announced a touching throwback scheme on Wednesday.
Josh Bilicki will drive a yellow No. 7 machine modeled after Tommy Baldwin Sr.’s modified scheme.
Car owner Tommy Baldwin Jr. shared the news on the 16-year anniversary of his father’s passing, and released the following statement:
“Today marks 16 years since he passed away, and I can’t think of a better way to honor him than to run his paint scheme in the Southern 500. Love You Dad.”
.@joshbilicki & @insuranceking_ to Honor Tommy Baldwin Sr. in the #Southern500 @TooToughToTame !
“Today marks 16 years since he passed away, and I can’t think of a better way to honor him than to run his paint scheme in the Southern 500. Love You Dad.” – Tommy Baldwin pic.twitter.com/HFhCfsCMjl
— Tommy Baldwin Racing (@TBR_Racing) August 19, 2020
Baldwin Sr. was a 40-year veteran in the modified ranks. He scored 11 wins at Riverhead Raceway and was even named the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour’s Most Popular Driver in 2003. Unfortunately, Baldwin Sr. passed away due to injuries sustained in a racing accident in 2004 at Thompson International Speedway.
Tommy Baldwin Racing, which ran in the NASCAR Cup Series from 2009 to 2017, took a hiatus in 2018. They returned and attempted to make the Daytona 500 with Ryan Truex driving their No. 71 machine last season, but after that was unsuccessful, they disappeared again. However, after the COVID-19 pandemic shut down of the sport, TBR reemerged and have now competed in 13 races this season.
The No. 7 team’s best finish so far in 2020 is 25th, which they achieved at Bristol with JJ Yeley behind the wheel and again at Indianapolis with Bilicki driving.
