Finally. As a long-time Miami Dophins fan, I have been waiting for this throwback paint scheme to be released since throwback weekend at Darlington Raceway has been a thing. MBM Motorsports, which fields the No. 13 Toyota Supra for Chad Finchum in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, will have their car adorned in Miami Dolphins colors this weekend at Darlington Raceway.
The scheme is a throwback to the 1998 NASCAR Cup Series season where Elliott-Marino Motorsports — a team owned by racing legend Bill Elliott and NFL legend Dan Marino — fielded a No. 13 First Plus Financial Ford Taurus for Jerry Nadeau.
Although the team did not reach next-level success in NASCAR like Joe Gibbs, a legendary NFL head coach, was able to, the scheme always left a lasting impact in my eyes. It may have been my fandom for the Miami Dolphins that caused it, but the scheme always looked incredible to me.
The Elliott-Marino Motorsports team lasted just one season, and Nadeau only made it 14 races into the year before being replaced as the driver of the car. Ted Musgrave recorded the team’s best finish of fifth, which occurred at Phoenix Raceway in the fall of 1998.
Finchum, a Tennessee-native, is on pace to set a career-best in average finish this season in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. Through 21 starts, his average finish is 25.3. His best season-long average finish before this season, came a year ago when he averaged a finish of 29.0. The 25-year old will attempt to record his first-career top-10 finish this weekend in possibly the sharpest car in the field.
