At least one NASCAR Cup Series team is delivering a double-dose of throwback magic as NASCAR’s annual step back in time is just shy of four weeks away.
Trackhouse and Daniel Suarez will swap out their traditional No. 99 for the No. 97 for the upcoming iRacing Pro Invitational race at Talladega on Wednesday. The team will honor NASCAR legend Red Farmer with a paint scheme resembling his No. 97 Long-Lewis Ford Torino.
We've got something special for 2021 @NASCARHall inductee, Red Farmer!@Daniel_SuarezG will drive the 97 in the #ProInvitationalSeries race this Wednesday night. pic.twitter.com/C0BnM7465W
— Trackhouse Racing (@TeamTrackhouse) April 19, 2021
The tribute comes just a month after a tornado ripped through the Birmingham area, causing damage to his home, and racing equipment.
Red, still racing at the age of 88, was forced to pull out of a short-track feature just a few days later thanks to the damage from the tornado.
"We're still alive, thank God for that. We can repair the house, you can't repair yourself"
NASCAR legend Red Farmer got a look at his race car that was destroyed by the tornadoes yesterday. Farmer says he's received so much support from @DaleJr @TonyStewart & others calling him pic.twitter.com/qRsb1P4NGo
— Simone Eli (@SimoneEli_TV) March 26, 2021
Kyle Sykes, the Director of Creative and Digital for Trackhouse, helped put the vision on the virtual track.
“It’s so cool for our team to be able to recognize the legend and future Hall-of-Famer: Red Farmer,” Sykes told TobyChristie.com. “This was less about Trackhouse as a team getting attention, and more about recognizing a man who truly deserves to be honored for being one who paved the way in this sport. On top of it all, he has gone through a lot recently. We are excited to have Daniel driving the 97 at Talladega with Red’s name on the passenger side. Anytime you can represent a member of the Alabama Gang, it’s a tribute worth talking about.”
An original member of the famous Alabama Gang, Farmer was elected to the 2021 NASCAR Hall of Fame Class, joining Dale Earnhardt Jr., and the late Mike Stefanik.
On top of the recent damage to his home, the past two years have been a trying time for the NASCAR legend. Farmer was diagnosed with COVID-19 which he eventually overcame, and he fought off chronic kidney issues. But illness and mother nature aside, a racer belongs at a race track. Farmer recently returned to race on dirt just this past weekend and plans to participate in a number of events this week leading up to Sunday’s GEICO 500 at Talladega.
Fans can see the No. 97 Camaro ZL1 1LE of Daniel Suarez hit the virtual Talladega Superspeedway on Wednesday, April 21st at 7 PM EST on FOX Sports 1 and the FOX Sports app.
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