One of the most anticipated throwback paint schemes in the history of the Darlington Raceway throwback weekend has finally arrived. Kyle Larson and the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports team will throw it back to Texas Terry Labonte.
Labonte, a two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion, won the 1996 title while piloting the iconic No. 5 Kellogg’s Corn Flakes paint scheme for Hendrick Motorsports. With HendrickCars.com’s blessing, Larson will get a chance to honor the legendary driver with his legendary paint scheme in the Goodyear 400 at Darlington on May 12.
Nine of Labonte’s 22 career NASCAR Cup Series wins came with the yellow, white, and red Kellogg’s Corn Flakes paint scheme, which was originally designed by the late Sam Bass.
Larson unveiled his No. 5 machine by lifting the car cover off in front of Labonte on Wednesday night’s NASCAR RaceHub on FS1. As Larson began to pull the cover back, he said, “I’m sure you probably know what might be under here.” to which Labonte responded, “Oh wow! No I didn’t,” once he saw what was under the cover.
It’s fitting that Larson throws it back to Labonte at Darlington Raceway, as the 1.366-mile oval played the host to Labonte’s first-career NASCAR Cup Series win in 1980, and his last NASCAR Cup Series victory in 2003.
While Larson isn’t a two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion, yet, the driver from California is building quite the legendary resume in his own right.
Larson took home the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series championship, in a season, where he amassed 10 victories. Larson’s victory at Las Vegas Motor Speedway earlier this season brought his career total up to 24 victories, and he has secured his place in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs for the fourth consecutive season.
The 31-year-old racer scored his first win at Darlington Raceway in the Southern 500 last fall, and had it not been for an incident with Ross Chastain in the closing laps of the Spring 2023 event at Darlington Raceway, Larson would have likely swept the events at Darlington a year ago.
Along with his win at Darlington, Larson has also racked up three runner-up finishes and two third-place efforts at the rough-and-tumble South Carolina egg-shaped intermediate track.
Expect Larson to contend for another Darlington Raceway win in the Goodyear 400.
