This is a really cool throwback scheme announcement. For the 2021 NASCAR Xfinity Series Throwback race at Darlington Raceway, Josh Berry, who drives the No. 8 Chevrolet for JR Motorsports, will throw it back 20 years to Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s emotional July 2001 victory at Daytona International Speedway.
That July, 2001 race at Daytona marked the first Cup Series event at the speedway after the tragic death of Earnhardt’s father the legendary Dale Earnhardt after a final lap crash in the 2001 Daytona 500.
The sponsor on the throwback scheme is different as Budweiser has been changed for Tire Pros. There is no Major League Baseball All Star Game, replaced instead with Dale Jr. and Michael Waltrip embracing after that iconic 2001 race. And the DEI No. 8 font is obviously not on the car.
That being said, JR Motorsports did one heck of a job making this car look like the original when you factor in that nothing from the original was allowed to be utilized on this throwback scheme.
Berry has had plenty of speed in a part-time role with JR Motorsports this season, but bad luck and his temper have gotten the best of him so far this year. Berry has two top-10 finishes so far this season, but in his other three races of the season, he has failed to make it to the finish due to crashes.
Berry sits 22nd in the NXS championship standings.
The NASCAR Xfinity Series Darlington Throwback race will take place on Saturday, May 8th at 1:00 PM ET. The race will be televised on FS1.
