The Top 15 Best Schemes of the 2021 NASCAR Season
Hundreds of designs hit the track in 2021, but here’s why these schemes stand head and shoulders above the rest
How did you get introduced to NASCAR, the biggest stock car racing series in the world? Was it was a specific driver that you saw in a commercial or a TV show. Maybe you played racing video games like NASCAR Heat several years ago. You might have attended a NASCAR race thinking you would have a good time, only to realize that you became incredibly interested in who would win the race.
OR… was it the paint schemes?
This is what sparked my interest in the sport. I grew up watching legendary drivers like Jimmie Johnson, Tony Stewart, and Jeff Gordon race with illustrious paint schemes over the years. When I heard a driver’s name, my mind would automatically transition to the sponsors associated with the drivers. Paint schemes set NASCAR apart from other significant motorsports, and some of the liveries that hit the track in 2021 were nothing short of spectacular.
After looking through every single scheme that ran this past year, I’ve narrowed my list to fifteen unique paint schemes. I’ve made one rule for this list: Only original schemes that ran in 2021 were allowed, and therefore no Darlington Throwback schemes were in contention to be on this list. Let’s get started.
15. Kyle Larson’s 2021 Valvoline Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
Kyle Larson sported a classic Valvoline look that personified simplicity and stood out on the Nashville concrete surface. The associate sponsors all have designated areas while the blue trim nicely compliments the ride. Not to mention this scheme went undefeated, dominating Nashville and winning the Bristol Night Race.
14. Kevin Harvick’s 2021 Grave Digger Ford Mustang
Yes, Kevin Harvick’s Grave Digger car. This scheme perfectly incorporated many of the signature Grave Digger graphics and quickly became famous among NASCAR and other motorsport fans. If you’re a huge Monster truck fan, then I’m sure this scheme is higher up on your list. If you’ve even heard of the Grave Digger Monster Truck, I will bet you’re still impressed with this look.
13. Ross Chastain’s 2021 Yorktel/Caregility Chevrolet Camaro
Ross Chastain raced several creative schemes this last season, and it’s appropriate for at least one of them to make this list. The designer creatively used the aqua color to complete the white to blue gradient, and the balance of colors is on point. Additionally, this scheme features two primary sponsors — a case that typically doesn’t produce a striking look.
12. Daniel Suárez’s 2021 iFly Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
Daniel Suárez and Trackhouse Racing arguably raced the cleanest schemes on a week-to-week basis, and this unique iFLY livery stood out when it hit the track at Daytona. Concealed within the flashy colors are subtle shadows and accents that improve this scheme even more.
11. Aric Almirola’s 2021 Smithfield 9/11 Tribute Ford Mustang
On the 20th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks, Aric Almirola raced this beautiful tribute scheme to honor the victims of that tragic day. The intentions of the scheme are clear, as are the black skyscrapers hidden behind the patriotic stars and stripes.
10. Kyle Busch’s 2021 M&M’s Halloween Toyota Camry
Every October, Kyle Busch and M&M’s sport a unique Halloween scheme. This year was no exception, as this spooky ride rocked the fall Kansas and Martinsville races. The hazy orange base, yellow windshield banner and spoiler, and purple roof numbers help this car look even more ominous.9.
Chase Elliott’s 2021 Ashoc Performance Energy Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
Chase Elliott stormed Atlanta and Talladega with this classic matte black and red livery. The clean balance of the colors, bold sponsor logo and white outline on the door and roof numbers make this scheme attractive. With Mountain Dew and their signature schemes departing Hendrick Motorsports last year, Ashoc had tough shoes to fill. However, they executed perfectly here.
8. William Byron’s 2021 Axalta Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
Perhaps this season’s flashiest scheme, Axalta constructed this scheme using the same colors from Jeff Gordon’s iconic rainbow DuPont car. The matte black base helps the glossy stripes to shine, and the yellow numbers can be seen from a mile away. The simple boldness of this scheme is what keeps it in the spotlight and looks excellent from multiple perspectives. Only seeing one angle of this scheme does not do it justice.
7. Ricky Stenhouse’s 2021 Sunny D/Kroger Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
Ricky Stenhouse’s partnership with Sunny D continued into 2021 and produced yet another vibrant scheme. When coupled with white numbers and teal accents, the balance of orange, dark blue, and yellow makes the car noticeable yet unique.
6. Brad Keselowski’s 2021 Freightliner eCascadia Ford Mustang
Speaking of teal accents, Freightliner unloaded an electric ride that resembled their eCascadia semi-trucks. Part of me thinks that Tron inspired this scheme more than their semi-trucks. The precise but subtle details and glossy black base help the white numbers shine. However, I desperately wanted to see this scheme race in a night race.
5. Kyle Busch’s 2021 Interstate Batteries Toyota Camry
Some fans may consider this scheme cursed, especially after its annual Daytona-2 crash and incident at New Hampshire Motor Speedway last July, but this bold design should never change. Neither over nor under-designed, this electric look is near perfect and should be the new face of Interstate Batteries schemes from now on.
4. Christopher Bell’s 2021 DeWalt Toyota Camry
Once again, DeWalt produced a classy scheme that used the Toyota Camry’s body contours to balance their signature yellow and black colors perfectly. The simplicity of the white numbers and subtle door design nicely compliment the scheme.
3. Alex Bowman’s 2021 Ally Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
Well-designed purple cars are hard to find in NASCAR, but this perfect scheme has set a high standard for future purple rides in the sport. The purple-black gradient, intricate echo hood design, and numerous pink, purple, and teal accents contribute to this scheme’s liveliness. This scheme got lots of publicity, as it raced nearly every week and won four races.
2. Daniel Suárez’s 2021 Coca Cola Hispanic Heritage Month Chevrolet Camaro
Daniel Suárez raised awareness for Hispanic Heritage Month for the second consecutive season with this colorful, lively scheme. Designer Kyle Sykes once again produced a beautiful project that shined under the lights at Bristol Motor Speedway.
1. Alex Bowman’s 2021 Ally Neon Lights Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
For the inaugural NASCAR Cup Series race at Nashville Superspeedway, Ally somehow eclipsed their primary scheme with this Nashville-inspired ride featuring sharp teal accents and a teal roof number. Despite being the best quality image I could post here, this photo does not do this scheme justice at all. The teal accents shined under the Nashville sun more than any image can depict.
Image credits go to jayski.com.
