NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Dylan Lupton will pay homage to Jeff Gordon during the upcoming throwback weekend at Darlington Raceway.
More specifically, Lupton will don a paint a scheme that mimics the four-time Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series champion’s 1993 rookie season with Hendrick Motorsports. Instead of the familiar Dupont sponsorship, the oval will feature his Nut Up Almonds sponsorship.
The car is also a Toyota rather than the Chevrolet Gordon drove for the entirety of his Cup Series career. This livery will race on Sept. 2 during the Xfinity Series Sport Clips Haircuts VFW 200.
Like Gordon, Lupton is a California native and was excited to honor his favorite childhood driver at one of his best venues.
“Jeff Gordon was my idol growing up,” Lupton said. “Even though I was born the same year he started in his career in Cup (1993), as I began pursuing my racing career at a young age, I would remember spending my Sunday afternoons in front of the television rooting him on, hoping one day I would have the chance to race against him. Next weekend at Darlington, I hope to have his support as I pay tribute to his NASCAR career, sporting the famous ‘Rainbow Warriors’ colors on our No. 24 Nut Up Toyota during the Darlington throwback weekend.”
JGL Racing owner James Whitener was also a Gordon fan and jumped at the opportunity to borrow his colors for a weekend. The car and its Young Guns program has always intended to honor the 93-race winner.
It has found funding and marketing opportunities for young drivers like Lupton, Corey LaJoie, Jeb Burton and Brandon McReynolds.
“This is a great honor for myself to honor Jeff Gordon and his iconic paint scheme with this throwback program at Darlington,” Whitener said. “This is a little-known fact, but Jeff Gordon is one of the main reasons I am involved as an owner in this sport, as I was a big fan of his.
“That is why we run the No. 24 and developed the Young Guns program. All of this makes for an exciting weekend in Darlington next weekend.”
