The 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season is complete after Kyle Larson won his third championship and second in a row. This closed out the 77th season of the series, and it provided an opportunity to look back at the best schemes in history.
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After all, the teams are unlikely to share more schemes until the 2027 season draws much closer.
NASCAR history has featured a seemingly endless amount of brightly-colored schemes. Some have highlighted food and beverage companies while others have showcased apparel brands.
Some schemes have focused on the fluids and tools that keep cars running in tip-top shape. Multiple cars have even featured blockbuster films as part of the marketing campaigns.
The following 10 schemes are those that we believe will forever be the most iconic in NASCAR history.
No. 1 - The Black GM Goodwrench Scheme
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A version of the scheme most closely associated with the late Dale Earnhardt is the one that ended up in victory lane at Daytona International Speedway in 1998. The seven-time champion drove the black No. 3 GM Goodwrench Chevrolet to victory in the Daytona 500 after decades of trying, and he checked off an all-time goal.
This feat alone made the GM Goodwrench scheme memorable, but Earnhardt made it timeless. He became "The Intimidator" while driving the car, winning races, and spinning other drivers while trying to "rattle" some cages.
The scheme changed a bit at times. For example, it had "Plus" on the hood in the 1998 Daytona 500. Other times, it had the standard GM Goodwrench logo. The important part is that the car still had the black base with the silver stripe.
No. 2 - The Red Budweiser Scheme
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Multiple drivers showcased the red Budweiser scheme over the years. This list includes Kasey Kahne, Kevin Harvick, and Bill Elliott. Yet, Dale Earnhardt Jr. had the version that became immortal.
The Hall of Famer's red No. 8 Budweiser Monte Carlo stood out every time it hit the track or appeared on MTV Cribs. It became an icon to a certain generation of fans, who showed their appreciation through merchandise purchases.
No. 3 - The Red and Blue STP Scheme
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NASCAR fans have long associated certain schemes with certain drivers. The red and blue STP scheme is no exception. When NASCAR fans see these colors, they immediately think of the King, Richard Petty, and his No. 43 car.
Multiple versions of the STP scheme hit the track over the decades. The red was not always present, but this accent color has always returned when the No. 43 car has featured the throwback design.
No. 4 - The Rainbow DuPont Scheme
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It could be hard to pick the best car from Jeff Gordon's Hall of Fame career. After all, this is the man who made Pepsi a force in a part of the country most associated with Coca-Cola. He also ran multiple cars with flames, delighting countless fans in the process.
Yet, it's impossible to deny that the rainbow DuPont scheme is the one that will forever stand the test of time. This is the scheme that Gordon used at the height of his popularity and success while winning multiple championships. It's the one that led to the "Rainbow Warriors" nickname for his team.
No. 5 - The Standard M&M's Scheme
Multiple drivers ran the M&M's colors on Cup Series cars, but the late Kyle Busch is the man who made them iconic during his time at Joe Gibbs Racing. The 2026 Most Popular Driver won dozens of races while representing Mars and showcasing a variety of candy flavors. He also won the championship two times.
Multiple versions are worthy of inclusion, especially the white M&M's scheme that Busch used to win the Coca-Cola 600 in 2018. But if you ask NASCAR fans to just pick one, the majority would highlight the standard design with the yellow base.
No. 6 - The Lowe's Scheme
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Much like Busch, Jimmie Johnson had numerous schemes highlighting his primary sponsor in Lowe's and the Kobalt tool brand. He ran a Superman car at Fontana and a Hitachi co-branded scheme at Chicagoland.
It's hard to deny that the mostly blue Lowe's scheme is the one that NASCAR fans will forever remember. Yes, certain parts of the car changed with the size of the silver sections and the black base behind the neon numbers. Those details are far less important than the blue Lowe's logo on the hood. That's the piece that fans will forever remember.
No. 7 - The Black Miller Scheme
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Miller, much like Budweiser, supported multiple drivers over the years while fielding varying schemes. None became quite as memorable as the No. 2 Team Penske car that Rusty Wallace first drove to victory lane at Richmond Raceway in 1992.
This car, Midnight, featured a black base with gold door and roof numbers. It had a gold stripe on the bottom and a gold Miller logo. This scheme may not have been the most complex, but it didn't need to be. It simply stood out on the track, especially as Wallace continued to contend for race wins.
No. 8 - Buddy Baker's Gray Ghost
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Known as the Ranier Racing No. 28 Oldsmobile on NASCAR entry lists, the silver and black race car made history. Buddy Baker used the Gray Ghost to win the 1980 Daytona 500 at an average speed of 177.602 mph, the fastest triumph in the crown jewel race.
Baker also used the silver and black Oldsmobile to win the Busch Clash at Daytona in 1979 and the Winston 500 at Talladega in 1980.
Like Midnight, the Gray Ghost didn't have a complex scheme. That is not an issue, considering that this car had a classic design with its chrome door numbers, silver base, and black sides. This design just worked.
No. 9 - Mark Martin's Valvoline Car
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Hall of Famer Mark Martin had some great schemes over the years — yes, this even includes the Viagra car — but the Valvoline design stood above the rest. This No. 6 Ford had the white hood and fenders, the red stripe, and the blue rear.
These colors and the angles of the stripes matched the Valvoline logo, and they just worked. This scheme turned heads everywhere it went in the early 1990s, and it did so again in 2022 when Alex Bowman and Ally ran a throwback scheme on the No. 48.
Mark Martin is the definition of a true racer. Iām pumped to get this scheme on track and hopefully back to Victory Lane at Darlington š¤š¼#NASCARThrowback pic.twitter.com/kxxaQaVujy
— Alex Bowman (@Alex_Bowman) April 12, 2022
No. 10 - The Mello Yello Car
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Sponsorship has always been a massive part of NASCAR, especially in the days when the stock car racing challenged the NFL for sports supremacy. Fans knew that they could pick a driver and sponsor and keep track of them throughout the season. These fans didn't need to worry about one sponsor taking over multiple cars and creating confusion.
The early 1990s featured countless memorable schemes, as the above photo shows. Kyle Petty had one of the best on his No. 42 Pontiac Grand Prix. He drove the Mello Yello car that stood out with its black and green scheme. The fans could easily spot this car as it raced around the track, and they could appreciate the design when Petty parked it in victory lane.
