Top 10 Paint Schemes of 2001

December 31, 2001
10:20 AM EST (1520 GMT)

Ranking: 1

Team: Petty Enterprises

Car No./Make: No. 45 Dodge

Driver: Kyle Petty

Primary color: Red/Black

Sponsor: Sprint

Claim to Fame: None really. Car had a hard time making races, and when it did, it didn't perform well.

Comment: Car has a nice blend of red and black, and the logos are in the right places. Car is exceptionally clean looking, and the small patch of silver is a nice touch.

Ranking: 2

Team: Penske Racing

Car No./Make: No. 12 Ford

Driver: None

Primary color: White/Dark blue

Sponsor: Mobil I

Claim to Fame: Won three Winston Cup races in four seasons on the track.

Comment: The red Pegasus made this one of the most attractive cars in Winston Cup. The car combines its differing colors well. Team shut down at the end of 2001.

Ranking: 3

Team: Wood Brothers

Car No./Make: No. 21 Ford

Driver: Elliott Sadler

Primary color: Red/White

Sponsor: Motorcraft

Claim to Fame: Won at Bristol in March, scoring arguably the biggest upset win of 2001.

Comment: This is simply a beautiful car. Associate sponsorship from the Air Force made this a patriotic favorite late in the season.

Ranking: 4

Team: A.J. Foyt Racing

Car No./Make: No. 14 Pontiac

Driver: None

Primary color: Green

Sponsor: Conseco

Claim to Fame: Still a fairly new scheme. Team will have its fifth driver in three seasons in 2002.

Comment: Dark green color makes it easy to spot. Crew members also have some of the sharpest uniforms.

Ranking: 5

Team: Andy Petree Racing

Car No./Make: No. 55 Chevrolet

Driver: Bobby Hamilton

Primary color: Dark blue

Sponsor: Square D

Claim to Fame: Won at Talladega in the spring.

Comment: Beautifully simplistic logo on the hood.

Ranking: 6

Team: Brett Bodine Racing

Car No./Make: No. 11 Ford

Driver: Brett Bodine

Primary color: White

Sponsor: Ralph's

Claim to Fame: None

Comment: Nice, clean finish. Too bad it won't be back in 2002.

Ranking: 7

Team: Penske Racing

Car No./Make: No. 2 Ford

Driver: Rusty Wallace

Primary color: Blue

Sponsor: Miller Lite

Claim to Fame: Scheme has not changed much since Wallace changed from a black to a blue car.

Comment: This is a great car when painted all blue with logos.

Ranking: 8

Team: Roush Racing

Car No./Make: No. 97 Ford

Driver: Kurt Busch

Primary color: Black and blue

Sponsor: Sharpie

Claim to Fame: Won pole at Darlington

Comment: Good hood and nice numbering.

Ranking: 9

Team: DEI

Car No./Make: No. 8 Chevrolet

Driver: Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Primary color: Red

Sponsor: Budweiser

Claim to Fame: Won three races in 2001.

Comment: Huge number provides good balance.

Ranking: 10

Team: Roush Racing

Car No./Make: No. 99 Ford

Driver: Jeff Burton

Primary color: Blue and white

Sponsor: Citgo

Claim to Fame: Won two races in 2001.

Comment: Classic logo needs to be bigger on the hood.