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Most memorable Cup Series paint schemes of 2022
By Sean Montgomery | Published: November 26, 2022 37
Chris Graythen | Getty Images
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Chris Graythen | Getty Images
From the start of the season at the Busch Light Clash in Los Angeles to the championship finale at Phoenix Raceway, teams put their best foot forward on the creative front and dazzled us with many incredible paint schemes.
Bringing in the Next Gen and shifting the numbers forward brought out a new style that many took excellent advantage of.
Scroll through the gallery to see some of the most memorable Cup Series schemes from the 2022 season.
Bringing in the Next Gen and shifting the numbers forward brought out a new style that many took excellent advantage of.
Scroll through the gallery to see some of the most memorable Cup Series schemes from the 2022 season.
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Sean Gardner | Getty Images
Austin Cindric - eCascadia
Debut race: Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum
This unique scheme burst onto the scene for the season-opening exhibition in LA, highlighting Team Penske's revolutionary electric haulers that brought their teams to the track. The eCascadia scheme would reappear multiple times for the organization throughout the season.
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Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
Ross Chastain - AdventHealth
Debut race: Daytona 500
It's always nice when a sponsor adds a distinctive touch to a paint scheme, seen by the sneaky watermelon nod to 'Melon Man' Ross Chastain.
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Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
Tyler Reddick - 3CHI
Debut race: Daytona 500
Simple but clean, the 3CHI scheme appeared as a primary many times throughout the season. The unique lines and bold, chrome gold number made it stand out in the field every week.
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James Gilbert | Getty Images
Bubba Wallace - McDonald's
Debut race: Daytona 500
The numbers shifted forward, and the added space left room for actual images of a McDonald's combo. One of the most creative schemes due to sponsor impact ... and simply making everyone hungry.
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James Gilbert | Getty Images
Bubba Wallace - Wheaties
Debut race: Auto Club Speedway
23XI Racing locked down another key partnership with a bold new collaboration with Wheaties, leaving fans of Wallace with an iconic scheme to remember.
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Dylan Buell | Getty Images
Aric Almirola - Mobil 1
Debut race: Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Mobil 1's twist on their annual partnership with Stewart-Haas Racing produced one of the best schemes on the track -- it just screams racing in every aspect.
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Logano Riely | Getty Images
Debut race: Phoenix Raceway
Ally Racing and Bowman continued their partnership with Best Friends, an animal sanctuary. Using plenty of unique colors and markings, this scheme will likely always be one-of-a-kind.
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Mike Mulholland | Getty Images
William Byron - Liberty
Debut race: Atlanta Motor Speedway
Fans of the legendary No. 24 are always eager to see renditions of the iconic flames. Creatives at Hendrick Motorsports nailed this paint scheme, and as an added bonus, they got to see it in Victory Lane.
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Logan Riely | Getty Images
Ross Chastain - iFLY
Debut race: Circuit of The Americas
From top to bottom, this scheme for Chastain and the No. 1 team is arguably the best of the year.
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Dylan Buell | Getty Images
Kevin Harvick - Gearwrench
Debut race: Circuit of The Americas
This scheme may not be remembered as much as some of the others, but the simplicity and execution elevate it to another level.
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Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
Ross Chastain - GoPro
Debut race: Martinsville Speedway
This scheme was a nice switch from the team's usual primary sponsors, giving a unique look that stood out with a familiar brand. Shades of blue over black made the colors pop under the lights, but you'll want to check out the next slide.
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Meg Oliphant | Getty Images
Daniel Suárez - GoPro
Debut race: Martinsville Speedway
If blue over black wasn't your thing, maybe you'd like a white background. Trackhouse also ran this inverted look on the No. 99 with chrome numbers and different shades of blue, so you can pick which one you like better.
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Logan Riely | Getty Images
Bubba Wallace - Columbia
Debut race: Bristol Dirt Race
Columbia made a big splash with this colorful scheme, creating a car that stood out from the field through all the dust.
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Sean Gardner | Getty Images
Brad Keselowski - Castrol
Debut race: Talladega Superspeedway
Usually colorful and bright, Castrol swapped to a simple, sleek scheme with bold chrome numbers that signified its carbon-neutral stance and surprisingly made the No. 6 stand out.
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Sean Gardner | Getty Images
Ross Chastain - Pitbull Tour
Debut race: Dover Motor Speedway
Any time you get to promote your co-owner on your car, you should take it. Especially when he is a global superstar. When you talk about memorable on-off schemes in NASCAR history, this one deserves a mention.
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James Gilbert | Getty Images
Kyle Larson - Hendrick Chevrolet
Debut race: Darlington Throwback Weekend
Every year at Darlington, many teams put out incredible paint schemes that take you back in time. With there being so many good ones this year, scroll through the next three slides to see just a few picked out.
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James Gilbert | Getty Images
Kyle Busch - M&M's
Debut race: Darlington Throwback Weekend
With Mars set to depart from NASCAR following the conclusion of the 2022 season, a tribute throwback was one to cherish.
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James Gilbert | Getty Images
Erik Jones - Petty GMS
Debut race: Darlington Throwback Weekend
Anytime 'The King' gets a nod, the scheme deserves recognition.
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James Gilbert | Getty ImagesJames Gilbert | Getty Images
Daniel Suárez - Coca-Cola
Debut race: Darlington Throwback Weekend
Can't go wrong with a classic Coca-Cola scheme.
MORE: Revisit Throwback Weekend's best schemes
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Sean Gardner | Getty Images
Kurt Busch - Jordan Brand
Debut race: Kansas Speedway
All Jordan does is win, evident by this incredible one-off scheme that made its way to Victory Lane.
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Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
Kevin Harvick - Busch Bacon
Debut race: Texas Motor Speedway
Is that bacon? Harvick could have a gallery of his own for all the unique collaborations the No. 4 team has done over the years, but let's settle for this stomach-rumbler.
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Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
Austin Dillon - Bass Pro Shops/Tracker
Debut race: Coca-Cola 600
Much like Throwback Weekend, teams put together their best patriotic variations each year. Dillon's No. 3 is routinely one of the best but revisit some others from 2022.
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James Gilbert | Getty Images
Ross Chastain - Jockey
Debut race: Atlanta Motor Speedway
Chastain and the No. 1 team waited one more week to unveil their patriotic partnership, announcing their new sponsor, Jockey, with flying colors.
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James Gilbert | Getty Images
Denny Hamlin - Coca-Cola
Debut race: Atlanta Motor Speedway
As one of the longest-tenured drivers in the Coca-Cola Racing Family, if Hamlin is going to stray from his usual sponsor FedEx, this was perfectly done.
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Tim Nwachukwu | Getty Images
Corey LaJoie - Summer Slam
Creative and unique, this was one to remember for fans of both NASCAR and the WWE.
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Sean Gardner | Getty Images
Chris Buescher - LeBron James Family Foundation
Debut race: Michigan International Speedway
Partnering with one of the NBA's biggest stars, RFK Racing made a statement with this eye-catching green and gold -- perhaps one of the most forgotten from 2022.
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Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
Ty Gibbs - Jordan Brand
Debut race: Richmond Raceway
Another Jordan Brand collaboration with 23XI Racing highlighted one of the staples of global sneaker culture.
Note: Gibbs filled in for Kurt Busch for this race, despite the nameplate.
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Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
Chase Elliott - NAPA/Children's
Debut race: Southern 500
Any time the series Most Popular Driver Award winner strays from his normal NAPA scheme, it makes it an instant collectible.
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Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
Chase Briscoe - Highpoint.com
Debut race: Southern 500
Briscoe's simple but sleek black-and-white scheme was perfect to take on the "Lady in Black."
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Sean Gardner | Getty Images
Daniel Suárez - Aguas Frescas
Debut race: Texas Motor Speedway
Perhaps the most colorful scheme of the season, Suárez debuted this beauty in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month.
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Johnathan Bachman | Getty Images
Corey LaJoie - Optic Gaming
Debut race: Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Any time one of the biggest Esports organizations in the world joins in on the fun, it's a memorable moment.
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Sean Gardner | Getty Images
Cole Custer - Dixie Vokda
Debut race: Homestead-Miami Speedway
Custer's scheme rivals Suárez's Aguas Frescas as the most colorful on the grid and a refreshing switch up from the traditional blue and white.
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Mike Mulholland | Getty Images
Kevin Harvick - BOOsch Light
Debut race: Martinsville Speedway
As stated earlier on this list, Harvick's themed schemes rarely ever miss. Maybe someday, there will be a gallery of them all. Class of the field, for sure.
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Chris Graythen | Getty Images
Kyle Busch - M&M's Thank You Fans!
Debut race: Phoenix Raceway
It may not have been the race result Busch and M&M's wanted when the checkered flag waved at Phoenix, but it is surely a memorable partnership for the ages. Mars and the "Candy Man" pulled out all the stops to make this final scheme a memorable one. If you look close enough, you might even see yourself.
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Chris Graythen | Getty Images
Kyle Busch - M&M's Thank You Fans!
Another angle of Busch's final M&M's scheme.
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Chris Graythen | Getty Images
As we reach the end of the list, it's obvious that there may have been some of your favorite schemes that were not included. The Next Gen's debut season saw many teams step up their game with exciting new sponsors and displays throughout the season.
If you want to refresh your memory or revisit some from past seasons, check out our Paint Scheme Preview Archives.
If you want to refresh your memory or revisit some from past seasons, check out our Paint Scheme Preview Archives.