Flaming Paints: Top Five Paint Schemes of the 2026 NASCAR Season
The 2026 NASCAR season has been a very versatile season for paint schemes. You have the primary schemes for each sponsor, plenty of tributes, patriotic schemes, and more. The best of the best are paint schemes that will catch your eye from anywhere on the track, or if you are at home watching on TV. They may be vibrant, colorful, or remind you of another era of NASCAR racing from your childhood. From the Cup and O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, here are five of my personal favorite NASCAR paint schemes from 2026.
5. Carson Kvapil, TruckClub/Registix Pocono
Carson Kvapil sported a special Registix scheme with co-sponsorship from TruckClub on his nine car at Pocono. The car featured a navy blue front end with geometric green and orange shapes surrounding the front wheels. The back was an array of vibrant reds and oranges that could catch anyone's eye. What I loved about the car was that it was able to blend the greens and oranges without needing to add a gradient like many other schemes in NASCAR. Kvapil started in sixth and finished 10th, leading four laps in the event.
4. Ross Chastain, Wendy's Atlanta
Wendy’s made its return to Trackhouse Racing for a second season, sponsoring Ross Chastain in the Echopark 400 at Atlanta on February 22nd. The car sported flashy red across the front end and the roof of the one Chevrolet Camaro, white across the sides and back, and blue and red checkered stripes. The best detail Trackhouse put into the design was Wendy’s iconic braids racing across both sides. ‘Melon Man’ rallied from a 21st-place start to a third-place finish in the Wendy’s machine.
3. Chase Elliott, Coca-Cola 600 Patriotic
Chase Elliott has been on a roll with his patriotic schemes with Napa, and the 2026 Coca-Cola 600 scheme is one of the best yet. For one of the most important dates on the 2026 calendar, Elliott ran a mostly blue nine Chevy. Across the bottom of the scheme is a flowing American flag. The flag and the Napa logo, which is just outlined in white instead of the usual yellow, fill the space on the side perfectly. The Dawsonville native, unfortunately, crashed on the backstretch late in stage one. The scheme returned on July 5th at Chicagoland, where the Napa machine finished 11th.
2. Dean Thompson, Throwback Darlington
For the O’Reilly Series race in Darlington’s throwback weekend, Dean Thompson ran a tribute to the late Greg Biffle. The Anaheim native ran a throwback to Biffle’s 2011 3M primary and was instantly recognizable among the pack. The black, orange, and red fades initially ran for Biffle fit the O’Reilly car perfectly, and the Thompson Pipe Group logo was altered to resemble the 3M logo on the 2011 car. Finally, the number 26 font was switched to resemble ‘The Biff’s’ Roush Fenway Racing font. Thompson took the 26 car to a 22nd-place finish. It was the best of the Darlington throwbacks, but one throwback tops the list.
1. Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Rowdy Tribute Nashville
Kyle Busch ran a sporty NOS Energy paint scheme for years during his dominant run in the 2010’s. After his tragic death in May, Hyak Motorsports and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. decided to change his usual NOS scheme to a throwback to Busch. The car is gorgeous, with the same rough black-and-orange tears along the side as Busch’s. The NOS logo is turned sideways to fit the car better. ‘Rowdy’s’ NOS machine was a sight to behold during the 2010’s, and seeing it again with the four-time Cup Series winner takes me back. Stenhouse managed to get his first career top-five at Nashville with a fourth-place finish after starting back in 15th. Fans, myself included, hope for Hyak to make this beautiful tribute scheme the primary NOS scheme for the 47.
