RCR Unveils Rudd-Themed Darlington Throwback Paint Schemes

In celebration of Darlington Raceway's throwback race weekend, Richard Childress Racing unveiled paint schemes today for its No. 3 and 31 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams, to be raced in the Bojangles' Southern 500 on Sunday, September 4. 

Both paint schemes will pay tribute to RCR's first win as an organization, which came on June 5, 1983 at Riverside International Raceway. The cars will feature designs and stylized numbers resembling the No. 3 Piedmont Airlines Chevrolet that Ricky Rudd drove to Victory Lane at the now-defunct race track. 

The No. 3 Chevrolet SS, driven by Austin Dillon, will feature the same red, white and blue color scheme of Rudd's historic race car. American Ethanol will serve as primary sponsor. 

The No. 31 Chevrolet SS, driven by Ryan Newman, will feature throwback logos from primary sponsor Caterpillar and a similar stylized number to Rudd's victorious race car. 

Other RCR special paint schemes for the Darlington Raceway throwback weekend including the No. 27 Menards Chevrolet SS, will be unveiled at a later date. 

"RCR appreciates the support from our loyal partners, American Ethanol and Caterpillar, to celebrate this throwback race weekend and our first win as an organization," RCR President Torrey Galida said. "Our partners have been the lifeblood of RCR and the key to success over the past 47 years. This should be another fun race weekend with a mix of old school and new school." 

Rudd, who retired from racing in 2007, not only scored RCR's first victory that afternoon at the 2.62-mile road course, but also his first-career win. He held off the likes of Bill Elliott, Harry Gant, Kyle Petty, Darrell Waltrip and future RCR driver Dale Earnhardt.  

"Ricky's win in 1983 was a special one because it catapulted RCR into one of the elite performance organizations in NASCAR," RCR Chairman & CEO Richard Childress said. "Every time I think back to that afternoon in California, I think about how far we've come as a company. This will be a great opportunity to pay tribute to our past."

Darlington Raceway's award-winning throwback race weekend celebrates the history and heritage at one of NASCAR's most historic race tracks. The campaign focuses on a specific era, with this year's event being the 1980s, historic moments and drivers that made The Lady in Black one of NASCAR's crowned jewels. The Bojangles' Southern 500 will take place Labor Day weekend, Sunday, Sept. 4, 2016 in Darlington, South Carolina.  

"We appreciate Richard Childress Racing's support of our throwback weekend at Darlington Raceway," Darlington Raceway President Chip Wile said. "It's exciting to see how teams such as RCR are honoring their storied history with special paint schemes for our Labor Day weekend event. We can't thank them enough for their participation in our historic celebration of the sport."