The throwback paint schemes NASCAR Cup Series used for the Goodyear 400 at Darlington Raceway had its share of critics including some of the top drivers.
This marked the 10th year drivers' cars were painted to resemble retro cars and Bubba Wallace was among the drivers who is tired of looking back.
"The cars look cool, but move on to something different," Wallace said. "I know it's probably cool for the fans to go back and remember some days and stuff, but for me it's run its course. Doesn't mean it needs to stop. I'm just on the side of where we don't need to participate."
William Byron dominated much of Sunday's race and led 243 laps before finishing second to Denny Hamlin. Byron is also in favor of letting the throwback schemes run out.
“It’s definitely run its course, I feel like," Byron said. "We've had so many of them. … between 40 cars, you cover most of the paint schemes at some point. Maybe it’s something where you bring it back every few years or maybe you go to different racetracks or something."
Byron is not against recognizing past drivers and teams, but believes some other sports may have figured out better ways to do it.
"I know the NBA, the NHL and the NFL, they all have some sort of a throwback time period," Byron said. "But it seems like it changes around a little bit. So maybe it's just getting a bit repetitive."
Chase Elliott was among the first drivers to say the sport needs to come up with a different way to look back.
"I think it lost its (luster) about four or five years ago," Elliott said. "Not to be a downer, but I joked about this years ago. If we kept going down the road we're going to be throwing it back to me in like 2018. So at some point I think we have to chill on it. We've rode the horse to death and we tend to do that."
Reach Mike Organ at at 615-259-8021 or on X @MikeOrganWriter.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Some drivers aren't fans NASCAR Darlington race throwback paint schemes
