We’re closing in on the ultimate handful of weeks of the 2023 NASCAR Cup Collection season, the inventory automotive collection’ seventy fifth anniversary marketing campaign. To have a good time, every week via the top of the season Ryan McGee is presenting his high 5 favourite issues in regards to the sport.
High 5 best-looking automobiles? Verify. High 5 hardest drivers? We have it. High 5 mustaches? There will be just one, so possibly not.
With out additional ado, our 75 favourite issues about NASCAR, celebrating 75 years of inventory automotive racing.
Earlier installments: Hardest drivers | Best races | Finest title fights
Editor’s Picks
2 Associated
High 5 best-looking automobiles
As we have now dropped the hammer on our collection of NASCAR 75 top-five biggest lists, we spent 4 weeks coping with the racers and races, however what in regards to the machines these racers drove in these races?
These almost two-ton machines snarl round ovals, street programs and filth tracks at speeds exceeding 200 mph. It appears like there is no means they could not all look cool whereas within the midst of doing that, however the actuality is that, like individuals, some race automobiles simply look extra superior than others, irrespective of if they’re pushing the sting of the envelope at Talladega or simply sitting on the race store flooring.
So, what NASCAR fashions stand out above the remaining in inventory automotive racing’s grand 75-year-old showroom? Seize a can of Simoniz and a chamois fabric and browse forward as we current our high 5 best-looking NASCAR race automobiles.
Honorable point out: 1955-56 Chrysler 300C
Anybody who will get annoyed now when Hendrick Motorsports or Joe Gibbs Racing will get on a sizzling streak and seemingly wins all of the races and titles would have completely hated these automobiles again within the day, and actually hated the group who fielded them.
That is as a result of group proprietor Elmer Carl “EC” Kiekhaefer and his ultra-modern methods of doing enterprise made at the moment’s superteams look downright puny. Kiekhaefer ran a fleet of lengthy, modern Chrysler 300Cs for 2 seasons and gained 49 races (plus three extra through different automobiles) and each Grand Nationwide titles.
Tim Flock, Buck Baker and their teammates drove machines up and down Daytona Seaside with large three-digit automotive numbers and a script “Full Jeweled” painted over that quantity.
Remembering Carl Kiekhaefer
6/4/1906 – 10/5/1983 #RIP
Carl Kiekhaefer was a NASCAR Grand Nationwide group proprietor for two years & he gained 2 championships in dominant style. In 1955 Tim Flock gained 18 races & in 1956 Buck Baker gained 14 races. Kiekhaefer’s automobiles gained 52 races in 2 seasons. pic.twitter.com/WDYigLN4lI
— NASCAR Legends (@LegendsNascar) June 4, 2022
The 300C was so dominant and appeared so cool that each race led to protests from defeated rivals, though none ever turned up any dishonest. It made Kiekhaefer so indignant that he give up racing and went again to promoting his Mercury boat motors in Wisconsin, taking his superior 300Cs with him.
5. 1951-54 Hudson Hornet
The 300Cs predecessor was a automotive that was so modern in its design that it appeared prefer it was racing even when it was sitting nonetheless. Heck, even the automotive numbers have been painted with cartoon vapor trails as in the event that they have been in fixed movement.
1. 1972 Dodge Charger
Might this checklist have been 5 Petty-driven machines and been accomplished at that? Completely. From the NASCAR Convertibles Division (sure, that was an actual factor) to Belvederes to Pontiacs, “His Royal Fastness” piloted a number of the most stunning rides ever witnessed on a racetrack (and likewise a number of the ugliest, extra on that coming in our subsequent checklist).
The very best-looking race automotive that is ever taken a inexperienced or checkered flag, although, is Petty’s 1972 Dodge Charger. That is the one with large signature Charger grill, the raised rear finish, “The Racer’s Edge” printed on the entrance spoiler, the slanted roof quantity and the thick-striped melding of STP Day-Glo crimson with Petty Blue.
That shade compromise dang close to killed the deal that turned the mannequin for all future sponsorship contracts. For extra on how that went down, learn this story from 2010.