e NA S C A R T h r o w b a c k N i g h t By Justin Melillo
Junior Gaming and eSports Editor, Traxion.GG In May, NASCAR took to Darlington Raceway for its annual celebration of the history of the sport. Throwback weekend is one of the more popular weekends every year, and this being the 75th anniversary of NASCAR, the celebration was made even sweeter following the addition of 25 more of the Greatest Drivers to the existing list of 50 from 1998. When you take a look at eNASCAR, the 75th celebration has already been underway thanks to Rise Esports and their No. 75 Chevrolet driven by Zack Novak. Novak, the 2019 series champion, joined Rise back in 2020 following his championship with RFK Racing. Throughout this 2023 season, that No. 75 has adorned many legendary liveries, from Dale Earnhardt’s classic black scheme to one of Richard Petty’s famous STP rides.
instead to two classics from the mid-2000s with Kevin Harvick and Kasey Kahne.
A Harvick paint was also found on the No. 3 of Jordy Lopez with an old Coca-Cola C2 scheme from 2004. More dated throwbacks than that included an Elton Sawyer throwback on the Front Row Motorsports’ No. 38 of Michael Cosey Jr—the same scheme that Todd Gilliland ran the weekend prior. Perhaps the deepest cut For once, however, Novak didn’t stand out in the crowd as the came from the other Team Dillon Esports Chevy as Tucker Mintmajority of the eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series field took part er minted Harry Gant’s Skoal Bandit No. 33, but with Funk Away in this year’s Throwback race at virtual Darlington Raceway on 16th as the brand on board. May, just two days removed from the real-world event. Novak still had a mighty fine throwback, fittingly to the team he scored his title There were some faux-backs from the RFK Racing camp as they with, as he drove Jeff Burton’s No. 99 Exide ride, but as usual, with ran the same two schemes they ran in the real-world event. Sunoco branding onboard. The Letarte Esports guys both had schemes inspired as well, with the His teammate Jimmy Mullis, who has No. 36 inspired by Goodyear’s 125th been running the “Spirit Of ” cars this seaanniversary and the No. 40 inspired son, also took part, albeit wasn’t an actual by Kyle Petty’s 2007 Coke Zero 400 throwback, but more paid homage to the scheme. Kyle Busch was a popular man greatest NASCAR members from the State to throwback to, having both Joe Gibbs of South Carolina. There were some other Racing rides returning to Busch’s years sort of throwbacks as well, where the with Interstate Batteries. Jim Beaver Kanaan Esports duo had stock car repreEsports also had a Kyle Busch throwsentations of Tony Kanaan’s old 7-Eleven back for driver Malik Ray. IndyCar and the Williams Esports guys were driving Formula 1-inspired throwbacks on stock cars to Nigel The other Jim Beaver car of Garrett Lowe was one of two drivers Mansell and his 1992 championship season. in the field with a throwback to themself. Lowe ran a similar scheme to the real-world Bandolero he drove as his first racecar. The rest of the field stepped their game up, for sure. Novak wasn’t Michael Conti was the other self promoter. This being Conti’s the only Jeff Burton/Exide inspired scheme—Collin Bowden took final season, a self-throwback was acceptable for sure as he the 2000 lightning ride for a spin on his eRacr No. 69. Elliott Sadler harkened back to his early days on the iRacing platform, a special Esports surprisingly didn’t throwback to their namesake owner, but event that he participated in 2011 that was coincidentally hosted
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