Drivers explain the fun and importance of the CARS Tour throwback weekend

Ever since 2017, the CARS Tour Throwback Classic at Hickory has been a hit with the drivers, teams, and fans.

This year’s edition is even more special, as it will be paying $50,000 to the winner of the Late Model Stock race and $30,000 to the winner of the Pro Late Model race. While the money has been the main talking point for the event, the throwback spirit is still just as big as ever.

From paint schemes, to pit uniforms, to t-shirts, to facial hair, it seems almost everyone in the CARS Tour garage is celebrating the spirit and importance of this event. For some drivers though, this event means even more. 

Landen Lewis

Landen Lewis joined Kevin Harvick Inc. this year, and has found plenty of success already. A big reason for that is being a part of the Team Hornaday Driver Development program. To honor Ron Hornaday, Lewis is running a throwback to Hornaday’s 1992 NASCAR Southwest Tour championship winning scheme.

“I’ve watched this race for two to three years now, and I’ve always wanted to be a part of this race,” Lewis said. “And now to be able to be a part of it is even more special. And when this deal first became available that we could run a throwback scheme, [the team] allowed me to do it, and my whole team was like, ‘Let’s do Ron Hornady’s 1992 Southwest Tour car.’ 

“It all came together without him knowing, which [it] was hard to keep a secret from him. We did a really good job keeping the secret [and] making sure all the details were perfect on it. [We have] the fire suit, the crew shirts, the crew hats, and the race car. We went all out, and that’s kind of how we want to do it. It’s just been so much fun seeing all these race cars here that I didn’t grow up watching, but Ron and people like that raced against. It’s very cool.”

Landon Huffman

Landon Huffman can usually be seen sporting a paint scheme in tribute to his father, Robert Huffman come the Throwbakc Classic. Whatever throwback scheme Huffman has is sure to be a fan favorite, and this year is no different.

Like usual, Huffman went all out in his throwback, this time to his dad’s 1993 “Pink Cadillac” Late Model Stock Car. Not only did they change the number to 39 and put Cadillac grille decals on the car, Huffman even went clean shaven to match his dad’s look.

“It gives us an opportunity to honor my dad’s career,” Huffman said. “He’s drove a lot of different race cars, won a lot of races, won a lot of championships. And a lot of it was done before I can remember or even before I was born.

“The fans here that have been here for generations, they’ve been able to see these race cars. And so, if I could give them a little glimpse of what it used to be [like] and bring back some memories for them and also my dad and my family, it’s always cool. I see a lot of pictures of these cars, but, obviously, I never got to see them in person. So, to be able to recreate it and bring all his guys back to the track and have some fun with it, it’s always a cool event.”

Keelan Harvick

While Keelan Harvick may be young, his roots in racing run deep. While NASCAR legend Kevin Harvick is his father, that is not who he is throwing back to. Harvick is sporting the colors of his grandfather, John Paul Linville, who used to race at Hickory.

“It’s really cool just to see all the old paint schemes, and especially mine, because it was my mom’s dad,” Harvick said. “He passed away, and it’s just really cool to race at the tracks that he used to race at with this pain scheme, and it’s just really cool to relive the moment. This [is] definitely a very special one.”

Layne Riggs

Layne Riggs cut his teeth in the CARS Tour. He currently races full-time in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series, but whenever he has a chance, he loves getting back in a Late Model. Riggs is throwing back to his father, Scott Riggs’ 1999 Late Model Stock, and is also a big fan of the throwback weekend a Hickory.

“I like it,” Riggs said “I think it brings back a lot of the older fans to the racetrack to come look at these schemes and people who are related to the people that have the schemes and all that stuff. So that’s really cool to bring that lore to it. I enjoy that.

“I’m doing dad’s 1999 Late Model that he won so much with and [is] kind of the reason he got an opportunity at the NASCAR level. So it’s pretty cool to do that. It’s an awesome looking race car, and I’m just excited to hopefully put it in victory lane. That’s the plan.”

Caden Kvapil

Even though Caden Kvapil is not running a throwback on his JR Motorsports Late Model Stock, he does have a retro scheme on his No. 32 Travis Kvapil Racing Pro Late Model. Kvapil is sporting Bobby Allison’s iconic 1988 Miller High Life colors, and is enjoying the weekend.

“It’s pretty cool,” Kvapil said. “I don’t know many of these schemes just because I’m only 18 years old, but I’m sure all the other fans and race dads like my dad know all the schemes. So it’s pretty neat to see. I’m sure they enjoy it, seeing old throwback schemes back when they were in racing before I was born. So it’s pretty cool. I like it.”

Doug Barnes Jr.

Doug Barnes Jr. has a fan favorite as well, as he is throwing it back to Dale Earnhardt’s 2000 Taz car. Barnes is loving the atmosphere and enjoyed getting the scheme ready.

“I love it,” Barnes said. “It’s a lot of fun. I’ve been watching this the past couple of years. I’ve never had a chance to be a part of it. So earlier this year, we literally had a discussion about doing the Tasmanian Devil car. And then when we went to the Dominion, I already swapped back to a red car. So then it was a no-brainer. The [original wrap] is still underneath. This is personally probably my favorite car.

“I don’t have any racing history as far as my family and stuff. And if I did, then I’d probably do that. I like Landon [Huffman]’s, Michael [Bumgarner]’s, and Ronnie Bassett Jr.]’s. Maybe I’ll be lucky enough one day that my kid throws it back to me. But it’s been awesome. There’s been a lot of hate, though, on the Toyota Nose, Ferrari badge and the Chevy emblem above it. I guess people don’t like that.”

While some fans and drivers on the NASCAR side have questioned if they should still have a throwback weekend, it is safe to say that the CARS Tour throwback weekend is alive and well, and still loved by almost everyone.