Myatt Snider Racing and driver Brandon Grosso has decided to honor former NASCAR Winston Cup Series Champion Dale Jarrett during the Throwback 276 next month at the Hickory Motor Speedway in North Caroliona.
Grosso is going to drive a No. 32 that is based off Jarrett’s 1985 NASCAR Busch Series Oldsmobile.
Grosso’s car will be lettered, painted and logoed identical to the Jarrett car but will carry the name of his yearlong sponsor Nitro Fish Unlimited Gear instead of Busch Beer.
The paint scheme was suggested and designed by Ryan Daley of ARI Designs and integrates Grosso’s traditional number (32) with the livery of Jarrett’s ride for an event that will be held nearly 32 years to the day from the last time the source material last turned a lap at the famed .363-mile. Jarrett went on to accumulate 32 Cup wins, three Daytona 500s and the 1999 Winston Cup championship but recognizes this car as the one that first got him to that level.
“When I was contacted about being a part of this project, it was an immediate ‘yes’ from my standpoint,” Jarrett said. “To take me back to 1985 was incredible, to think about why this car was special, not only because I drove it, but because I owned it, I built it, and everything else, even drove the hauler to the track sometimes.
“Those were the things that you did. This was, at the time, my Busch Grand National team and a car I really liked because of the sponsorship, the colors, and the number ’32’ was the first number I raced right here whenever we started in the limited sportsman division.”
READ MORE: Complete Throwback Paint Scheme Listings
Now Grosso looks to channel that same blue collar spirit on August 5.
“This event really brings out the opportunities to develop new friendships and meet the legends who built the sport,” Grosso said at the unveiling. “It puts a lot of people in the stands and it brings a lot of well-known people back, so it’s definitely really cool. Maybe a couple fans who’ll be here have seen these cars race before, but most haven’t, so that’s different. I’ve got to try to beat a third [from the scheme’s last race at Hickory], so maybe there’s a little bit of extra pressure.”
Jarrett, like others who’ve become involved in the Throwback 276 through various means, reiterated the importance of the event to connect the sport’s stars of the present, past and future.
“I don’t care where you go or how big the Cup Series gets, everyone started at a place like Hickory Motor Speedway,” Jarrett said. “Nobody jumps in a car and goes to Daytona for the first time. You have to jump in a car, get a feel for it, see if it’s something you can do at a place like Hickory. To see others recognizing where the sport has been and what started and kept places like Hickory Motor Speedway going, makes me proud to really be a part of this.”
The inaugural CARS Tour Throwback 276 presented by the Hickory Soup Kitchen will take place on August 5th and will feature twin races for Super Lates and Late Model Stock Cars.
SPECS
Throwback Driver: No. 32 Dale Jarrett
Car Make: Oldsmobile
Stat History: 9 top-5, 17 top-10s
Sponsor: Busch Beer
Year/Series Competed: 1985 NASCAR Busch Grand National Series
