Dale Earnhardt Jr. Raves Over Pontiac Grand Prix Wrapped to Match Carson Hocevar's Dale Sr. Throwback Scheme

Hocevar and Spire Motorsports went all out for Throwback Weekend at Darlington Raceway with a special paint scheme and a matching vintage car.

Mar. 27, 2026 at 3:29am

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Carson Hocevar and the No. 77 Spire Motorsports team paid tribute to Dale Earnhardt Sr. at Darlington Raceway with a throwback paint scheme on Hocevar's car. But they took it a step further by also wrapping a vintage Pontiac Grand Prix to match the iconic blue and yellow design. Dale Earnhardt Jr. was impressed by the effort, saying Hocevar and his team "knocked it out of the park" and he wants to know more about the Grand Prix.

Why it matters

Throwback schemes have become a popular tradition in NASCAR, allowing teams and drivers to honor the sport's history. Hocevar's tribute to his team owner Dale Earnhardt Sr.'s classic paint scheme generated a lot of excitement, and the added touch of the matching Pontiac Grand Prix took the celebration to the next level.

The details

Hocevar finished fourth in the race at Darlington, coming from 17th position in the final stage with a strong passing performance. Earnhardt Jr. was particularly impressed by the team's effort in wrapping the vintage Pontiac Grand Prix to complement the throwback paint scheme on Hocevar's No. 77 car.

  • The race took place on Sunday, March 23, 2026 at Darlington Raceway.
  • Hocevar's team wrapped the Pontiac Grand Prix prior to the race weekend.

The players

Carson Hocevar

The driver of the No. 77 Chevrolet for Spire Motorsports, who ran a throwback paint scheme inspired by Dale Earnhardt Sr.'s iconic blue and yellow Wrangler car from 1981.

Dale Earnhardt Jr.

The former NASCAR driver and current NBC Sports analyst, who praised Hocevar and his team's efforts in honoring his father's legacy.

Spire Motorsports

The NASCAR team that fields the No. 77 car driven by Carson Hocevar, and coordinated the throwback paint scheme and Pontiac Grand Prix wrap.

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What they’re saying

“Talking about throwbacks, not much of an argument here. I think a lot of people would say that Hocevar's group knocked it out of the park. Again, I'm biased — that's my favorite design of Wrangler car that he ever raced, for sure. Hocevar and his team did a lot of great stuff on social media with content. They wrapped a Grand Prix.”

— Dale Earnhardt Jr., NASCAR Analyst

“Where in the hell is that car been and where is it going? Where is it? I want to see it going down the street. What's it look like on the inside. We never saw the inside? I mean, that's a pretty badass looking car now. I don't know what it looked like before they wrapped it.”

— Dale Earnhardt Jr., NASCAR Analyst

What’s next

Fans are eager to see more of the vintage Pontiac Grand Prix that was wrapped to match Carson Hocevar's throwback paint scheme, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. has expressed interest in learning more about the car's history and what will happen to it going forward.

The takeaway

Hocevar and Spire Motorsports' dedication to honoring NASCAR's history through their throwback scheme and accompanying Pontiac Grand Prix wrap exemplifies the spirit of Throwback Weekend at Darlington. Their creative efforts impressed Dale Earnhardt Jr. and generated excitement among fans, showing the continued importance of celebrating the sport's iconic past.