CONCORD, N.C. – For the first time since 2000, Jeff Gordon will compete in the iconic rainbow paint scheme sponsored by Axalta in this Saturday’s night race at Bristol Motor Speedway.
The No.24 Chevrolet SS rainbow scheme holds 52 victories, 129 top-five finishes, 166 top-10 finishes, 10,708 total laps led and three Cup Series championships.
“I have a lot of great memories with this rainbow paint scheme. What I love is this paint scheme is for the fans,” Gordon said. “The fans wanted us to run this scheme again during my final season, and this Axalta Chevy SS definitely stands out. You’re not going to miss it.”
This weekend, Gordon and his team will compete with hopes to add one final victory to the rainbow schemed No. 24 Chevrolet SS’ record in its final Sprint Cup race.
But before you watch the iconic paint scheme take to the track, here are a few things you should know for Saturday’s race under the Bristol lights:
BROADCAST INFORMATION: Saturday's race will air live on NBC Sports Network at 7:30 p.m. ET. Can’t make it to a television? Tune into PRN or SiriusXM to catch the Bristol radio coverage. This weekend’s qualifying session will take place Friday evening on NBC Sports Network. Tune in to this weekend’s practice two sessions also on NBC Sports Network this Friday. Here is the full broadcast schedule:
Friday, August 21:
11:30 a.m. ET, Sprint Cup Series Practice, NBC Sports Network
1:30 p.m. ET, Sprint Cup Series Final Practice, NBC Sports Network
5:45 p.m. ET, Sprint Cup Series Qualifying, NBC Sports Network
Saturday, August 22:
7:30 p.m. ET, Sprint Cup Series Race, NBC Sports Network / PRN/ SiriusXM (7:43 p.m. ET green flag)
THIS WEEK’S PAINT SCHEMES: This weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway, Kasey Kahne will return to the No. 5 Great Clips Chevrolet SS, while Gordon brings back the rainbow paint scheme of the No. 24 Axalta Chevrolet SS. Teammates Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Jr. will race the No. 48 Lowe’s ProServices Chevrolet SS and No. 88 Nationwide Chevrolet SS, respectively, this Saturday under the lights.
HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS AT MICHIGAN: In 63 Cup events at Bristol, Hendrick Motorsports has 10 wins, 11 pole positions, 51 top-five finishes and 92 top-10 finishes. Gordon is tied for first among active drivers with five wins at the track, while Kahne most recently won there for the organization in March 2013.
KAHNE AT MICHIGAN: In the last 10 Sprint Cup races at Bristol Motor Speedway, Kahne ranks second in top-10 finishes (six), tied with teammate Johnson. He ranks fifth in top-five finishes (three), tied with teammate Gordon. The driver of the No. 5 Great Clips Chevrolet SS also ranks fifth among active drivers in average starting position (10.7).
RAINBOW RETURN: Gordon will drive a specially painted No. 24 Axalta Chevrolet SS at Bristol Motor Speedway this weekend. The iconic rainbow paint scheme that appeared on No. 24 Chevrolets driven by Gordon from 1992 to 2000, including four straight victories for Gordon in the Spring race at Bristol from 1995 to 1998, will feature on the No. 24 Axalta Chevrolet SS at the annual night race.
GORDON AT MICHIGAN: The 44-year old driver is tied for most wins among active drivers, while he is the active leader in pole positions, top-five finishes, top-10 finishes, laps led and average starting position (7.7) at the high-banked short track.
JOHNSON AT MICHIGAN: According to NASCAR's loop data statistics, Johnson has the eighth-best driver rating at Bristol with a score of 92.3 during the past 10 years at the track. Johnson will race the No. 48 Lowe’s ProServices Chevrolet SS in this weekend’s race at Bristol. The Lowe’s ProServices paint scheme has seen Victory Lane twice this season with wins at Texas and Dover.
EARNHARDT AT MICHIGAN: Earnhardt has been running at the finish of 29 of the 31 (93.5 percent) races he’s entered at Bristol. He’s also completed 15,049 of 15,527 laps (96.9 percent) in his 31 starts. He is tied for second with most lead-lap finishes (23 of 31) at Bristol behind teammate Gordon.