CONCORD, N.C. – Jimmie Johnson’s No. 48 Ally Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE will have a revamped look this Sunday at Texas Motor Speedway thanks to one of his biggest fans.
Noah “Lefty” Sweet, at 19-year-old college student, was asked by Ally Racing to design a special paint scheme for the No. 48 car and he jumped at the opportunity to create something new for the seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion.
"After all the years I spent drawing Jimmie’s car as a kid I never would have imagined I would get a chance to design his actual car,” Sweet said. “It has always been my dream and I will remember this for the rest of my life."
Sweet said he started designing paint schemes when he was 14 and estimated he has created about 30 looks for Johnson’s No. 48 Chevy. For this scheme, Sweet said legendary scheme designer Sam Bass was a huge influence and he wanted to blend Johnson’s modern, sleek Ally look with some classic touches.
“My inspiration for mixing in the black with the new white scheme comes from Jimmie's Sam Bass-designed scheme with that touch of black added to it in 2006,” he said. “It shows how you don't have to choose one or the other — mixing the best of both can go a long way. The bright white on the front of the car sets off the Ally plum on the hood, and the black on the side makes the yellow 48 pop more. The Ally purples and pinks join with a sharp lightning bolt to bring the white and black together.
“I've always adored the aesthetic of sharp lightning-like designs on my cars to contrast the smooth curves on the race cars. At the same time, I try to keep it bold and full rather than noisy and thin, much like how Sam designed his cars.”
Ally chief marketing and PR officer Andrea Brimmer said introducing Sweet and to his idol virtually was her “best Zoom meeting of the year” and it exemplifies how Johnson has had such a positive impact on so many people.
“We gave a young artist a big opportunity and he delivered a striking and fresh design linking Jimmie’s past and present. I’m proud that Noah’s first Cup Series paint scheme hits the track on the No. 48 Ally Chevy,” she said.
Sweet’s paint scheme will be in action at Texas Motor Speedway on Sunday, Oct. 25. The race will start at 3:30 p.m. ET and be broadcast on NBCSN. To see the scheme from all angles, take a look below.
