The International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) announced the acquisition of Heartland Motorsports Park on Dec. 29.

The acquisition aligns with IHRA’s broader racer-first philosophy, which includes direct investment in facilities and infrastructure that strengthen grassroots racing, elevate national competition and create sustainable motorsports ecosystems, said a IHRA news release.

With this acquisition, Heartland Motorsports Park enters a new chapter — one that honors its storied past while positioning the property as a modern destination entertainment complex, said the news release.

Owner of the International Hot Rod Association, Darryl Cuttell said Heartland Motorsports Park is one of those places that simply matters to racing.

Paint schemes are an integral component in NASCAR. While they don’t necessarily contribute to a driver or team from a horsepower standpoint, drivers have said that when they walk up to a paint scheme they love on the grid, and climb behind the wheel, it can help give them an extra mental boost to try to will that car to victory lane.

With an ever-changing sponsorship model lending itself to multiple primary sponsorship partners for just about every car in the NASCAR Cup Series, we are treated to more paint schemes than we can shake a stick at in the modern days of NASCAR.

We have digested every paint scheme, which went on track in NASCAR’s premier series in 2025, and have ranked out our 10 favorites.

1. Honorable Mention
2. Best Darlington Throwback Paint Scheme
3. Top-10 Paint Schemes of 2025

Honorable Mention

Cole Custer No. 41 Texas A&M University Ford Mustang

In the penultimate race of the season at Martinsville, Cole Custer sported the iconic maroon on his No. 41 Haas Factory Team Ford Mustang. The maroon base scheme equipped with a white stripe, which divided a gray lower portion of the car, was a truly special design.

However, with the impressive level of paint schemes on display in 2025, Custer’s Texas A&M car didn’t quite make the cut for the “best” list, but it certainly earned an honorable mention. Custer would finish 17th in the car at Martinsville.

Best Darlington Throwback Paint Scheme

Austin Cindric No. 2 “Dale Earnhardt 1980” Tribute

While most everyone spent their time and resources campaigning for Kyle Larson’s throwback to Terry Labonte’s 2003 “Tony the Tiger” car, and rightfully so, as it was awesome, the best overall throwback paint scheme, in my opinion, goes to Austin Cindric’s tribute to Dale Earnhardt’s 1980 championship-winning No. 2 car.

Between the classic Osterlund Racing number font and the yellow and blue colors, the No. 2 Team Penske team did an excellent job pulling off a near-perfect throwback paint scheme. And in the end, Cindric snagged a solid 11th-place run, which was ironically Earnhardt’s career average finish through his 676-race NASCAR Cup Series career.

Top-10 Paint Schemes of 2025

10. John Hunter Nemechek No. 42 Hertz Toyota Camry XSE

One of the most underrated paint schemes of the season was John Hunter Nemechek’s No. 42 Hertz Toyota. With the gold, and white color combination, the design flat-out works. And I feel its one of the cleanest schemes that were used during the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season.

While Nemechek had an incredible season for LEGACY MOTOR CLUB, where he collected two top-five finishes, and eight top-10s, his 21st-place finish in this paint scheme didn’t measure as one of his best outings of the season. But nonetheless, it was a good looking race car.

9. Trackhouse Racing Jockey Infinite Cool Underwear Chevrolets

In an interesting twist, the three full-time Trackhouse Racing drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series were all seen in their underwear at portions of the season as Ross Chastain, Shane van Gisbergen, and Daniel Suarez were all featured in their skivvies on the sides of their race cars in a sponsorship with Jockey’s Infinite Cool Underwear.

It was a unique way of advertising Jockey’s line of undergarments, and the scheme, which was featured on three cars in 2025, ranks ninth on our list.

Suarez’s best finish with the scheme was a 14th-place result at Michigan International Speedway, which was the best result for the three drivers in their underwear cars. Chastain finished 19th at Richmond Raceway with the paint scheme, and Shane van Gisbergen, who captured five wins during his rookie season, finished 32nd with the paint scheme at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

8. Todd Gilliland No. 34 Grillo’s Pickles “Flames” Ford Mustang

Grillo’s Pickles has been a fan-favorite sponsorship partner in the NASCAR Cup Series over the last couple of seasons, and they brought a unique “flames” scheme in 2025. Todd Gilliland piloted the car in the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway, and event where Gilliland would finish 26th.

Grillo’s served as the sponsor for Gilliland in a total of six races in 2025, and it did so with a variety of paint schemes ranging from a green bumpy pickle look to the flames scheme at Darlington. They had a taste of just about everything this past season.

7. Riley Herbst No. 35 BeatBox Toyota Camry XSE

The majority of Riley Herbst’s 2025 season was filled by the traditional flat-black Monster Energy paint scheme, which is cool, but that paint scheme won’t be regarded high on many best-of paint scheme lists. However, a two-race commitment from BeatBox led to a very colorful and fun paint scheme for Herbst.

Incredibly, the driver took the paint scheme at Texas Motor Speedway and drove it to his best finish of what was a tough rookie season in the NASCAR Cup Series. Herbst finished 14th that day.

6. Denny Hamlin No. 11 King’s Hawaiian Toyota Camry XSE

Between his former long-time sponsorship partnership with FedEx, and current deals with Yahoo! and ampm, Denny Hamlin is known for purple race cars. However, it was a bright orange King’s Hawaiian paint scheme, which caught our eyes in 2025.

While it was a visually appealing car, it didn’t amount to great luck for Hamlin, who had one of his greatest seasons in 2025. Hamlin, who won six races and came just three laps from winning his first career NASCAR Cup Series title, had two DNFs in his four races with King’s Hawaiian adorning his race car, and only mustered a best finish of 25th, which he achieved in the Summer race at Daytona International Speedway.

5. Carson Hocevar No. 77 Modo Casino “America” Chevrolet

Carson Hocevar continues to zero in on his first career NASCAR Cup Series victory, and in 2025, he had a top-five paint scheme. Modo Casino, which had several different paint schemes on the No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet throughout the campaign, brought a special red, white, and blue version of the car to the Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway in October.

The ‘Merica look was fully pulled off with a bald eagle stretched out across the hood of the car. Instead of stars on the navy blue portions of the flag design were white and blue poker chips. Ultimately, the paint scheme didn’t come with a top-finish, as Hocevar finished 31st, three laps down, at Martinsville. But it was a cool looking car.

4. Austin Dillon No. 3 Dow DayGlo Chevrolet

Speaking of cool-looking cars, not many had more wow factor than Austin Dillon’s Dow “DayGlo” paint scheme, which he drove in the Enjoy Illinois 300 at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway. The black base paint scheme featured splatters of bright, bold dayglo colors throughout. And the car really popped.

Dillon, who captured a win at Richmond Raceway to secure a berth into the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs, finished 18th at Gateway with this scheme on his No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet.

3. William Byron No. 24 Axalta Chevrolet

On the podium of best paint schemes in 2025 was a renewed take on Jeff Gordon’s classic Axalta/DuPont flames paint scheme. William Byron piloted a similar paint scheme throughout the duration of the season, but in the Daytona 500, a race that Byron won for the second consecutive season, the car had a gradient design within the flames on the car.

While running ninth on the final lap, Byron was able to somehow steer clear of a last-lap melee, involving leader Denny Hamlin, Cole Custer, and others, to move into the lead and he’d take the race win in a race back to the finish line.

After the Daytona 500 win, the gradient design was ditched from the paint scheme, which makes the Daytona 500 car even more special. And honestly, the gradient within the flames helped elevate the Axalta car to the next level.

2. Chris Buescher No. 17 Kroger/Cinnamon Toast Crunch Ford

It was the obsession of social media for weeks. Chris Buescher’s Kroger/Cinnamon Toast Crunch car made a lasting impact, and it even allowed Buescher to come out of his shell in social media videos, where he sported Cinnamon Toast Crunch gear, and sprinkled CTC cinnamon sugar dust.

The fun colors throughout the paint scheme, which are part of the Cinnamon Toast Crunch pallette, were utilized flawlessly, and having the cartoon Cinnamon Toast Crunch character with its tongue sticking out behind the rear wheels gave the car a fun 1990s-level racecar design feel.

Additionally, Buescher led 15 laps in the race and was among one of the best in the final Stage of the race before he settled for a ninth-place result.

1. Justin Allgaier No. 40 Traveller Whiskey Chevrolet

The top spot on this year’s list goes to a driver and team that only competed in one NASCAR Cup Series event. But for Justin Allgaier, it was an important one, as it marked the first-ever Cup Series start for JR Motorsports, the team co-owned by Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Allgaier faced stiff competition, but was able to transfer to the Daytona 500 starting lineup, and in the race, he played things smart, and was around for the chaotic finish, where he secured a ninth-place finish. It was a solid first run in the NASCAR Cup Series for JR Motorsports, and it came with a breathtaking paint scheme.

The Traveller Whiskey paint scheme ended up being the best-selling die-cast in 2025, according to Lionel NASCAR, and while it was obvious it would do well with the Earnhardt affiliation, a beautfiul paint scheme helped push the car to the top of the charts.

Recommended Articles

Top Fuel driver Josh Hart, a life-long Mopar fan and collector, will be selling his prized Mopar car and truck collection at the Kissimmee Mecum Auction, January 6-18. Hart was recently named Top Fuel driver for John Force Racing and in a show of support for the longstanding Chevrolet sponsorship of the 24-time NHRA world championship winning team Hart is going all in to support his new team.

“I am going all in with John Force Racing in my pursuit of a Top Fuel world championship and I wanted to show that I am also all in when it comes to representing our sponsors like Chevrolet,” said Hart, a multi-time Top Fuel national event winner. “Chevrolet is an iconic manufacturer, and I will be very proud to wear the Chevy bowtie on my Burnyzz Speed Shop Top Fuel dragster and my uniform. I can’t wait for the 2026 season to start.”

Hart’s collection that is up for grabs during the Mecum auction includes multiple Dodge Vipers, several Dodge Drag Pak Challengers and a beautiful Dodge Power Wagon. All the cars in Hart’s collection are in mint condition, many with low mileage and amazing detailing. Hart has spent years building his collection and hopes that all the cars go to appreciative collectors.

“All of the cars in my collection have been prized possessions, but I saw this as an opportunity to find them a new home with collectors that will appreciate them as much as I did,” said Hart. “Some of the cars are some of the earliest cars to roll of the assembly line. The Drag Paks are amazing cars that I have had since they first were released. This is a great mix of cars that could be museum pieces or the perfect daily driver.”

Hart’s collection includes:

• 2018 Demon with 80 miles and 2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170 with 3 miles, matching VINs specially built for Hart with crate, sold as a pair
• 2017 Dodge Hellcat last built manual with 700 miles
• 2017 Viper GTC 1 of 1 program twin turbo, 1200hp with 300 miles
• 2021 Drag Pak race-ready driven by Top Fuel driver Josh Hart during the 2025 NHRA Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Series
• 1967 Power Wagon fully built with real Hellephant power plant on a Rubicon frame with 37’s
• All high production number and some of the last models to roll off the assembly line with every option carbon fiber and loaded personalized build sheets to Hart and triple black along with four other Drag Paks and another Viper ACR

Hart will be on track racing for John Force Racing at the season opening NHRA Gatornationals, March 5-8, 2026. The Kissimmee Mecum Auction will be live from January 6-18. 2026.

This story was originally published on December 30, 2025.

TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) – The International Hot Rod Association announced it has acquired Heartland Motorsports Park in the Capital City.

IHRA made the announcement on its website, citing its commitment to preserving motorsports history and reimaging legendary venues.

Over the years, the Heartland Motorsports Park hosted concerts and races, bringing millions in revenue to the county.

The property was put into the hands of Topeka 77 in 2024 after its previous owners, Shelby Developments tax dispute with the county.

IHRA’s vision is to honor the facility’s past while “positioning the property as a modern destination entertainment complex.”

IHRA’s owner made the following statement on their website:

IHRA hopes to extend Heartland Motorsports Park beyond competition weekends and plans to create a year-round destination, blending motorsports with entertainment and community engagement, such as:

• Revitalized drag racing operations with improved racer and fan amenities
• Expanded motorsports and special event programming
• Live music, concerts, and festival experiences
• Enhanced hospitality, vendor, and fan-experience areas
• Community-focused events designed to drive tourism and economic impact

IHRA said they plan to begin renovations immediately.

WIBW has reached out to GO Topeka for further details.

This story will be updated as more information becomes available.

Copyright 2025 WIBW. All rights reserved.

Heartland Motorsports Park has been part of drag racing’s history for more than six decades, and now the Topeka, Kansas, facility is entering a new era. The International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) announced it has acquired Heartland Motorsports Park, a move that signals both a deep respect for the track’s legacy and a forward-looking plan to expand what the property can be in today’s motorsports landscape.

Originally opened in 1963 as Topeka Dragway, the facility grew into what became known as Heartland Motorsports Park, one of the most versatile racing complexes in the country. Over the years, it’s hosted everything from drag racing to road racing, karting, motocross, and countless grassroots events.

With IHRA now at the helm, the goal is not to erase that history, but to build on it.

“Heartland Motorsports Park is one of those places that simply matters to racing,” said IHRA owner Darryl Cuttell. “It has history, soul, and a footprint that allows us to think bigger than just a racetrack. Our goal is to restore this facility with respect for its legacy while building something that serves racers, fans, and the community for generations.”

That “thinking bigger” is a key part of IHRA’s vision. Rather than focusing solely on race weekends, the association plans to transform Heartland into a year-round destination that blends motorsports with live entertainment and community-driven events. While drag racing remains at the core, IHRA is looking to expand the overall experience for racers, fans, and the surrounding region.

Planned improvements include revitalized drag racing operations with upgraded racer and fan amenities, expanded motorsports programming, and the addition of concerts, festivals, and special events. Enhanced hospitality areas, vendor space, and fan experience zones are also part of the long-term plan, along with community-focused events designed to boost tourism and economic impact in the Topeka area.

“Motorsports has to evolve to stay strong,” Cuttell said. “The future is about creating places where racing, music, entertainment, and community come together. Heartland has all the pieces to become one of the premier motorsports and entertainment destinations in the country.”

Renovation planning is already underway, with IHRA expected to release more details on redevelopment phases, event schedules, and community partnerships in the coming months.

Paramount among the opportunities is the newest of dates, the return of the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour slated for Saturday, May 2, 2026. Additionally, August 28-30 have been set as the dates for the 53rd annual Oxford 250, while Wednesday and Thursday, July 1 and 2 will see the running of the third annual Celebration of America 300.

The traditional season-ending PASS 400 weekend will leap up the calendar a few weeks and be run in late September. Another visit for the PASS North Super Late Models has been set for August 9, as have multiple dates for the New England Supermodified Series (NESS) and Kennebec Equipment Rental PASS Mod Touring Series.

“Since the NASCAR Modified Tour announcement, I have received a ton of interest in how to get involved,” said OPS marketing director Kevin Varney. “We also wanted to make sure these events were not exclusive to just big partners. We tried to put together something for any budget to get involved with the NASCAR Modifieds, the COA, the Oxford 250, or really any event we run at OPS or on one of the PASS tours.”