Do the Top Drivers in NASCAR, NHRA, and IndyCar Have Fast Colors?

Prominent motorsports' sanctioned colors aren’t just green flags, red lights, or black and white checker flags. Race cars host a spectrum of brilliant hues, but the speedy color under scrutiny here is bold yellow combined with black accent.

Not all top drivers steer yellow and black race cars, but some who do are delivering peak performances. A lot more than color goes into and out of the workings of a race team, but taking a tour of this bright shade points out some fast moves.

NASCAR driver Kyle Busch, in the yellow and black Kyle Busch Motorsports Toyota truck, won his first NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Nashville. 

Kyle Busch [No. 18 Dollar General Toyota]

“You really never know how many races it will take until you get your win or your first win in the series being an owner,” Busch said. “When I got in my truck at Daytona, I was like, man, this is almost weird, but it was a really, really cool feeling rolling out of pit road. You never know how good you’re going to be or how you’re going to do.

“It’s a dream come true to come out here and own your own stuff, but to win in it,” Busch added, “It’s a big deal. It’s always nice to win anytime you’re in anybody’s stuff, but especially your own. It just seems to set a lot better within yourself.”

The yellow and black No. 32 Dollar General Nationwide car has been in the top 10 and top five every race this season with Brian Vickers and now Reed Sorenson at the wheel. Sorensen placed second at Nashville. 

Reed Sorenson [No 32 Dollar General Toyota]

“I wish we could have gave them a win,” Sorenson said. “I could taste it, that was a feeling that I felt in this car a few times last year and the second time this year we’ve already felt it again. These guys do a great job.

“Every time I get in this car, we’re fast,” Sorenson added. “Going into this season, I feel like I definitely want to win some races or at least be like today and have a shot at it. We just have to keep working hard so we can get a little bit better so we can win.”

In the IZOD IndyCar Series, driver/owner Sara Fisher relinquished her Sara Fisher Racing seat during early road course events to specialist Graham Rahal. He delivered a team best finish to date at the 2010 St. Pete Grand Prix in a yellow and black open-wheel rocket.

Graham Rahal [No. 67 Dollar General IndyCar]

“I think we're slowly moving forward,” Rahal said. “We're coming to grips here; the race was good for us. We made some passes and obviously got passed a little bit, but we just kind of hung in there and when everybody else started to falter we picked up spot after spot. I thought we had a pretty good strategy."

Fisher echoed his thoughts.

"I'm very excited that we brought home the best finish of SFR,” Fisher said. “Graham did an exceptional job. We consistently got better throughout.”

Dual duty driver Paul Menard races for Richard Petty Motorsports and Roush Fenway Racing has excelled in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series by moving into the top 12 and remains sixth in the Nationwide Series. Menard has raced yellow and black for years.

Paul Menard [No. 98 Menards Ford]

"We are off to a solid start this year,” said Menard. “Our cars are fast. We need to be better over the long runs if we are going to be there at the end of races, but I believe we are close to sealing the deal in one of these Nationwide races very soon.”

In drag racing, the yellow and black combo has been kind to Jeg Coughlin, Jr. and Team JEGS with four NHRA Pro Stock champions. They have struggled early in the 2010 season, but remain upbeat. 

Jeg Coughlin Jr. [JEGS.com Chevy]  

"People may be looking at our team and wondering what in the world is wrong with the JEGS car," Coughlin said. "The car actually is running great. It's very drivable, and we're making horsepower. We've just had some race day struggles.

"We've gone over the car from bumper to bumper and found nothing wrong. We're not sure why it starting spinning the tires like that. No one else seemed to have trouble there so it's a bit of a mystery, but that's how it goes at times in Pro Stock. I'm proud of the team and the work they've put in to get this car.”

Whether something special besides bright color resides in the combination of yellow and black might be clearer by counting more wins and top finishes. Additional racing could produce more evidence. That requires observation of many events for fans.