Race Weekend Central

Matt Kenseth, Tide Partner for Southern 500

Tide is returning to NASCAR.

Well, if only for one race.

For next month’s Bojangles’ Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, the company will adorn the No. 20 car driven by Matt Kenseth for Joe Gibbs Racing as the latest in a string of announcements concerning throwback paint schemes for the Sept. 4 race.

It’s Tide’s return to the sport after a lengthy absence, though the brand has often been synonymous with the sport, sponsoring cars for Darrell Waltrip, Ricky Rudd, Ricky Craven and many more.

In fact, Rudd, Craven and Waltrip were on hand during the unveiling of the paint scheme today (Aug. 16) at the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, N.C.

“This is a thrill for us,” Joe Gibbs, owner of Joe Gibbs Racing, said in a press statement. “Not only is this a throwback paint scheme that we know the fans will be excited for, but it is with a sponsor that has a tremendous history in our sport. This is our 25th anniversary season at Joe Gibbs Racing and I know it is the 70th anniversary of Tide. They really are a historic brand in our country and their new partnership with Joe Gibbs Racing for Darlington is a real honor.”

Tide will also serve as an associate sponsor for Kenseth’s teammates — Denny Hamlin, Kyle Busch and Carl Edwards — at the race and will serve as an associate sponsor at Chicagoland Speedway and Richmond International Raceway for the organization as well.

About the author

Rutherford is the managing editor of Frontstretch, a position he gained in 2015 after serving on the editing staff for two years. At his day job, he's a journalist covering music and rock charts at Billboard. He lives in New York City, but his heart is in Ohio -- you know, like that Hawthorne Heights song.

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kb

No amount of Tide can clean the filth know as Matt Kenseth.

Ken

Could this be a sign that Kenseth’s career is washed up?

DoninAjax

His sponsor will never be Mr. Clean.

Tom B

This is one of the greatest natural paint scheme ever for a sponsor. Looks like the sponsor’s product. Nothing on the track even comes close to look like this race car. Petty’s STP Pontiac had that same uniqueness.

B. Hill

Back in the day the Kodak car looked like a box of Kodak film. Is anyone on here old enough to know what film is? LOL

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