Catchfence

No. 9 Budweiser Ford to Feature Retro Paint Scheme at Richmond International Raceway

ST. LOUIS (April 30, 2010) – Darrell Waltrip won the 1985 NASCAR Cup Series championship at the wheel of the No. 11 Budweiser car. Twenty-five years later, Kasey Kahne will honor Waltrip’s championship season by driving the No. 9 Budweiser Retro Ford in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Richmond International Raceway on Saturday, May 1.

Kahne’s Ford will feature a throwback red and white scheme, designed like the car Waltrip drove to Victory Lane three times in 1985, including the fall race at Richmond. Kahne also will wear a specially designed firesuit like the one Waltrip wore during his championship run.

“Darrell was one of the first drivers to sport the iconic Budweiser colors in NASCAR, taking the car to Victory Lane 13 times,” said Mark Wright, vice president of media, sports & entertainment marketing, Anheuser-Busch. “In 1985 Darrell brought home a Cup Series championship for Budweiser. We wanted to commemorate that achievement, and there’s no more visible way to turn back the clock than outfitting Kasey and the No. 9 Budweiser Ford in Richmond with this retro look.”

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Audio: Kasey Kahne Honors Darrell Waltrip’s 1985 Cup Championship with Budweiser Retro Paint Scheme Unveiling at RIR.

Waltrip’s efforts in the No. 11 Budweiser car garnered 13 wins, nine pole awards, 52 top fives and 63 top-10 finishes in a three-year span.

“Darrell is one of the great legends of NASCAR and I’m proud to be a part of the Budweiser family with him,” said Kahne. “Seeing the paint scheme on track will be a walk down memory lane for NASCAR fans. The entire No. 9 team hopes to get the Budweiser Ford to Victory Lane at Richmond, just like Darrell did 25 years ago.”

The Great American Lager first sponsored a team on the NASCAR Winston Cup Series circuit in 1983 and its legacy in racing has been solidified by popular drivers like Terry Labonte, Darrell Waltrip, Geoff Bodine, Bill Elliott, Kenny Schrader, Ricky Craven, Wally Dallenbach, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and Kasey Kahne.

- Elevation Group of Companies for Budweiser Racing, Press Release