‘Done By the Blind’ — NASCAR Fans Pity Chase Elliott Amid Alex Bowman’s ‘Bad***’ Jimmie Johnson Wrap for Darlington

Chase Elliott’s No. 9 car was supposed to honor Ken Schrader’s gritty 1990s legacy. Instead, it became a punchline. Meanwhile, Alex Bowman’s No. 48 throwback to Jimmie Johnson’s 2012 Darlington dominance, a black-and-white replica, was so sharp it left fans divided.

Fan Backlash Targets Chase Elliott’s ‘Blind’ Throwback Effort
Fans roasted Elliott’s UniFirst-sponsored Chevrolet for swapping Schrader’s iconic tiger stripes and Kodak yellow for a drab green-gray palette.

Fans didn’t hold back. X erupted with split emotions within minutes of Bowman’s No. 48 paint scheme reveal. “Oof… 24 and 5 are supreme. 9 and 48 were done by the blind,” one user posted, skewering Bowman’s (No. 48) and Elliott’s (No. 9) design while praising teammates Kyle Larson’s (No. 5) and William Byron’s (No. 24) retro hits.

Oof…

24 and 5 are supreme.

9 and 48 were done by the blind

— Billzebub (@The_BILLZEBUB) March 27, 2025

Others compared the No. 9 to Schrader’s original No. 25 Kodak Chevrolet, a ’90s beast known for its snarling tiger hood graphic and vibrant green-yellow-white color palette.

“This gotta be one of the worst throwbacks ever,” a fan fumed. The UniFirst version stripped both, opting for corporate grays and a simplified layout. Even Elliott loyalists cringed.

“Chase [Elliott] fan here, what in the absolute hell,” another fan wrote on X.

The backlash grew as fans contrasted it with Bowman’s throwback, a tribute to Johnson’s 2012 Lowe’s/Kobalt Tools ride that scored Hendrick’s 200th win.

Alex Bowman’s ‘Simple’ Tribute Highlights Hendrick’s Legacy
The split reaction exposes NASCAR’s throwback tightrope. Bowman’s meticulous nod to Hendrick Motorsports’ 200th win era earned cheers, while Elliott’s sponsor-driven redesign reminds fans that nostalgia often clashes with branding.

Bowman’s No. 48 didn’t just replicate history, it weaponized it. Every detail mirrored Johnson’s iconic Darlington livery, down to the font on the door numbers. Fans called it “bad***,” a masterclass in nostalgia done right.

Elliott’s scheme, meanwhile, stumbled into a minefield. Schrader’s car symbolized NASCAR’s wilder days, untamed and unapologetic. The 2025 version? “Absolutely horrendous,” one critic jabbed.

The divide underscores Darlington’s unforgiving role as NASCAR’s truth-teller. Past Hendrick throwbacks, like William Byron’s 2018 Jeff Gordon rainbow, balanced sponsor needs with fan cravings for authenticity. Elliott’s 2022 Jimmy Means tribute nailed that balance. This time, the scales tipped.

NASCAR Sprint Cup driver Jimmie Johnson (48) during the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports
Bowman’s throwback to Johnson has fans divided. Some praise its simplicity, while others question its resemblance.

“Simple but really nice. At least 3/4 of the [Hendrick] cars throwbacks I really liked, I can’t say the same for Chase Elliott’s, his is pretty bad I wouldn’t have known it was a throwback if wasn’t mentioned it was throwback,” a fan wrote.

READ MORE: Jimmie Johnson Drops His Honest 2-Word Take on Alex Bowman’s Darlington Tribute

“This 48 isn’t exciting but it’s a proper color and style throwback that looks like the original. The 9 is just awful. It is off both in color and style and doesn’t look anything like the original,” another wrote, praising Bowman’s while bashing Elliot’s.

Another group of fans are struggling to find similarities between Johnson’s No. 48 Chevrolet, “I’m a massive Jimmie Johnson fan and have no idea what this is supposed to be.”

I’m a massive Jimmie Johnson fan and have no idea what this is supposed to be.

— Dan Burner (@DanBurnerr) March 27, 2025

As the April 6 Goodyear 400 looms, Elliott faces twin fires: redeeming his car’s reputation on the track and off of it. For Bowman, the mission is simpler: live up to Johnson’s legacy.