Wood Brothers Racing’s 75th anniversary season continues to blend past and present. Days after Josh Berry’s breakthrough Las Vegas victory, the team unveiled a retro paint scheme honoring its role in Jim Clark’s 1965 Indianapolis 500 win. The green and yellow No. 21 Ford Mustang, set to debut at Darlington Throwback Weekend, drew instant acclaim from fans celebrating the team’s resurgence.
Social media erupted with praise, dubbing the design part of a “massive W streak” for NASCAR’s oldest active team. The scheme nods to history and fuels momentum as Berry and crew chief Miles Stanley chase playoff success.
Wood Brothers Channel Indy 500 Legacy in Darlington Throwback
The throwback design traces its roots to Ford’s 1965 collaboration with the Wood Brothers in Indianapolis. Tasked with refining pit stops for Clark’s Lotus-Ford, Leonard Wood engineered a venturi fuel system that cut refueling times from 75 seconds to 15.
“Leonard and them, in secret in practice for the race, they put in 58 gallons in 15 seconds,” said Wood, the team’s CFO. “They knew they had it, and it was going good.”
A nod to the past.
Introducing the No. 21 @MQL_Racing Ford Mustang for #NASCARThrowback Weekend at @TooToughToTame. pic.twitter.com/fRXVWeb5vz
— Wood Brothers Racing (@woodbrothers21) March 20, 2025
Securing approval to replicate the Lotus livery required bridging cultural gaps. Team president Jon Wood reached out to Clive Chapman, son of Lotus founder Colin Chapman, to explain NASCAR’s throwback tradition.
“I’m trying my damnedest to make him understand what a throwback is, but they use words like livery and revival. So I’m trying to translate from my hillbilly talk to words he’ll understand, and I think toward the very end, he sort of started to get it,” Jon Wood quipped.
Chapman eventually granted the rights, replying on Team Lotus letterhead: “I’m behind it all the way. Let’s do a diecast.”
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The result merges Clark’s iconic British Racing Green with modern Ford branding. For Berry, the scheme underscores racing’s global ties. “Throwback Weekend is always so much fun,” he said.
“To get to honor the history of the sport, of not only NASCAR but motorsports in general.”
Fans Celebrate Throwback as Resurgent Season Accelerates
Reactions flooded social media after the reveal. “Y’all are on a massive W streak,” one fan tweeted. Others praised the bold departure from stock-car nostalgia.
“This stands out,” wrote another. “Renders (or live stream quality) never do these justice. It’s going to look sick on track.”
Even Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s official account joined in: “Proud to be part of your history.”
Proud to be a part of your history. Can’t wait to see this car on track!
— Indianapolis Motor Speedway (@IMS) March 20, 2025
The buzz mirrors the team’s on-track revival. Berry’s Vegas win, Wood Brothers’ 101st, snapped a 15-race drought and locked the team into the playoffs. Eddie Wood, CEO, highlighted Berry’s chemistry with crew chief Stanley. “They clicked … right off the bat,” he said, comparing their dynamic to legendary pairings like Pearson and Petty. “Special things happen when it’s right.”
At Darlington, the tribute car will race alongside displays of David Pearson’s 1971 Mercury and Neil Bonnett’s Thunderbird. For fans, the throwback isn’t just aesthetics — it’s a symbol of resilience. As one supporter tweeted: “These boys are hitting on all cylinders.”
These boys hitting on all cylinders these days!
— MAGAcano (@DeanoFate) March 20, 2025
With history on the hood and momentum in the garage, Wood Brothers Racing isn’t just honoring the past. They’re racing into it.