NASCAR and Columbia Unveil Epic Star Wars Paint Scheme

Racecar driver Bubba Wallace will transform into an iconic Star Wars character for the NASCAR Cup Series Championship.

As someone who loves both Star Wars and NASCAR, I couldn’t help but smile ear to ear while looking at these images. Once again, clothing company Columbia has teamed up with Lucasfilm for another Star Wars-inspired paint scheme for Bubba Wallace’s No. 23 Toyota Camry. In 2023, the paint scheme included elements of the iconic Star Wars character Boba Fett (nicknamed “Bubba Fett”), but this year, another character will take the spotlight.

Putting Darth Vader on a Toyota Camry

Later this month, the No. 23 car will be decorated with Darth Vader-inspired artwork to promote Columbia’s new seasonal Darth Vader apparel collection. The artwork was created by Doug Chiang, the vice president and executive creative director of Lucasfilm. His team worked closely with Columbia for several months to create this masterpiece, from brainstorming sessions to finalizing the details. Chiang noted that a lot of time and effort went into the project.

“It’s interesting, because past car designs don’t apply, as each project is very new,” he told StarWars.com. “Each one has its own challenges, and they’re always unique. It’s the same thing that we do with our Star Wars vehicles.”

This year, Chiang’s task was to transpose the key elements of Darth Vader’s aesthetic onto a car, and I must say, the results are incredible. Wallace’s firesuit even contains several elements of the character’s own suit, including the iconic respiratory system, belt, and silver armor plating. I’m not sure if they made more than one of these, but it’s safe to say I would definitely place a bid if it went to auction.

Fitting Darth Vader’s Helmet for NASCAR

Perhaps the coolest part of Wallace’s raceday gear is the Darth Vader race helmet. This was quite a task for the design team, as it had to conform to NASCAR regulations. Still, the helmet includes several details mirroring those of the Sith Lord. Chiang highlighted key elements from Vader’s helmet, such as the cheeks, eyes, and breathing mask, in his design.

“It was an interesting exploration for me—in some ways very similar to challenges that we deal with in film—because there is a component of reality that we have to adjust to. In this case, it was the actual physical helmet itself,” Chiang told StarWars.com.

Wallace Meets the Real Darth Vader

As if the car, firesuit, and helmet weren’t cool enough, the real Darth Vader himself, Hayden Christensen, decided to stop by the garage to check out the NASCAR Vader-mobile. (I would say he is most pleased with their vision.) You can learn more about how the car was created by clicking HERE.

While Wallace is not eligible for the championship, Star Wars and NASCAR fans alike will see the No. 23 in action at Phoenix Raceway on November 10, 2024, during the Cup Series championship. He’ll be roaring down the track with the other drivers as the four title contenders compete for the championship.