Allmendinger’s Darlington look to honor 1975 Rookie of the Year – Nascar

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AJ Allmendinger’s Darlington throwback paint scheme will honor Kansas native Bruce Hill’s 1970s-era No. 47 with a Kroger/Kingsford red, white and blue theme, JTG Daugherty Racing announced today. Allmendinger will drive the car in the Bojangles’ Southern 500 on Sept. 4 (6 p.m. ET, NBC, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

Allmendinger and Hill, the 1975 Cup series Rookie of the Year, will meet for the first time on Friday at Kansas Speedway.

“It is an honor, quite honestly,” Hill said in a release. “Being remembered for something is always an honor, especially as big as the sport has gotten.”

Hill made starts in NASCAR’s premier series in eight seasons with his best coming in his rookie year, 1975. He earned three top fives and 11 top 10s on his way to finishing 16th in driver points. He continued racing in the then-Winston Cup series through 1981.

Hill now lives in his hometown of Topeka, Kansas, where he raises show horses on a ranch.

“I’m really looking forward to meeting Bruce on Friday,” Allmendinger said in the release. “I think what Darlington Raceway does to recognize former NASCAR drivers and the heritage of the sport is unprecedented. It’s a great way to celebrate our sport and the people who made it what it is today. It’s pretty neat to see all the sponsors and teams really get into it.”