Chili’s and Spire Motorsports just tapped into NASCAR nostalgia — and cranked it up with a margarita twist. For Alumni Weekend at Darlington Raceway, the duo unveiled the No. 77 “Marg Machine” Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, a throwback ride for driver Carson Hocevar that pays homage to one of racing’s most iconic looks.
Inspired by Dale Earnhardt’s 1981 blue-and-yellow paint scheme, the Marg Machine leans hard into retro vibes — from the classic color palette and number styling to the signature chevron striping across the hood. The twist comes with Chili’s branding, including a heritage logo up front and a cheeky “Marg Machine” callout on the rear, replacing the original “Jeans Machine” lettering.
“Last year, we noticed the chatter comparing Carson’s driving style to a young Dale Earnhardt, and it’s only grown louder as big names in the sport make the comparison,” said Chili’s Director of Media Tim Forman. “Given the discussion, we wanted to honor Dale’s legacy, using his 1981 paint scheme as the inspiration for what we’re calling the Marg Machine. Spire and Carson were all in, and we hope fans enjoy seeing the iconic blue and yellow on track again.”
Off the track, the throwback extends to Hocevar’s firesuit — a reimagined take on Earnhardt’s 1981 western-inspired look, complete with bold details and Chili’s Ride the ’Dente campaign flair.
“Chili’s always knocks it out of the park with their suit and car designs, and the Marg Machine is no different,” said Hocevar. “Everyone at Chili’s and Spire put in a lot of work to get the car as close to the original as possible, and they did a great job.”
Fans can catch the Marg Machine in action at Darlington, with race day set for March 22 on FS1 — a full-speed tribute to racing history with a modern, margarita-fueled spin.
