Okay, McMurray’s 2013 Banana Boat Sport Chevrolet isn’t a true one-hit wonder. Though the sunscreen-sponsored-SS only hit the track once in 2013, Banana Boat adorned McMurray’s No. 1 Impala once the prior season. So, consider this scheme a two-hit treasure, like Tone Loc with “Wild Thing” and “Funky Cold Medina” or Golden Earring with “Radar Love” and “Twilight Zone.”  

The Banana Boat Earnhardt Ganassi Chevy earned its two-hit status with both of its appearances coming at Pocono. The scheme’s debut was the 2012 Pocono 400 on June 10, a race that was a somewhat bright spot in a frustrating year for McMurray and the No. 1 team. McMurray led 14 laps and placed 10^th, one of just three top-10s the Joplin, Missouri, driver earned that year. McMurray’s three top-10s in 2012 are his lowest total of any season in which he competed full time in the Cup Series.  

Of note, Kurt Busch was suspended from the 2012 Pocono 400 by NASCAR for “actions detrimental to stock car racing.” Busch had been placed on probation by NASCAR earlier in the season. He was then suspended following a threat to then SportingNews.com reporter Bob Pockrass, who asked Busch if his probation had impacted how he raced Justin Allgaier in Nationwide Race at Dover.  

“It refrains me from not beating the shit out of you right now because you ask me stupid questions,” Busch responded, leading to his suspension from the Cup Series race the next week at the Tricky Triangle.  

McMurray’s fortunes had turned around as the Banana Boat scheme prepared to hit the track again at the 2013 Party in the Poconos Cup race on June 9. McMurray had already equaled his three top-10’s from 2012 in the first 13 races of the season. He couldn’t add to that total at the Tricky Triangle, however, but still earned a solid 13^th-place finish in the Banana Boat Sport Chevy in a race Jimmie Johnson dominated.  

McMurray didn’t clinch a spot in the NASCAR Playoffs that season, but he earned nine top-10s in 2013 and ended his 108-race winless streak in the fall Talladega race, his seventh and final Cup Series win. McMurray’s last win came in a true one-hit wonder scheme, his Auburn University/Cessna Chevy.  

McMurray’s Banana Boat scheme received an extensive rollout by Action/Lionel in 2013. The ARC model was available in 1/24 and 1/64 scales. Color Chrome, Copper and Nickel versions were all produced. According to Diecast Registry, the 1/24 ARC Banana Boat Chevy had a production run of 484 units while 72 units were manufactured in each of the special finishes.  

As of this writing, McMurray’s 2013 Banana Boat diecast is certainly affordable. Several 1/24 examples recently sold on eBay ranging between $16 to $40 for a Color Chrome version signed in-person. There are several versions of the 1/24 currently listed for $45-$55. The 1/64-scale version is slightly harder to find if eBay listing are any indication. Only one was recently sold and commanded $16.

To note, the Banana Boat scheme’s orange and blue were also present on McMurray’s 2013 RaceWithInsulin.com ride for the spring 2013 Martinsville race, though the styling was different from the Banana Boat livery.