 | November 6, 2004
03:12 PM EST (20:12 GMT)
Press Pass Optima is traditionally the last Press Pass trading card offering of the season. The popular set is best known for providing collectors with informative content about their favorite driver's activities and interests away from the race track, in addition to how they are gearing up for the Chase for the Nextel Cup. Released just last week, Press Pass Optima 2004 features an expanded base set of 100 cards that include all new subsets such as NASCAR Pets, Charity Spotlight, and Celebrity Profile that give race fans a glimpse at the men behind the machines. Optima is complemented by a Gold Edition Parallel of the base cards sequentially numbered to 100. A 27-card set-within-a-set entitled Fan Favorite is also included. "Press Pass Optima 2004 offers collectors a great mix of content and value," stated Heather Maillard, associate product manager for Press Pass. "With an expanded base set and a wide variety of autograph and memorabilia cards to chase, each pack of Press Pass Optima promises fun and collectiblity." Indeed, Press Pass Optima 2004 boasts a heaping helping of memorabilia and autograph insert cards. The Press Pass Signings autograph program features over 70 different drivers, including the first autographs from NASCAR Busch Series points leader Martin Truex Jr. This popular signature series is seeded at a ration of 1:84 hobby and 1:144 retail packs. Back after a successful debut, the Press Pass Signings Contest returns to provide one lucky winner the opportunity to receive an entire set of 2004 Press Pass Signings autograph cards. Press Pass Optima's designated memorabilia program is Thunder Bolts, which incorporates a slice of race-used lug nut into the design of an insert card. These popular double-sided cards are available in hobby (1:168) and retail (1:240) versions. Featured stars include Dale Earnhardt, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Tony Stewart, Jeff Gordon, Mark Martin, Kasey Kahne and a dozen other NASCAR stars. The Signature Series Thunder Bolts, autographed and sequentially numbered to each driver's door number, feature a stellar line-up of driver's including the first and only 2004 Signature Series cards of Kahne. Other featured stars include Jeff Gordon, Rusty Wallace, Matt Kenseth, Brendan Gaughn, Bobby Labonte and Ryan Newman. If that isn't enough, NASCAR Busch Series memorabilia cards are available as part of the Top Prospects chase set. These are the first ever memorabilia cards from the future stars of NASCAR. Originally debuting in Press Pass Trackside 2004, there are four different types of memorabilia cards to collect, with the race-used glove and race-used shoe cards exclusive to Press Pass Optima 2004. Those two inserts are only available in hobby boxes and are randomly seeded at 1:98 packs. Among the drivers participating in the Hot Prospects platform are: Kyle Busch, Kasey Kahne, Martin Truex, Clint Bowyer, Paul Menard, JJ Yeley, Paul Wolfe and Tracy Hines. In addition, the Dale Earnhardt Gallery Series continues with "The Man Behind The Mask". Here is a synopsis of the Press Pass Optima 2004 insert program: Thunder Bolts (1:68 Hobby, 1:240 Retail):Cards feature genuine race-used lugnut slices from 18 of the top teams in NASCAR Nextel Cup Racing with distinct hobby and retail versions to collect. Thunder Bolts Signture Series (Hobby Only): A special version of the race-used Thunder Bolts cards with authentic autographs of NASCAR's brightest stars; numbered to the drivers' door number. Press Pass Signings (1:84 Hobby, 1:144 Retail): This year-long certified autograph program includes over seventy of yesterday, today and tomorrow's stars of NASCAR including Press Pass Trans Signings plastic cards numbered to 100 (Hobby and Retail) and Press Pass Gold Signings numbered to 50 (Hobby Only) Press Pass Signings Contest (1:28): Enter to win a complete set of Press Pass Signings Autograph cards featuring over 70 NASCAR drivers. Dale Earnhardt Gallery (1:72): The Man Behind The Mask", the seventh installment of the Dale Earnhardt Gallery takes a look at how the Intimidator lived his life away from the track with unique artist-touched photography. Also look for a Limited Edition Hobby Only version sequentially numbered to 200. Top Prospects (1:98 Hobby Only): Race-used memorabilia cards (gloves, shoes, and tires) from current drivers in the NASCAR Busch Series who are expected to climb quickly in the ranks of NASCAR Q&A (1:8): Learn more about nine top drivers on this foil etched question and answer card Cool Persistence (1:6): 12 drivers make cool moves on this embossed holofoil card G-Force (1:12): Six drivers and teams work together to propel themselves to a top finish on this silver foil card. Year-long programs Tripe Burner - For the first year since its inception, Triple Burner can only be found in hobby packs, with cards featuring all of the top teams including Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr. These cards showcase authentic pieces of the drivers' race-used tire, sheet metal and lugnuts embedded in a single trading card. This ten-card insert is part of a year-long continuity program throughout all Press Pass brands where only 100 sequentially numbered cards of each driver will be released; 14 cards each of ten different drivers will be found in this product. Double Burner - Double Burner, now found only in retail, features cards of all of the top teams including Jimmie Johnson and Ryan Newman. These cards showcase authentic pieces of the drivers' race-used firesuit and glove embedded in a single trading. This ten-card insert is part of a year-long continuity program throughout all Press Pass brands where only 100 sequentially numbered cards of each driver will be released; 14 cards each of ten different drivers will be found in this product. Total Memorabilia Power Pick Contest- Another year-long continuity program continues in Optima and allows collectors to enter a drawing to win all memorabilia cards (hobby and retail versions) of a specific driver/team produced in all 2004 Press Pass products. Five winners will be drawn of each of the ten drivers. (1:200 packs) | |
