SportCoins offers unique NASCAR collectibles

A new and unique collectible is now available for NASCAR fans who wish to support their favorite driver and team.

SportCoins Inc., based in Concord, N.C., has begun producing SportCoins -- two sided coins that vary in diameter and thickness that are specific to many of the top teams and drivers in NASCAR.

The exciting new collectibles are available for purchase, but a driver or owner's "personal" coin can only be obtained if given away by that person.

ALSO •   For more information about SportCoins, as well as photos of different coins visit  SportCoins.com

For example, Jeff Gordon has a coin design exclusive to him that can only be obtained if given by him, similar to a business card or an autograph. However, fans can purchase his coin commemorating his four Brickyard 400 wins at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, or the No. 24 2004 20th Anniversary Hendrick Motorsports coin.

The SportCoins concept is based on a long-standing tradition in the United States Military in which senior enlisted and commanding generals/officers exchange personal challenge coins that are unique to each serviceman. However, each command normally has their own challenge coin that is available to all members of the command.

"The evolution of SportCoins and the military challenge coin concept throughout NASCAR has really been unbelievable," said Larry Camp, who, along with former Marines Gregg Yetter and Todd Headington, founded the company in mid-2003.

"We had envisioned that the concept would catch on with the drivers, owners, crew chiefs and other notables, not just in NASCAR, but in other sports as well. The idea that you have your own coin to share with others, as opposed to a business card or an autograph, has really caught on. We have been able to take the original concept and move it to another level."

Dale Earnhardt Inc., Joe Gibbs Racing, Hendrick Motorsports, Richard Childress Racing, Roush Racing, NASCAR, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, International Speedway Corp., Speedway Motorsports Inc. with nearly every top team and driver having licensed the product and are selling the coins along with other merchandise at the track, in shops and on websites.

In addition, Movie Gallery, the second-largest video specialty retailer in the country, will kick off a 2005 campaign in conjunction with Coca-Cola and SportCoins.

Consumers who shop at Movie Gallery will be able to collect a limited edition Coca-Cola Racing Family set featuring such drivers at Bobby Labonte, Tony Stewart, and even the legendary No. 3, who was an original member of the Coca-Cola Racing Family.

"The warm reception that we have received from the corporate community has been very exciting," Camp said. "Coca-Cola was quick to recognize the quality and beauty of the concept.

"We are honored that they chose to create a collector set for their Coca-Cola Racing Family and also have plans for additional collector series coins, across several venues, for the future."

SportCoins also have been used as commemorative pieces at special motorsports events in 2004. In October, at the North Carolina Motorsports Foundation event in downtown Charlotte, N.C., guests received coins honoring NASCAR Vice Chairman Bill France, Jr.

Earlier in the year, 1,500 commemorative coins were given away to the attendees at the 2004 International Motorsports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony in Talladega, A.L. that featured the names of the 2004 inductees.

In addition to the NASCAR coins, college football coaches Lou Holtz, University of South Carolina and Jim Tressel, The Ohio State University, both head coaches, each have had personal coins made by SportCoins.

"It's been a huge rush to see SportCoins grow from an idea into a phenomenon in which drivers, teams and fans have embraced." Camp said. "We look forward to continuing to create what we think is a truly unique new category of collectible. Each one of these coins is handmade and the workmanship can't be touched."