Press Pass goes under cover with new card set

Press Pass Eclipse celebrates its fourth birthday with a set chock full of perks for trading card enthusiasts. This super premium NASCAR trading card set boasts three memorabilia inserts and one autograph chase card per hobby box. From its high-impact 90 card base set to its expansive insert program, this set is guaranteed to impress even the most discerning card shark. Simply put, Press Pass Eclipse 2005 is loaded.

"Not only does Eclipse offer more memorabilia and autographs per box than any other Press Pass brand, but it also features a comprehensive base set featuring six NASCAR Nextel Cup subsets and the latest up-and-comers from the Busch Series," explains Tom Farrell, Director of Marketing for Press Pass, a division of RC2, also the parent company of Racing Champions. "Collectors will have ample opportunity to find cards of their favorite NASCAR Nextel Cup drivers."

As most collectors already know, Press Pass Eclipse's signature memorabilia insert is the Under Cover series featuring cards that incorporate a piece of race-used car cover into their design. Taking that concept two steps farther are Double Cover memorabilia inserts that feature dual car covers of NASCAR Nextel Cup teammates as well as Under Cover Signature Series autographed memorabilia cards.

More than a dozen drivers are included in the standard Under Cover ensemble. Cards offered in Hobby sets will showcase an image of the featured driver, while Retail cards will offer a view of the driver's car.

Nine different pairings make up Double Cover, including: Dale Earnhardt Jr and Micael Waltrip, Rusty Wallace and Ryan Newman, Bobby Labonte and Tony Stewart, Kurt Busch and Mark Martin, and the most potent one-two punch in NASCAR, Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson. Cards are sequentially numbered to 175,

Drivers participating in the Under Cover Signature Series program are Jeff Gordon, Matt Kenseth, Rusty Wallace, Bobby Labonte, Kevin Harvick, Earnhardt Jr., Stewart, Johnson, and Newman. Each card in this Hobby Only program is sequentially numbered to the driver's car number.

Further augmenting the Press Pass Eclipse 2005 memorabilia platform will be the latest installment of Skidmarks, an insert series using shavings of race-used tire as a design enhancement.

Of course, today's card collector is an avid autograph hound. Press Pass Eclipse and the Press Pass 2005 brand are the only products to include the limited edition Press Pass Autograph program comprised of more than 60 NASCAR personalities (1:20 hobby, 1:144 retail). Exclusively in Press Pass Eclipse 2005, collectors can find Press Pass Teammates Autographs featuring driver signature pairs and trios on the same card (hobby only). Well over a dozen drivers are featured in a number of combinations.

Other inserts include Dale Earnhardt, Sr. Victory Series die-cut cards (1:72); Destination:WIN printed on foil and die-cut (1:2); Hyperdrive (1:10 packs), Maxim (1:6 packs) , and "Be An Insider for a Day" contest cards-good for a free trial subscription to NASCAR Scene and entry into a drawing to win luxury suite passes to the October 15, 2005 race at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Charlotte, N.C.

Press Pass Eclipse 2005 also continues the annual year-long memorabilia program that includes the Triple Burner/Double Burner inserts. Triple Burner cards, which feature a piece of race-used tire, sheet metal, and lugnut--all embedded into one card--are exclusive to Hobby boxes.

Retail collectors needn't feel shortchanged, however. Double Burner cards showcasing a piece of race-used firesuit and glove embedded in the same card will be inserted throughout all Press Pass retail products during the year.

In addition, Total Memorabilia Power Pick contest cards will be inserted in all 2005 Press Pass NASCAR releases.

Here's a peek at the entire Press Pass Eclipse 2005 insert roster, complete with insertion ratios: