Press Pass VIP series exhibits best of the best

Barely two weeks into its release, Press Pass VIP is already causing a buzz among NASCAR card collectors by offering the most comprehensive coverage of the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series of any 2005 set.

"VIP offers collectors more cards of the superstars of NASCAR Nextel Cup racing by focusing on the most elite drivers in the sport," said Tom Farrell, Press Pass' Director of Marketing. "Additionally, Press Pass VIP returns with a comprehensive roster of NASCAR's finest in Tradin' Paint, the race-used sheet metal insert, along with the highly sought-after Signature Series autographed memorabilia cards."

Tradin' Paint's 2005 driver roster boasts 18 drivers, including Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, Jimmie Johnson, Kurt Busch, Mark Martin and Rusty Wallace. The seven drivers participating in the Tradin' Paint Signature Series program are Earnhardt Jr., Stewart, Johnson, Martin, Kevin Harvick, Kasey Kahne, and Matt Kenseth.

Augmenting Press Pass VIP 2005's memorabilia card platform is the ever-popular Press Pass Signings autograph series featuring the signatures of more than 60 personalities from past and present.

Where else can collectors find fully-authenticated autographs of everyone from 1960s legends like Fred Lorenzen and Rex White to future superstars like Reed Sorenson and J. J. Yeley?

As always, Press Pass Signings comes in three versions: Silver Signings (found in both hobby and retail), foilboard Platinum Signings numbered to 100 (hobby and retail), and Gold Signings, hobby only and numbered to 50.

Insert cards aside, VIP's 90-card base program is the most impressive of the year with subsets like "Sunday Glory," "Rides," "Honor Roll," "Farewell," and "By The Numbers."

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"When you look at what Press Pass does with each set, it's easy to see why they are the only company still doing NASCAR trading cards," said California collector card expert Mark Smith. "Ten years ago, there were a dozen or so card companies in NASCAR. Press Pass outlasted them all. It's because of quality and innovation."

Continuing in Press Pass VIP 2005 is the Year-Long Total Memorabilia Program offering collectors Triple Burner (hobby only) and Double Burner (retail only) multi-piece memorabilia cards featuring race-used memorabilia from Earnhardt Jr., Gordon, Stewart, and all the other superstars of NASCAR. The Dale Earnhardt Victory Series insert which chronicles each of Dale's 76 Winston Cup wins, also continues in VIP.

VIP brings collectors the most sought after inserts with parallel versions including Driver's Choice,

featuring holofoil cards with gold foil stamping (1:10 packs) and die-cut parallel (1:40); Lap Leader, a special holofoil stamped multi-level embossed insert (1:8), plastic parallel (1:20); Head Gear, an all-foil multi-level embossed insert (1:5 packs) and plastic parallel (1:18); Also featured is Making the Show (1:2), a die-cut set-within-a-set.

"I think most collectors buy every set that comes out," said Smith. "But if you are primarily a Cup Series fan, this is the one set you really don't want to miss, no matter what."

Here's a closer look at the Press Pass VIP 2005 insert program:

Tradin' Paint - Experience all the excitement and action from the track with Gold, Silver and Bronze versions of Race-used Sheet Metal. Hobby 1:100; Retail 1:240. Signature Series - a special version of the race-used Tradin' Paint cards with authentic autographs of seven of NASCAR's most renowned drivers; cards numbered to the drivers door number (Hobby Only).

Press Pass Signings - This year-long certified autograph program includes close to sixty of yesterday, today and tomorrow's stars of NASCAR (1:60) Hobby, (1:144) Retail; Platinum Signings - Special foil board version of the classic Press Pass Signings found in both Hobby and Retail (sequentially numbered to 100); Gold Signings - A continuation of Signings with gold stamped cards signed in gold metallic pen - extremely rare (Hobby only, sequentially numbered to 50)

Making the Show - This die-cut silver foil stamped set-within-a-set showcases NASCAR's top 27 drivers as they race to the NASCAR Top 10 (1:2)

Lap Leader - Learn how these leaders of the pack keep their cars in clean air in this holofoil, embossed insert...(1:8); Lap Leader Trans - this plastic parallel is specially stamped with holofoil. (1:20)

Driver's Choice - Featuring 6 of NASCAR's elite drivers look for this holofoil set insert...1:10; Collect all 6 limited foil & holofoil die-cut versions. (1:40)

Head Gear - See why the drivers' helmets are so unique and show off the characteristics of each driver. (1:5) Look for the exclusive plastic parallel version of each card. (1:18)

Dale Earnhardt Victory Series - Chronicling all 76 of Dale Earnhardt's wins, these mini cards feature victory photography dating back to Earnhardt's first NASCAR Cup win in 1979 at Bristol. (1:72 sequentially numbered)

Press Pass Year-Long Inserts

Triple Burner - Back by popular demand in 2005, 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 twelve-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 twelve different drivers will be found in this product.

Double Burner - Double Burner, found only in retail packs, features cards of all of the top teams including Jimmie Johnson and Kurt Busch. These cards showcase authentic pieces of the drivers' race-used firesuit and glove embedded in a single trading. This twelve-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 twelve different drivers will be found in this product.

Total Memorabilia Power Pick Contest - Another year-long continuity program continues in VIP 2005 and allows collectors to enter a drawing to win all memorabilia cards (hobby and retail versions) of a specific driver/team produced in all 2005 Press Pass products. Five winners will be drawn of each of the ten drivers. (1:200 packs)