By Van Cox, Special to NASCAR.COM
April 14, 2006
11:09 AM EDT (15:09 GMT)
Longtime NASCAR collector Tommy West says there is absolutely no doubt as to which new die-cast will be the most sought-after replica of 2006. It will be the special autographed replica of Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s No. 8 Budweiser Monte Carlo. "Nothing is going to beat it," says West, a Pennsylvanian who has been collecting and dealing in NASCAR die-cast for nearly two decades. "I know that's a strong statement this early in the year, but I can't see anything else being anywhere near as collectible or valuable. It will be the car to get this season." OK, here's the deal. Anheuser-Busch introduced Budweiser Lager Beer to the American marketplace in 1876, so 2006 is Bud's 130th anniversary. As part of the anniversary celebration, Earnhardt hand-signed 130 standard paint scheme 1:24 scale die-cast collectibles for Motorsports Authentics' Action brand -- one for each of the 130 years Budweiser has been in existence. Motorsports Authentics randomly inserted those 130 cars into the total production run so that every Junior fan who purchases this die-cast will have an opportunity to get one that has been autographed. To ensure the integrity of this special program, each box will be shrink-wrapped and have a hologram on each end. That way, the 130 recipients of these special autographed cars will be the first to know they've hit the jackpot. Each signed car is also accompanied with a certificate of authenticity. Reportedly, only 25,000 die-cast standard paint scheme collectibles will be produced for the dealer network. Consequently, one car out of every 193 will be autographed by Dale Jr. "I've heard that some dealers have issued a standing offer to buy back the cars for $500 each," says West. "So we know they are automatically worth that much from the get-go. There is no telling how high they'll go on the secondary market-that is, if anyone is willing to part with one."\ | 
