By Van Cox, Special to NASCAR.COM
October 26, 2006
05:29 PM EDT (21:29 GMT)
Wheels' second and final release of 2006 marks the fourth anniversary of its American Thunder set. In a card market that offers a broad range of product, this is definitely a premium set, both in terms of quality and collectibility. The 96-card base set alone is enough to have collectors salivating with features that include short printed NASCAR Nextel Cup rookie base cards. Subsets included in the base card line-up are: Stars-N-Stripes, Made in America, Grass Roots, and NASCAR Nation "We are excited to bring collectors an eye-catching, premium quality, Americana-themed set that not only offers fun, but value too, " says Tom Farrell, Director of Marketing for Press Pass, which produces and markets the Wheels brand. "Every 20-pack Hobby box is loaded with an average of two race-used memorabilia cards and one authentic autograph card." Autographs are a driving force behind Wheels American Thunder. In addition to the Wheels Authentic Autograph program -- which is only found in Wheels High Gear (released in January) and Wheels American Thunder -- there are also autograph programs only found in Wheels American Thunder. For example, new for 2006 are exclusive Thunder Strokes authentic autographs, plus Rookie Thunder autographed versions of those short-printed 2006 rookie Cup base cards. As I've said many times before, the only thing that rivals autograph inserts in terms of popularity are memorabilia cards. Wheels American Thunder includes five different memorabilia card inserts: Cool Threads contains an actual piece of race-used shirt worn under the driver's firesuit; Head To Toe includes both driver-worn hat and race-used shoes; Pushin' Pedal features race-used driver shoes, and Double Hat includes two different driver-worn hat swatches on one card (also look for Single Hat versions on select drivers). It doesn't end there. Collectors will also find Thunder Road--an 18-card memorabilia insert designed with a special texture coating technology that utilizes race-used tires. On average, collectors will find one Thunder Road memorabilia card and two of the other memorabilia cards in each Hobby box. Other inserts include American Racing Idol, a silver foil stamped, etched insert (1:6) and Golden Idol a rare hobby-only version sequentially numbered to 250; plus American Muscle (1:10), a plastic-etched insert with foil stamping. Rounding out the set is Grandstand, a 27-card die-cut set-within-a-set (1:2). Wheels American Thunder also provides collectors with super premium 24-point base card stock. Wheels American Thunder 2006 released about a month ago and is now available at retail outlets, hobby shops and collectibles stores nationwide. | 
