Checkered Flag Sports enters die-cast market

The number of companies producing NASCAR die-cast has just doubled -- to two.

Longtime NASCAR licensee Checkered Flag Sports has just unveiled an impressive line of die-cast replicas that will meet the approval of even the most discriminating collector.

Best known for its expansive line of racing-themed apparel, the Martinsville, Va.-based firm has made competition in the NASCAR die-cast category a two-horse race. CFS and Motorsports Authentics are currently the only two manufacturers of scale metal NASCAR replics.

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"Checkered Flag Sports has been licensed by NASCAR for apparel for 15 years," said CFS president Butch Hamlet. "We are pleased that we have earned NASCAR's confidence as well as that of teams, sponsors, and manufacturers. They obviously have great trust in our ability to create, market, sell, and deliver quality, licensed products. We now have been given the opportunity to diversify our product offering with die-cast collectibles."

Former Team Caliber president Randy Duncan has joined CFS. His tremendous expertise in racing die-cast virtually guarantees the success of the new product line.

Two distinct series will make up the CFS die-cast platform: the Contender Series and the Champion Series. The Contender Series will feature both 1:64 and 1:24 scale replicas, while the more highly detailed Champion Series is only available in 1:24 scale.

Take a look at the highlights of this immaculate product line:

• 1:64 Contender Series : Die cast chassis; rubber tires; decorated interior; body decals by tampo printing; blister pack packaging.

• 1:24 Contender Series: Working hood; engine with radiator system and separate oil cooler; detailed chassis includes poseable front wheels, separate exhaust system, separate transmission and driveshaft; fine detailed interior includes individual driver's seat, individual shifter, individual pedal cluster, air exchange hoses, track bar adjustment posts, individual fire extinguishers; 65 individual parts; window box with end cap blister packaging.

• 1:24 Champion Series: Working hood, trunk and roof flaps; serialized pieces; detailed engine with wires and hoses; radiator system with separate oil cooler; die cast oil pan and transmission; colored coil springs; die cast center link and tie rods; die cast chassis; separate exhaust system; separate rear end; separate oil tank; detailed dash/instrumentation; separate seat with molded seat belts, shifter, steering wheel, air exchange hoses, track bar adjustment posts; metal brake rotors; detailed roll cage; fuel cell fill and overflow hoses; rubber antenna; 140 individual parts; polyfoam with candy box packaging; limited to 2400 pieces total to ensure collectibility; one super collectible black liquid chrome car per case of six.

The CFS die-cast catalog boasts Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford and Toyota NASCAR racers-in both the current and Car of Tomorrow body configurations. The initial product launch will feature both "fantasy" and black test car paint schemes for all four automakers, as well as the following driver-specific collector cars:

• No. 01/Ginn Racing/Mark Martin/ Army Chevrolet
• No. 7/Robby Gordon Motorsports/Robby Gordon/Jim Beam Ford
• No. 7/ Robby Gordon Motorsports/Robby Gordon/Jim Beam Black Ford
• No. 7/ Robby Gordon Motorsports/Robby Gordon/Mapei Ford
• No. 13/Ginn Racing/Joe Nemechek/TBD Chevrolet
• No. 14 Ginn Racing/ Sterling Marlin/Waste Management Chevrolet
• No. 21/Wood Brothers/Ken Schrader/Little Debbie Ford
• No. 21/Wood Brothers/Ken Schrader/Motorcraft Ford
• No. 21/Wood Brothers/Jon Wood/Air Force Ford
• No. 22/BDR/Dave Blaney/Caterpillar Toyota
• No. 36/BDR/Jeremy Mayfield/360 OTC Toyota
• No. 96/Hall of Fame Racing/Tony Raines/DLP Chevrolet
• No. 83/JR Motorsports/Make-A-Wish Chevrolet