Press Pass Premium brings 2007 imagery to collectors

They named it correctly: Press Pass Premium is a premium trading card set in every sense of the word. The first card set to feature all new 2007 photography has been on the market just a few weeks and it is already generating excitement among the NASCAR faithful.

"The 2007 season has already created a lot of buzz between the interest in newcomer Juan Pablo Montoya, Toyota's entrance into the sport's top level, and a thrilling Daytona 500 finish," says Press Pass Product Manager Heather Maillard. "Press Pass Premium 2007 provides collectors with their first opportunity to obtain cards of their favorite drivers and all of the action from the beginning of the 2007 NASCAR Nextel Cup season."

Montoya isn't the only freshman driver highlighting the Press Pass Premium 2007 checklist. The roster includes fellow Raybestos Rookie of The Year challengers David Ragan, Paul Menard, and David Reutimann. Special short-printed rookie cards printed with a special holographic pattern foil are one of the enhancements of Premium's expanded 90-card, four-tier base set.

As most collectors know, Press Pass is the company that introduced event-used memorabilia to the trading card industry over a decade ago. The brand adds to its legacy by adding a whole new level to Hot Threads, the race-used firesuit cards that anchor the Press Pass Premium insert program. Press Pass Patches debut in this release and feature 27 driver-specific, sponsor-specific patches from each driver's uniform. Participating drivers include Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, Kasey Kahne, to name a few. And to enhance the collectibility, no two patches are alike.

The Hot Threads platform also includes a hobby-only Signature Series of autographed cards sequentially numbered to the driver's car number.

Autograph hounds will also be glad to know that the 2007 installment of the popular Press Signings autograph series kicks off in Premium with four distinct levels. Dozens of NASCAR personalities make up the autograph roster, including Montoya. A super-collectible blue metallic version of Press Pass Signings has been added featuring past winners of the Daytona 500 along with a special logo. This chase set is exclusive to Press Pass Premium 2007, with cards numbered to 150.

An average of one Press Pass Signings card can be found in each 20-count Hobby box. And hardcore card enthusiasts will be chasing the ultra-rare Press Pass Signings cards featuring the four printing plates from the series.

Other chase sets include Performance Driven and Concrete Chaos, as well as Press Pass' popular year-long Four Wide and Double Burner memorabilia cards.