Press Pass trading cards hit 'Stealth' mode

Press Pass Stealth is celebrating its 10th birthday in 2007 with a revamped 90-card base set boasting distinctive hobby and retail variations.

Highlighting the Hobby version for the first time ever is a special etched chrome technology. The Retail variation, on the other hand, will be punctuated by foil stamping. Subsets like Ground Crew and Prime Objective help Press Pass Stealth 2007 maintain a high tech theme from start to finish.

Autograph hounds will go nuts over the four distinct levels found in this year's Press Pass Signings insert program. Seeded at a ratio of 1:20 for Hobby sets and 1:84 for retail versions, cards in this popular autograph series will feature the signatures of such heavy hitters as Dale Earnhardt Jr., Tony Stewart, Jeff Gordon and the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series' newest winner, first year driver Juan Pablo Montoya.

A blue metallic level of Press Pass Signings NASCAR Nextel Cup Series cards is all new for '07 and exclusive to Press Pass Stealth. Sequentially numbered to only 25, these cards feature a metallic image of each driver's car. An even rarer chase set-Press Pass Autographs-includes the four printing plates from each driver's Press Pass Signings cards.

"With upgrades to the base set, memorabilia, and autograph programs, Press Pass Stealth 2007 continues to establish itself as a unique high-quality brand that offers collectors several opportunities to get closer to their favorite drivers," says Press Pass product manager Heather Maillard.

The Press Pass Stealth 2007 memorabilia platform is impressive to say the least. Joining the set this year are the all-new Battle Armor race-used sheet metal cards featuring used sheet metal from the cars of two dozen top drivers. The special Signature Series Battle Armor chase set has autographed carfds numbered to each driver's car number.

The Top Prospects insert series -- featuring the first-ever memorabilia cards from some of NASCAR's brightest up-and-comers is looking better than ever. Blue chip racers like Australian Marcos Ambrose, Michael Waltrip Racing's David Reutimann, 2006 Indy 500 winner Sam Hornish Jr., and Roush-Fenway's own David Ragan are among the young hotshoes who make up Press Pass' Top Prospects roster. Top Prospects race-used tire cards are featured in Press Pass Stealth 2007, while other Top Prospects memorabilia cards are showcased in future 2007 Press Pass releases.

Here's the inside scoop on all Press Pass Stealth 2007 inserts:

• Battle Armor: Race-used sheet metal cards with distinct hobby & retail versions (1:40 packs (hobby) and 1:112 packs (retail))

• Battle Armor Signature Series: A special version of the race-used Battle Armor cards with authentic autographs from NASCAR's top drivers. Sequentially numbered to drivers' door number, hobby only

• Press Pass Signings: Featuring four distinct levels including unnumbered metallic bronze, silver card versions sequentially numbered to 100, and a Hobby only metallic gold card version sequentially numbered to 50. A fourth level, a metallic blue version sequentially numbered to 25 is exclusive to Press Pass Stealth 2007. These cards feature only NNC drivers with their cars. Also look for rare Press Plate Autographs. ((1:20 packs (hobby), 1:96 packs (retail))

• Top Prospects: The first race-used tire cards of the top young drivers competing in the NASCAR Busch Series (1:100 (hobby), 1:196 (retail))

• Maximum Access: Metallic ink and clear holofoil highlight this 27-card "set-within-a set" (1:2 packs)

• Mach 07: 12-card foil board insert with gold overstamping and progressive insert ratios. (Progressive: (1:14 packs to 1:112 packs))

• Fusion: Car & driver are featured on embossed holofoil board in this 9-card insert (1:10 packs)

• Hobby-only Chrome Edition Base Parallels: Two distinct hobby parallels. (Exclusive (Numbered to 99) and Platinum (Numbered to 25)) Sequentially numbered to 99 & 25

• Four Wide/Double Burner Year-long Inserts: For 2007, each Press Pass brand will feature Quad, Double, and Single piece memorabilia cards, and autographed memorabilia cards. Four Wide features four pieces of race-used memorabilia on one card! Sheet metal, tire, and car cover plus an oversized 4th piece: driver firesuit. Sequentially numbered to 50 per driver. There will also be special 1 of 1's with a piece of checkered flag as the oversized piece. (Hobby-Only). Double Burner contains two pieces of race-used memorabilia. For Press Pass Stealth 2007, each card will contain race-used tire and sheet metal swatches; sequentially numbered to 100. Two-piece memorabilia combos will vary from product to product in 2007 (Hobby & Retail)