From diecast miniature cars to vintage T-shirts, collecting is in the DNA of every NASCAR fan.
And while traditional collectibles such as cards and figurines remain popular with racing fans and general sports lovers alike, even after all these years, there’s a new kind of collectible emerging on the scene that could be the thing that pushes sports collecting into the future – Digital Collectibles.
But if it’s Digital, what do I own?
It can be hard to wrap your head around the idea at first, but when you get right down to it, Digital Collectibles aren’t that different from the physical items you’ve likely been collecting your entire life.
Sometimes the psychological hurdle can be a generational thing. Many of us equated our music collection with that bookshelf of CDs we kept in the corner of the living room (or even that technology favored by the ancients, a record collection). That was ownership.
But the young music fans of the current generation don’t need those shiny discs to signify their music collection. They are satisfied with a few fave Spotify playlists – digital representation of the music. It’s a way of thinking that has come with all the technology we have at our fingertips – and is why digital items can carry the same importance as something printed on paper.
Digital Collectibles are big and getting bigger
Digital Collectibles, especially those commemorating attendance at a major sporting event, are becoming a big deal all around the world. How big? Even the NFL, an organization notoriously slow to adapt to new technology, gave every fan who attended this month’s Super Bowl a complementary digital version of their ticket to the big game in Inglewood. (Given the game’s average ticket price of $6,116, they should have thrown in a ride home from MVP Cooper Kupp).
The Super Bowl’s got nothing on the World Center of Racing
NASCAR chose its biggest event of the year as the setting for the introduction of the first official NASCAR Digital Collectible – a commemorative digital ticket celebrating this year’s running of The Great American Race.
And to sweeten the pot, NASCAR created five different editions of the Daytona 500 Digital Collectible Tickets, each series with a very limited run of 100.
Everyone with a ticket for the 2022 Daytona 500 was eligible to win, but only 500 ticket holders would be chosen to receive the limited edition Digital Collectible.
Even those lucky enough to snag a ticket to the race, and then be chosen to receive one of the 500 collectibles were going to need even more good fortune if they were to get their hands on one of the five special edition commemorative driver helmets created specifically for the 2022 Daytona 500. These special items will be given to five lucky people who were selected to receive the commemorative ticket.
Whether you’re a new racing fan or a seasoned vet, you know that the bond between NASCAR and its fans is strong – which is why NASCAR chose to give these Digital Collectibles away for free. So that everyone had a chance to start a collection and share with other race fans.
MORE: Sign up for future drops here
Why WAX? (And while we’re at it, what’s WAX?)
NASCAR wanted to ensure that as many people as possible could take part in the fun of this history-making event. That’s why it selected WAX as its platform/marketplace. In addition to understanding the fun-factor of collecting, WAX also allows fans who may just be getting started with Digital Collectibles an easy way to dive in and get started.
WAX is also certified carbon neutral by ClimateCare and uses 220,000x less energy than its competitors.
In case you missed it … this time
And for those who weren’t selected for this inaugural program, don’t worry. NASCAR will be releasing additional collectibles as a thank you to fans throughout the season. Keep checking NASCAR.com for the latest information about upcoming drops.