Autographed cards highlight Press Pass Optima

In 2000, Press Pass raised the level of technology in its insert program with the debut of Race-Used Lugnut cards in its Press Pass Optima set. Each card contains an actual slice from a lugnut raced on a NASCAR Winston Cup car driven by one of stock car racing's biggest stars.

Last year, the trading card company picked up the pace by another notch with introduction of the innovative two-sided Lugnut card. Now, Press Pass has found yet another way to add more collectibility to its memorabilia cards. This year, for the first time, Autographed Race-Used Lugnut cards have been added to Press Pass Optima.

Press Pass Optima 2002 affords collectors the chance to chase Autographed Race-Used Lugnut cards from nine of NASCAR's top drivers, including Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, and Mark Martin. These cards are extremely rare being numbered to each driver's car door number (hobby only).

This makes Press Pass Optima 2002 the first and only product of the year to feature autographed race-used memorabilia inserts. The only other time that Press Pass included autographed race-used memorabilia in a product was in the Press Pass VIP 1999 set, when the company reissued its 1997 Precious Metal sheet metal cards with gold signatures.

"We constantly strive to add more fun and value to our products, and adding an autographed version of our race-used lugnut cards is our next step in providing the collector with additional autograph and memorabilia options," explained Tom Farrell, Director of Marketing for Press Pass, a division of Racing Champions. "For most of the driver's featured in Autographed Race-Used Lugnuts, this is their first ever autographed memorabilia card. With production limited to each driver's door number, Autographed Race-Used Lugnuts should be one of the most coveted and collectible inserts this year."

In addition to the Autographed Race-Used Lugnut cards, Press Pass Optima 2002 offers one of the largest memorabilia card line-ups with 18 regular Race-Used Lugnut drivers to collect. Cutting edge card design allows the lugnut slice to be viewed from both the front and the back of the card.

Press Pass Optima 2002 Race-Used Lugnut cards are offered in two distinct variations. The hobby version features an image of the driver. These cards are inserted at a ratio of 1:160 packs. The retail version -- seeded at an even rarer 1:400 packs -- features an image of the car.

Also complementing Press Pass Optima 2002's breathtaking 50-card base set is the brand's other high-powered insert program -- Press Pass Signings. This chase card series dazzles collectors with autographs from dozens of NASCAR drivers and legends. Insertion rate is 1:96 packs for the hobby edition and 1:240 packs for the retail version. There is a limited hobby-only Gold Signings version signed in gold and numbered to 50 as well as Trans Signings, featuring autographs from 8 top drivers on plastic and numbered to 100.

"This year's Press Pass Signings program offers collectors autograph cards of over 70 different drivers," said Associate Product Manager Heather Maillard, who heads up Press Pass' autograph program. "In addition to a full line-up of Winston Cup and Busch Series drivers, Press Pass Signings features autographs from several Craftsman Truck Series drivers, legend drivers, and 2001 touring series champions. There are also 50 Gold Signings of each driver, as well as Trans Signings of a handful of top drivers."

In total, seven different inserts are included in Press Pass Optima 2002, not to mention "Fan Favorite" -- a 27-card set within a set that provides information of each driver's fan club. The set's platform also includes a Gold Edition parallel of the 50 base cards.

Here is a quick rundown of the Press Pass Optima 2002 insert program:

• Autographed Race-Used Lugnut cards: Nine NASCAR stars add their signatures to their Race-Used Lugnut cards (Sequentially numbered to each driver's door number).

• Press Pass Signings (1:96 Hobby, 1:240 Retail packs) Press Pass' year-long certified autograph program includes all of the top drivers and three distinct versions including Trans Signings plastic cards numbered to 100 (Hobby & Retail) and Gold Signings numbered to 50 (Hobby Only).

• Dale Earnhardt -- Profiles (1:72): These cards showcase some of Dale Earnhardt's favorite off-track interests such as fishing, hunting, and spending time with his family. Look for a rare holo-foil version sequentially numbered to 250 (Hobby Only).

• Q&A (1:9): Nine Winston Cup drivers answer questions for fans on this holo-foil etched card.

• Cool Persistence (1:6): Learn how persistence pays off for these 12 drivers that stay cool underpressure.

• Up Close (1:12): Take an "up close" look inside the motor coaches & haulers, the

homes-away-from-home, for these six Winston Cup drivers.

• Zero Card (1:480): Teammates Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon chase down the NASCAR Winston Cup Championship on this limited foil card (Hobby Only).

• Fan Favorite (1:1): Ever want to join your favorite driver's fan club? This die-cut 27 card "set-within-a-set" gives you all the information that you need to join.

Press Pass year-long inserts

Double Burner: This nine-card insert is part of a year-long continuity program throughout all Press Pass brands. Nine top drivers including Tony Stewart, Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr. are featured with authentic pieces of their race-used firesuit and glove embedded in a trading card found in hobby products only. Throughout the year just 100 sequentially numbered cards of each driver will be released; 14 cards of nine different drivers will be found in this product.

Triple Burner: This nine-card insert is part of a year-long continuity program throughout all Press Pass brands. Car cards of all of the top teams including Tony Stewart, Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr. are featured with authentic pieces of their car's race-used tire, sheet metal and lug nuts embedded in a trading card found only in retail products. Throughout the year just 100 sequentially numbered cards of each driver will be released; 14 cards of nine different drivers will be found in this product.

Total Memorabilia Power Pick Contest: This year-long continuity program allows collectors to enter a drawing to win all memorabilia cards (hobby and retail versions) of a specific driver/team produced in all 2002 Press Pass products...1:240. Fifty total winners will be drawn (five each of ten drivers).