Does 2014 Press Pass Five Star Racing Offer Anything New?

Topps isn’t the only dude on the block that can use the Five Star name.  Press Pass has been known to throw it around once in awhile too.  The last time Press Pass issued Five Star Racing was back in 2010.  Up until now, we hadn’t seen it again.  Boxes will include the following:

• 1 Book Card—All book cards contain autograph(s) and memorabilia (#’d to 15 or less)
• 1 Autographed Memorabilia card (#’d to 50 or less)
• 1 Autograph card (#’d to 10 or less) OR Auto’d Memorabilia card
• 1 Memorabilia card — 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 swatches (#’d to 25 or less)
• 1 Base card (#d to 15 or less)

Just like Press Pass did in 2010, they will be randomly inserting Instant Win cards.  These cards can be redeemed for “NASCAR 50 Greatest Drivers” signed lithos.

Five Star is by far Press Pass’s most expensive product.  I’m sure it will be around the same price range as it was three years ago.  NASCAR fans don’t have a lot of options when it comes to cards like baseball, football, basketball, and hockey fans do.  Press Pass truly dominates the NASCAR card market.  This can lead to a lack of innovation since they virtually have no competitors.  Sure this product will be limited (only 800 boxes plan to be made) but this stuff looks like the same things we see all the time within their other products.  I’d want to see something different before spending that much money on a box.  The Instant Win cards for 2014 even seem to be a bit watered down compared to 2010.  Collectors could pull Instant Win cards for artwork and even signed race-used helmets back then.

So, to answer the question that is asked in the title of this post I would have to say no.  Shadow Box, sketch, and hand painted art cards are just a few things NASCAR collectors would like to see.  Press Pass sure innovated in 1996 with their 7-card Burning Rubber set.  Those were some of the first relic cards.  Then again, Press Pass wasn’t the only manufacturer making NASCAR cards either at that time.

Now I’m hungry for Jimmy John’s.

If Topps used boxes like this on their Five Star products, collectors would go postal.