August 29, 2003 Charlotte, N.C. - The tradition continues
in Press Pass Stealth 2003 with an interactive base card design
and a look that takes NASCAR trading cards to another level. The
72-card base set will feature trios of top drivers and their cars.
When sleeved in plastic sheets, the three-card backs form an oversized
image of the car.
"The puzzle design element for Stealth has held strong since
the set was first introduced in 1998. This look, along with fun
and innovative insert designs, has become a popular part of the
Stealth identity," explained Mandy Kirkland, Product Manager
for Press Pass, a division of RC2 (NASDAQ: RCRC). "The Press
Pass product team always looks forward to developing and engineering
Stealth. We hope that collectors have as much fun putting this set
together as we have had creating it."
Press Pass Stealth 2003 showcases Gear Grippers race-used glove
cards (1:180) featuring NASCAR Winston Cup's top drivers, continuing
the event-used memorabilia card tradition which was first pioneered
by Press Pass in 1996. In addition, collectors can look for Top
Prospects (1:124 hobby only) which features race-used memorabilia
cards of up-and-coming NASCAR Busch Series driver who are sure to
be NASCAR's most promising Winston Cup recruits.
Inserts include the all-foil, foil stamped progressive insert, Supercharged
(1:48 to 1:168 packs); Profile, a plastic foil stamped insert (1:24
packs); Fusion, a holofoil insert that illustrates the training
that is endured for NASCAR Winston Cup's best (1:12 packs); EFX,
an all-foil insert that explains how twelve drivers keep their cool
in the season's hottest months. Collectors can look for the Dale
Earnhardt "10th Anniversary" insert with silver foil stamping
(1:72) plus a special hobby only gold foil version sequentially
numbered to 250. No Boundaries, the series' set-within-a-set, will
feature the top 25 drivers on a special die-cut "shards"
patterned holofoil (1:1).
The award-winning year-long Press Pass Signings program which began
with Press Pass Premium in April continues in Stealth with three
distinct levels of autographs. Collectors can expect to find autographs
of top drivers such as Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Rusty Wallace,
Ryan Newman, and Jimmie Johnson. Press Pass Signings are available
in three versions: Silver Signings found in both hobby and retail
(1:84 hobby, 1:196 retail), plastic TRANS Signings sequentially
numbered to 100 (hobby and retail), and Gold Signings, hobby only
and sequentially numbered to 50.
Continuing in Press Pass Stealth is the Year-Long Total Memorabilia
Program offering collectors Double Burner (hobby only) and Triple
Burner (retail only) multi-piece memorabilia cards featuring race-used
memorabilia from Earnhardt Jr., Gordon, Stewart, and all the top
superstars of NASCAR.
Racing Champions Ertl (www.rcertl.com) is a leading producer and
marketer of innovative collectibles and toys targeted at males of
all ages. The Company's diverse product offerings include scaled
die-cast replicas of John Deere agricultural equipment and NASCAR
stock cars, other licensed vehicle replicas, pre-teen toys, sports
trading cards, racing apparel and souvenirs, and collectible figures.
These products are sold under the Company's market-focused brand
names, including Racing Champions®, Ertl®, Ertl Collectibles®,
American Muscle™, AMT®, W. Britain®, Press Pass®,
and JoyRide Studios™. The Company reinforces its brands and
enhances the authenticity of its products by linking them with highly
recognized licensed properties including NASCAR, NHRA, John Deere,
Harley-Davidson, Case, Polaris, Honda, Caterpillar, Ford, GM, Chrysler,
Texaco, Universal Studios, Warner Brothers, Hit Entertainment, Nintendo,
Sega, and Electronic Arts. The Company's products are marketed through
multiple channels of distribution, including mass retailers and
specialty and hobby wholesalers and retailers, OEM dealers, and
to corporate accounts for promotional purposes. The Company sells
through more than 20,000 retail outlets located in North America,
Europe, and Asia Pacific.
