December 5, 2003 Charlotte, N.C. - As one of most comprehensive sets of the year, Press Pass 2004 offers all the elements that collectors have come to enjoy about the set. With cards featuring NASCAR Winston Cup, Busch Series, Craftsman Truck Drivers, and NASCAR Touring Series Champions, Press Pass 2004 provides collectors and fans an in-depth look into the fastest growing sport in America.
"Press Pass 2004 boasts an extensive 100-card base set that covers a broader range of racing than any other Press Pass set; from Winston Cup to the NASCAR Touring Series. Additionally, Press Pass 2004 kicks off our year-long memorabilia program, Double Burner/Triple Burner" explains Mandy Kirkland, product manager for Press Pass, a division of RC2 Brands (NASDAQ: RCRC). "This will be the first time we have offered our Triple Burner multi-piece memorabilia cards that feature race-used rubber, sheet metal and lug nuts exclusively in hobby packs, and our Double Burner memorabilia cards that feature race-used firesuits and gloves only in retail packs. In prior years, Double Burner was hobby-only and Triple Burner was retail -only."
Other year-long continuity programs such as the Total Memorabilia Power Pick contest and the Signature Series autographed memorabilia cards launch in Press Pass 2004, and continue in all 2004 Press Pass NASCAR releases. The very rare Burning Rubber Signature Series card is autographed and numbered to the driver's door number, and found in hobby only.
The newly designed Press Pass 2004 Certified Autographs return as one of the rarest autograph programs and can be found in only two products; Press Pass 2004 and Press Pass Eclipse. Additionally, collectors can look for the Dale Earnhardt 10th Anniversary insert series that pays tribute to twelve of Dale's most popular Press Pass cards. There is also a special hobby-only version sequentially numbered to 250.
Press Pass 2004 features inserts such as the annual collector-favorite Cup Chase where collectors can win a complete 18-card Cup Chase prize set, and possibly a memorabilia card, if their pictured driver wins a designated race (hobby 1:28, retail 1:36); Showman/Showcar, a die-cut foil insert of 12 drivers and their 12 cars (1:28); Top Shelf, a 9-card foil insert with a blind emboss (1:8); Velocity, a holofoil 9-card insert (1:18); and Snapshots set-within-a-set that captures all of 2003's most memorabilia moments on 36 mini die-cut cards (1:1).
RC2 (www.rc2corp.com) is a leading producer and marketer of high quality, innovative collectibles and toys targeted at adult collectors and children, as measured by sales and brand recognition. The Company's diverse product offerings include: agricultural, construction and outdoor sports vehicle replicas; automotive, high performance and racing vehicle replicas; traditional children's toys; sports trading cards and 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®, Learning Curve, American Muscle™, AMT®, W. Britain®, Press Pass®, Eden™, Feltkids® and JoyRide Studios™. The Company supports its brands and enhances the authenticity of its products by linking them with highly recognized licensed properties from John Deere, Harley-Davidson, HIT Entertainment, Lamaze, Case, Polaris, Honda, Caterpillar, Ford, GM, DaimlerChrysler, NASCAR, NHRA, Texaco, Universal Studios, Warner Brothers, DIC Entertainment, Nintendo, Sega, Electronic Arts and Microsoft. The Company's products are marketed through multiple channels of distribution, including chain retailers, specialty and hobby wholesalers and retailers, OEM dealers, corporate accounts for promotional purposes and direct to consumers. The Company sells through more than 20,000 retail outlets located in North America, Europe and Asia Pacific.