Random Wax: 2017 Donruss NASCAR Blaster

2017 Donruss NASCAR:  The NASCAR playoffs start today in Darlington, SC.  This guy will be in the TV booth.  He was crazy popular as a driver and still is off the track.  He does a great job with his Dirty Mo Media TV show and podcasts.  Great listen for fans.

DennyHamlin is in the playoffs while Martin Truex Jr., former champion, missed the playoffs for the first time in a long time.

Blaney has become one of the better drivers in the sport though he hasn't won a race this season.  Bubba Wallace had a good string of races at the end of the regular season to finish in the top 20.

Kyle's my guy.  He has plenty of fans but many more detractors.  He's cranky, says what he means and is in a contract year.  I have a feeling he may have worn out his welcome at Joe Gibbs Racing and will be taking his talents elsewhere next year.  This year was not one of his better years but he's in the playoffs and anything can happen now.

None of these three are still in racing.  Kayne was a very popular driver, though maybe more with the lady folks, but just didn't have the same luck on the track.

David Pearson, NASCAR great, base card and his Cracked Ice parallel.

Edwards was one of the top drivers during his time in the sport and retired after the 2016 season.

My relic is a Cole Custer who is in his third full season but is struggling to find the same success he had in his first season when he finished 16th in the standings.

I like the double car photos on these.  Drivers have multiple sponsors and it's good to see their cars in all the different paint schemes.  Chase Elliott will be one of the guys I'm rooting for in the playoffs as I'm a big fan and he's the favorite after having a really good regular season.

BREAKDOWN:

60 – Total Cards

17 – Car Shots

2 – Call to the Hall

1 – Race Kings

1 – Rated Rookie

1 – Pole Position

1 – Blue Foil #/299

1 – Retro Relics 1984

1 – Cracked Ice #/999

1 – 1984 Retro Variation

1 – Base Nickname Variation

2017 Donruss NASCAR Hobby Box w/Auto and Relics

2017 Donruss NASCAR - ever open a box...like two years ago...and never get around to posting it?  Yeah that is this one.  With NASCAR starting today with the Daytona 500 I couldn't think of anything better to post than this box.  Kyle Busch is my guy so pulling a Rubber Relic is an excellent start.  Jimmie Johnson is an all-time great with 7 championships.  His relic is a  Holo Gold parallel #/25.

  Danica Patrick was always a favorite of mine but couldn't get to the winner's circle and no longer races.  Dale Jr. is one of the most popular all-time racers and retired after the 2017 season.  Bubba Wallace was a 2018 rookie whose highlight was finishing 2nd at last year's Daytona 500.  The base card design got to be a bit dull the more cards I looked at - just no wow factor.  Doesn't mean I don't like them but the inserts really were the highlight here for me.

There are 100 base cards numbered 37 - 136.  The backs are pretty minimal and a bit bland.  Driver stats would work well so I'm not sure why they didn't include them.  

There are 27 Race Kings/Race Queens and I really like these cards.  I'll probably pursue grabbing this subset.  The Call to the Hall cards feature 2017 Hall of Fame inductees and are also nice cards.  I really like the Top Tier insert which has a Top Gun vibe too it and nice colors.  

There are more than a few horizontal offerings.  There's my man Kyle Busch again and I'm a fan of Chase Elliott as well.  He is an excellent young driver and was voted most popular driver last year which is something his dad Bill was known for winning when he raced on the circuit.

Cut to the Chase highlights wins from the 2016 season.  This 1984 Retro variation is one of 44 in the set.  Rusty Wallace is my favorite all-time driver.  The Classics insert fell short for me.  Seems like a lot of wasted space.

I like these Pole Position and Track Masters inserts. Joey Lagano is the reigning NASCAR champion and his card is a Cracked Ice parallel #/999.

Donruss highlights the young drivers as well in this set.  The Christopher Bell is a Gold Press Proof #/99 and the Daniel Hemric card is a Blue Foil Parallel #/299.

Two more nice inserts.  This is Kurt Busch and Martin Truex Jr.  Truex Jr. is another driver I like though he swapped teams and numbers, now #19, and the new number just doesn't look right.

These two gentlemen, Kevin Harvick and Joey Logano, won the two Daytona Dual races Thursday night which help determine the field for today's race.

Noah Gragson will run full-time in the Xfinity Series for the first time this year.  That would be the NASCAR "minor leagues".  I really enjoyed my box.  The inserts were great and you get all the stars of the sport.  The design wasn't my favorite but that doesn't mean it wasn't fun.  There were 10 numbered cards too which are always fun to find.  There are plenty of duplicates, drivers I don't collect and extras so if someone has some drivers collect please let me know.

BREAKDOWN:

 240 –Total Cards

6 – 1984 Retro Variations
6 – Retired Greats
4 – Race Kings
4 – Gold Foil Parallels (#/499)
3 - Classics
3 – Base Nickname Variations
3 – Rated Rookie
2 - Speed
2 – Blue Foil Parallels (#/299)
2 – Rubber Relics (1 – Holo Gold #/25)
1 - Phenoms
1 – Green Foil Parallel (#/199)
1 – Gold Press Proof Parallel (#/99)
1 – Track Masters Cracked Ice Parallel (#/999)
1 – Pole Position Cracked Ice Parallel
1 – Cut to the Chase
1 – Top Tier
1 – Call to the Hall
1 – Track Masters
1 – Signature Series Autograph

2017 Panini Donruss NASCAR Racing Cards

Grabbed a couple packs of the 2017 Donruss NASCAR racing cards.  The design looks like classic Donruss and I like these cards.  There are ten cards per pack.  Would like to see a few more for my buck but this seems to be the trend here.  There is a mix of car and driver photos.  Driver photos can't normally be action shots it is nice to see some with drivers in non-standard poses or looks.

  I love the '84 Donruss design and it is utilized here in the retro design cards.  You'll also see the Rated Rookie cards.  I was pretty happy with my pull with the Kyle Busch, Danica Patrick car, and '84 retro Chase Elliot being my favorites.

Race Kings and Race Queen are part of the set.  I didn't pull any but love these subsets across all the sports in Donruss sets.  I'll definitely go looking for the Kings subset  Again I really enjoyed these cards and I'm sure I'll pick up another pack or two this year.