SCF Official Review: 2011 Wheels Element

[Enigma]

First and foremost, I'd like to thank our sponsors at Press Pass for providing us with this box.



24 packs per box
6 cards per pack
Current Retail Price (online): 64.99 - 74.99

Product Description

- One autograph per box featuring Wheels Authentic Autographs and Undiscovered Elements (autographs signed by NASCAR's up and coming stars).
- One memorabilia card per box
*Flagstand Swatches - New for 2011! Race-used eight-piece memorabilia cards featuring swatches of all eight NASCAR flags! (#'d to 25 or less)
*Trackside Treasures - New for 2011! Features a wide range of race-used "treasures" numbered to 99 or less. Look for Prime Swatches numbered to 25 or less!
*Flagship Performers (race-used flag cards #'d to 50 or less) - look for three sets each featuring a die cut of the driver's total wins, starts or championships!
*Finish Line - features an oversized swatch of race-used tire, green flag or checkered flag



WHAT WE PULLED




Base: 99/100 (99%)
Dupes: 29



Black Border /35 (1): Austin Dillon
Green Border (4): Kasey Kahne, Ryan Newman, Kyle Busch, Kevin Harvick
High Octane Vehicle (4)
NASCAR HOF (1)
Tales From The Track (4)




Paul Menard Auto /25
Trackside Treasures Carl Edwards Firesuit /85




FINAL RATINGS

Base - 4.75/5
Design - 3.5/5
Fun - 4/5
Value - 3/5
Rebuy - 3.5/5

Total - 17.75/25 (71%)

Two years ago, Press Pass moved away from Wheels High Gear and introduced Wheels Element to racing collectors. In each release, Element has had a different look. In 2008 it was based on chemistry and the periodic table and 2009 saw a "Go Green" campaign. This year it has gone retro. Drivers from the three main circuits are featured along with their rides in a picture-within-a-picture design. Intermingled are photos of some of the Sprint Cup cars by themselves. Then the subsets get started with Sunday Sensation, showcasing some of the winning drivers at various races throughout the 2010 season. G Force focuses on the cars and what it is like behind the wheel. The multitude of racing teams are pictured together in Dream Team and the best drivers in numerous statistical categories highlight Top Performers. Finally, one of the staples of Element rounds out the set. Undiscovered Elements displays five up and comers in the racing community.

Each box has a mystery card, sealed in a foil wrap. While there are chances at autographs, the majority will yield a numbered black border parallel. There is also a green border parallel that can be found in packs. High Octane Vehicle is a 12-card set that centers around some of the cars and trucks that have made a huge splash in the last few years. The multi-release NASCAR Hall Of Fame cards appear at a rate of 1 per box. And then there is Tales From The Track, a 10-card set that compiles great stories from yesteryear with a picture to match.

While it's just the third year for Element, this concoction feels lackluster. The design seems like Press Pass was running out of time for ideas and threw this together as deadline approached. I realize that it is hard work to come up with a motif for a set, but I feel more could have been done. Especially considering the Trackside Treasures look like a lesser version of something seen in Legends. And then there's the fact that once again boxes are not yielding a complete set when there are handfuls of extras. But it's not all negative for Element. The information on the back of the cards, especially in the G Force subset, is great. As always, Undiscovered Elements is a wonderful way to introduce people who may not be household names yet. However, with only 1 numbered parallel, 1 auto and 1 race used, the value is not there overall. Not to mention the drive to go back and acquire more boxes.

Once again, I'd like to thank our wonderful sponsors at Press Pass for giving us the opportunity to open and review this release. For more information on all their products, they can be found at www.presspassinc.com.

[Tradinpaint]

do u give away the hit?