SCF Official Review: 2011 Press Pass FanFare

[Enigma]

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



8 packs per box
5 cards per pack
Current Retail Price (online): $114.99 - $129.99

Product Description

Press Pass is excited to announce its newest addition to the NASCAR trading card lineup - Press Pass FanFare! This all new set delivers the best value of the year with an authentic on-card autograph or race-used memorabilia card in every pack!


PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS
- Autographs - Press Pass FanFare features the most expansive autograph lineup of all Press Pass 2011 releases with four levels to collect. Many Nationwide and Truck series drivers will have their first autograph cards exclusively in FanFare!
- Magnificent Materials Memorabilia cards - As with FanFare Autograph cards, the race-used memorabilia cards are the most extensive lineup ever produced in a NASCAR trading card set. Look for exclusive Nationwide and Truck series driver memorabilia cards. Single-swatch cards are numbered to 199 or less and dual-swatch cards are numbered to 50 or less!
- 100-card base set featuring current drivers, team owners and Legends.
- Each 5-card hobby packs will include an Autograph card or Magnificent Materials race-used memorabilia card with at least one autograph and memorabilia card in each 8-pack box from a NASCAR Sprint Cup driver!


PRODUCT DESCRIPTION

2011 Press Pass FanFare Delivers Exclusive Content

Cole Whitt - The first memorabilia cards of NASCAR Camping World Truck Series points leader and likely Rookie of the Year, Cole Whitt, will appear in FanFare. The rookie sensation's first Truck Series autograph will also appear as an exclusive to FanFare.
Ryan Truex - Brother of NASCAR driver Martin Truex Jr and pilot of the #99 Pastrana-Waltrip Racing Toyota, Ryan Truex's first memorabilia cards and first autograph cards as a NASCAR Nationwide contender will appear exclusively in FanFare. At age 19, Truex has already proven himself as a two-time NASCAR Camping World East Champion (2009 and 2010).
Joe Nemechek - Authentic autographs and race-used memorabilia cards for NASCAR Sprint Cup driver "Front Row" Joe Nemechek, a perennial fan favorite and 1992 Busch Series Champion, will appear exclusively in FanFare.
Timmy Hill - Making his charge for 2011 NASCAR Nationwide Rookie of the Year, series newcomer Timmy Hill's first autographs and memorabilia cards will appear exclusively in FanFare.
Clay Rogers - Currently in the top-ten in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series standings, Clay Rogers' first autographs and memorabilia cards will appear in FanFare. Clay Rogers is a four-time USAR Pro Cup Champion, and in 2006 he won the Snowball Derby, noted as one of the most prestigious races in all of short track racing.
Elliott Sadler - The current NASCAR Nationwide Series points leader and fan favorite, Elliott Sadler is one of only 22 drivers to have won a race in each of NASCAR's top three series. Elliott's Nationwide autographs and race-used memorabilia cards can only be found in 2011 FanFare!
Joe Gibbs - A member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame with three Super Bowl championships and three NASCAR Sprint Cup championships under his belt, Joe Gibbs is one of the most successful coaches and owners of all time. His autographs will appear exclusively in FanFare.
Richard Childress - A true icon in NASCAR, Richard Childress owns one of the most potent race teams in the sport. As car owner for the famous No. 3 Goodwrench Chevrolet driven by Dale Earnhardt, the duo racked up six NASCAR Sprint Cup championships throughout the 80s and 90s. Childress will be making his triumphant return to the Press Pass autograph lineup with 2011 FanFare.
Jack Roush - Defying death and winning championships are two of Jack Roush's specialties. The "Cat in the Hat" has survived two plane crashes and claimed two NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championships and fields a very successful four-car team featuring Carl Edwards and Matt Kenseth. Jack Roush's autograph cards will be found exclusively in FanFare in 2011.

Look for single team owner autographs, as well as dual driver/owner combinations such as Kyle Busch/Joe Gibbs, Kevin Harvick/Richard Childress, and Carl Edwards/Jack Roush.

In addition to a comprehensive NASCAR Sprint Cup Series autograph and memorabilia roster, FanFare will also include autographs and some of the first memorabilia cards for several of the top stars in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and NASCAR Nationwide Series including:

Austin Dillon - Grandson of Richard Childress, legendary car owner for Dale Earnhardt. Austin is currently in top-5 in series points standings and his autographs and first memorabilia cards will be included in FanFare.
Johnny Sauter - 2009 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Rookie of the Year and currently in second place in series points standings, autographs and memorabilia from Johnny Sauter will appear in FanFare.
Ron Hornaday - Four-time NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Champion Ron Hornaday will have both autographs and race-used memorabilia in FanFare.
Ricky Carmichael - Known simply as the GOAT (Greatest of All Time), Ricky Carmichael enjoyed unrivaled success in Motocross. Carmichael is a fan favorite at NASCAR tracks across the US and his autographs and first memorabilia cards will appear in FanFare.
Ricky Stenhouse - Sitting just one point out of the lead in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, Ricky Stenhouse has proven himself as a leading contender for the 2011 NASCAR Nationwide Championship title. Stenhouse's autographs and first memorabilia cards will appear in FanFare.
Justin Allgaier - 2008 ARCA/RE-MAX Series Champion and 2009 Nationwide Series Rookie of the Year, Justin "Little Gator" Allgaier is currently in the top-5 in series points and is poised to claim his first Nationwide Series Championship. Allgaier's autographs and first race-used memorabilia cards will be included in FanFare.
Aric Almirola - Currently 5th in series points, Aric Almirola has proven himself a championship contender driving the #88 for Dale Earnhardt Jr. Aric is a fan favorite at the track and collectors will be pleased to find autographs as well as race-used glove and shoe cards in FanFare.
Trevor Bayne - 2011 Daytona 500 winner Trevor Bayne is running for the Nationwide Series championship and hopes to be back in contention after a mysterious illness sidelined him for a few races. This fan favorite will sign both Sprint Cup and Nationwide autographs for FanFare and race-worn firesuit cards from both series will also be included.

WHAT WE PULLED



Bonus Pack - Mangificent Materials Jeff Gordon 2-color Firesuit /199



Base - 17/100 (17%)
Die-Cut - 8
Championship Caliber (8)
Rookie Standouts (2)



Ryan Truex Auto /200



Joey Coulter Auto /51



Magnificent Materials Clint Bowyer 3-color Firesuit /199



Magnificent Materials Jeff Burton 2-color Firesuit/Glove /50



Magnificent Materials Ryan Truex 3-color Firesuit /225



Magnificent Materials Timmy Hill Tire /199



Magnificent Materials Signature Edition David Gilliland Glove/Auto /99



Magnificent Materials Signature Edition Justin Lofton 2-color Glove/Auto /96



FINAL RATINGS

Base - 4/5
Design - 5/5
Fun - 4.5/5
Value - 4.5/5
Rebuy - 4/5

Total - 22/25 (88%)

With the debacle that was Five Star scrapped from this year's lineup by Press Pass, they replaced it with a FanFare. Much like any new product, the anticipation level was high. Could a product with this much "fanfare" be successful considering there was a lot of focus around lower-tier drivers that do not really have anything card-wise. Simply put, yes!

The base set only contains 100 cards. The drivers are bordered on the left and right by gold bars with a swirl design. Each pack also contains one die-cut parallel with silver on the border instead of gold. For set enthusiasts, there are two inserts, Championship Caliber and Rookie Standouts.

The allure is every pack contains either a relic, an autograph or possibly a combination of the two. In addition, Press Pass added a silver foil bonus pack which delivers an extra "hit". Some might scoff at the lineup of names that you might receive as your big card in each pack, but when you consider that some of these guys have either never had or barely had any cards like this, it allows racing collectors a chance to acquire items they never had a chance to before. While this would not work out too well in other sports, it works out wonderfully in racing.

Press Pass FanFare succeeded in delivering the goods with a price point to match. It's hard to find a release in any sport that contains nine "hits" in this price range. I do feel that there should have been one extra base card in each pack to bring up the total to 25%, but that is a very minor detractor from a well-thought out product. I can easily see collectors trying one box out and going back for more. Is this a product for the secondary market, probably not. However, it is worthwhile for collectors.

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, visit them today at www.presspassinc.com.