Spade Racing Opens Three 2026 Select “Blaster” Boxes—Pack 1 of 18

I’m moving away from Hobby Boxes to three “Blaster” Boxes this time for the 2026 Panini Select cards.  Join me as I go through all 18 packs!

Pack 1: First first look, the path took, and are “obscure Truck Series drivers” this series’ hook?

First Look: Here’s a look at the 2026 Select cards’ basic look.  As is often the case, they’re very fancy, very slick, and VERY hard to photograph.

To the Back: As always there’s the issue of these cards going to print months before they are released to the public.  So they missed all the great things Jake Garcia’s done since then like…uhh, more top-tens.

Say What: “I’m a little teapot”

Final Rating: 2 pre-race interviews out of 10

www.spaderacing.com updated four times weekly

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Visit the store https://www.cafepress.com/spaderacing

Buy the book 100 Stock Car Racing What Ifs Unauthorized

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A MOXOC Media production

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Foundational Bricks—The 1994 Brickyard 400: 38th, Jeff Burton

Join me as I take a look back every Monday at the starting lineup for one of the biggest races in NASCAR history, the inaugural Brickyard 400.

Starting 38th: (rookie) Jeff Burton #8 Raybestos Stavola Brothers Racing Ford

Finished: 19th

Career Highlights: 21 Cup Series race wins, four (consecutive) Cup Series championship top-five finishes, 1999 Southern 500 winner, drove a pink-accented car and didn’t get mocked for it.

Jeff Burton late in his
career

Total Brickyard 400 Starts: 20

Best Brickyard 400 Finish: 5th (1999)

1994 Fun Fact: Jeff was the 1994 Cup Series Rookie of the Year, beating out his own brother for the award.  On the flip side, Jeff didn’t spend an entire year living off the land in the woods.

Signed by team co-owner Billy Stavola

www.spaderacing.com updated four times weekly

www.facebook.com/spaderacing

www.twitter.com/spaderacing

Visit the store https://www.cafepress.com/spaderacing

Buy the book 100 Stock Car Racing What Ifs Unauthorized

Does this track have lights?

A MOXOC Media production

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An Average O’Reilly Series Race Day for JJ Yeley

3 Hours Before the Green Flag: Arrive at track with the little soaps you swiped from the Motel 6.

2 Hours, 45 Minutes Before the Green Flag: Change into remarkably clean firesuit (no laps=no sweat).

2 Hours, 30 Minutes Before the Green Flag: Meeting with sponsors (last weekend was ‘Recliner 4 Sale Dark Brown V. Minor Fabric Damage $150 OBO’).

2 Hours Before the Green Flag: Meet with Ford Racing representatives (a guy in a blue polo shirt who claims to drive a ’98 Ranger).

1 Hour 30 Minutes Before the Green Flag: Pre-race meal—ramen noodles, expired beef jerky, and whatever soda they could swipe from JRM’s coolers.

1 Hour Before the Green Flag: Drivers’ meeting, try again to get “Hey I’m an F1 champion” joke to make someone laugh.

30 Minutes Before the Green Flag: Drivers’ introductions—the silence is a good time to check for tinnitus.

15 Minutes Before the Green Flag: Pre-race ceremonies, try think of new ways to explain why the car will “fail”.

5 Minutes Before the Green Flag: Get strapped in, fire up the engine, roll off pit road, and think about where to go in about half an hour.

GREEN FLAG!: Fall to the back, wonder how it got to be this way, regret departure from JGR, avoid spinning Natalie Decker.

5 Minutes After the Green Flag: Pit, sit in car, watch crew do nothing, then go back on track.  It’s a lot like life.

15 Minutes After the Green Flag: Pit, use random excuse to explain why car isn’t working, pull behind the garage, say hi to Phil the official who takes pity on us.

30 Minutes After the Green Flag: Help team load car onto hauler that was once a backup hauler to the backup hauler for Hendrick Motorsports’ test team.

45 Minutes After the Green Flag: If possible, pull out of the garage through the tunnel to beat the traffic.  If not possible, stay and play canasta to pass the time.

www.spaderacing.com updated four times weekly

www.facebook.com/spaderacing

www.twitter.com/spaderacing

Visit the store https://www.cafepress.com/spaderacing

Buy the book 100 Stock Car Racing What Ifs Unauthorized

Does this track have lights?

A MOXOC Media production

www.moxoc.com