The Hero Card Project 2026: Part 1

Link to my preview (contains all team addresses)

Hero card responses are pouring in!  If you’re new to hero card collecting, check out my guide at herocardguide.com for step-by-step instructions on how to request hero cards, how to receive them, and how to store them.  I sent SASEs (Self Addressed Stamped Envelopes) to every Cup, O’Reilly and Truck team, as well as a few major ARCA operations as well.  Who’ll be the first to respond?  Who’ll send in the most cards?  Whose cards will be brand new?  And will any teams send in autographed cards?  Join me over the next few months as I find out!

The following cards arrived from April 2 through April 11.

Joe Gibbs Racing claims the pole position!  I got nine cards
(8 Cup, 1 O'Reilly) and a nice pre-printed note

The always-punctual Wood Brothers sent this card

Four cards from Jordan Anderson Racing

Four cards (two autographed!) from ARCA mainstay
Fast Track

Four Nascar and three IndyCar cards from Team Penske

Three cards (one signed) from Joey Gase Motorsports

Six cards from Truck team TRICON Garage
(note: all six have a generic team logo pattern on the back)

Three cards (including a double) from AM Racing
of the O'Reilly Series

Six cards (3 Cup, 3 O'Reilly) from Richard Childress Racing

Six cards from Team Reaume of the Truck Series

RETURN TO SENDERS: The following addresses are no longer valid

Beard Motorsports 148-B Knob Hill Road Mooresville NC

CR7 2289 Turnersburg Hwy Suite 200 Statesville NC

DGM Racing 1305 Scenic Hwy Lake Wales FL


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Race Picks Kansas: Spade Racing vs. AI

Join me as I test my wits against various AI programs in picking the 2026 Cup races.  Once they’ve made their picks, I’ll make my normal Favorite, Next Favorite, and Dark Horse picks (in addition to my regular O’Reilly & Truck Series picks).  At the end of the year we’ll see who knows more—me, or a soulless machine gobbling up water and electricity.


AI (1 win) Claude (Sonnet 4.6) sez: “As for predicting a winner, I can't say with certainty, but here are some things to keep in mind heading into Kansas:

Kansas Speedway is a 1.5-mile intermediate track, a style that tends to favor teams with strong aero packages and pit strategy.

Historically, drivers like Kyle Larson…have been strong at intermediate tracks in recent seasons.”


Truck Series (1 win) off


O’Reilly Series (1 win) Kansas Lottery 300 Saturday 7pm ET on CW: BRANDON JONES—benefitting Kansans everyday!


Cup Series AdventHealth 400 Sunday 2pm on Fox  FAVORITE (1 win): DENNY HAMLIN—MJ, I don’t think we’re in Kansas any—oh, wait, we are.  NEXT FAVORITE: WILLIAM BYRON—for Chevy its looking like it’ll be HMS and then the rest.  DARK HORSE (1 win): CHASE BRISCOE—fuel milage, perhaps.



www.spaderacing.com updated four times weekly


www.facebook.com/spaderacing


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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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Spade Racing Opens 2 Blaster Boxes of 2025 Panini Prizm Cards—Pack 7 of 12


Rather than a “hobby box”, I decided to go with the more economical choice of two “Blaster Boxes” for the 2025 Panini Prizm cards (although they were bought in January 2026.  With six packs of five cards each in each box, that’s twelve packs to open!


Pack 7: JHN, Jeff again, and clean shaven


First Look: The “car number on the pants” look is..odd.  It also doesn’t help that here he’s sponsored by a generic-sounding company.


To the Back: I think we all took Jeff Gordon’s success for granted in the 90’s.  Dude was nearly unstoppable until, well, life got in the way AND he hired the next great superstar.  Speaking of which…


Say What: “My face is so COLD!”


Final Rating: 7 firesuit patches out of 10



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