Spade Racing: 2025

Spade Racing Opens a 2025 Donruss Hobby Box: Pack 15 of 16

It’s back to new cards, with a “hobby box” of 2025 Donruss racing cards. There’s sixteen packs, so join me as I go through each of them!

Pack 15 of 16: Big Cat, Jokes about That, and Where it Sat

First Look: From the looks of things Alex is posing in front of a black light poster for an early-80’s prog rock band that never really made it (I’ll call them “Teal”).

To the Back: I’m sure Austin’s heard all the jokes about his last name, so let’s instead make fun of his FIRST name with a bunch of 3:16 jokes.

Say What: “I’ll put this on the end table in the tv room—just gotta make sure Chase doesn’t knock it over.”

Final Rating: 3 spinouts out of 10

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Spade Racing’s Stars in Unusual Cars: Cale Yarborough

Cale Yarborough leaves Junior Johnson for MC Anderson (1981-82)

Join me throughout this year as I take a look at when some of the sport’s biggest stars drove some unusual cars! (Presented in no particular order).

Courtesy NASCAR Legends/Pinterest

Why? It seemed strange—why would Cale Yarborough leave a team where he’d finished first or second in points six out of the past eight years to run a part-time schedule? Well, the answer was simple—Yarborough didn’t want to miss watching his daughters grow up, and a partial Cup schedule allowed him to spend more time at home.

How successful were they? Quite successful—Cale won five races in two part-time seasons for Anderson, including the 1982 Southern 500.

What was the aftermath? Yarborough continued to run part-time schedule, now doing so for Rainer-Lundy Racing, from 1983 through 1986, winning two Daytona 500s in the process. He’d retire after two final years in his own car.

Ranking on the Strange-O-Meter? 3 consecutive championships out of 10—as odd as it might have looked in 1981, Cale would spend the rest of the decade running part-time, oddly enough in cars 27, 28, and 29.

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

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AUTO-Biographies: Swerve or Die: Life at My Speed in the First Family of NASCAR Racing

Author(s): Kyle Petty & Ellis Henican

The Good: Nobody, with the possible exception of Dale Earnhardt Jr., has lived a life more surrounded by NASCAR than Kyle Petty has. This book covers just about all of it—growing up Petty, his early days in racing, dealing with the tragedy of his son Adam’s death, and making his way with his new family as a philanthropist and media figure. We also get the trademark Kyle Petty incisiveness and self-criticism—no self-pity or excuse making here.

The Not-so-good: Much like in other Kyle Petty projects, he kind of skips over his most-successful Cup years. The third quarter or so of the book is focused almost-exclusively on Adam Petty’s brief career and his passing, which kind of takes the book in an odd detour. Kyle’s first marriage (and subsequent divorce) is glossed-over to the point it almost felt like it was left out completely. And the final chapter—a sort-of manifesto on the future of the sport—is incisive but doesn’t fit in well with the rest of the book.

What I’d Change: Not much, but if I was the co-writer or editor, I’d have prodded Kyle to focus more on his early-90’s run as a consistent race-winner. Also, perhaps some asides from friends and competitors could’ve added further insight.

Read It?: Yes if you’re a NASCAR fan who became a fan in the 90’s, a huge yes if you’re a fan of all things Petty.

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

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A MOXOC Media production

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Spade Racing Opens a 2025 Donruss Hobby Box: Pack 14 of 16

It’s back to new cards, with a “hobby box” of 2025 Donruss racing cards. There’s sixteen packs, so join me as I go through each of them!

Pack 14 of 16: Four “Rated”, Anticipated, and Desire Sated

First Look: Four—count ‘em—FOUR Rated Rookie cards in this single pack! And if YOU remember when Frankie Muniz was a “rated rookie” in the acting world, check to make sure you’re properly funding your 401k.

To the Back: Winning on his debut set Connor Zilisch on the path to a 2026 Trackhouse Cup ride…and likely a 2029 Hendrick Cup ride.

Say What: “Hi! I’m a piece of metal. Enjoy!”

Final Rating: 8 rookie stripes out of 10

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

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A MOXOC Media production

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Spade Racing’s Stars in Unusual Cars: Ward Burton

Ward Burton ends his career with Haas CNC & Morgan-McClure (2003-07)

Join me throughout this year as I take a look at when some of the sport’s biggest stars drove some unusual cars! (Presented in no particular order).

Why? Ward Burton spent eight-plus years driving the Bill Davis Racing #22, picking up five wins (including a Daytona 500) in the process. However, a noticeable slide in performance would see Ward leave the team late in the 2003 season to run for Haas CNC Racing, the forerunner of Stewart-Haas Racing. Later, he’d spend all of 2005 and most of 2006 out of racing before making a brief comeback with Morgan-McClure Motorsports.

How successful were they? Burton provided a veteran presence at Haas CNC, a team on its way up, posting three top-tens in less-than-ideal equipment. However, upon his return with MMM, a team on its way down, Ward struggled to even qualify for races.

What was the aftermath? Haas CNC would take a major leap forward upon reinventing itself thanks to Tony Stewart becoming a driver/part-owner, while Morgan-McClure would only attempt five more races before fading out of existence. Ward Burton has not returned to the driver’s seat since.

Ranking on the Strange-O-Meter? 2 CAT Skid Steer Loaders out of 10—a disappointing way to end a career that, unfortunately, never saw Ward in truly “top-level” equipment.

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

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A MOXOC Media production

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AUTO-Biographies: Spade Racing’s One Man Book Club (Introduction)

Over the past two years or so I’ve read a book or two written by (perhaps “written by”) or about Nascar drivers. Over the next few months I’ll be reviewing them—what I liked about them, what I didn’t like, and what I would’ve changed. And, of course, a final verdict on if you should read it as well. So join me as I prove once and for all that I can read.

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

Spade Racing Offseason Preview

Well, another season is in the books! Thanks, as always, for reading my writing, as without you I’d just be talking to myself (and I already do more than enough of THAT). Here’s what you can expect going into 2026:

—a new series, AUTO-Biographies, featuring my reviews of several NASCAR-centric books.

—more cards every single Tuesday.

—once Stars in Unusual Cars ends, my series on the entire starting lineup of the inaugural Brickyard 400 will begin.

—I’m working on finding a new picker for 2026 races—stay tuned.

Enjoy the offseason, enjoy the holidays, and before you know it I’ll be back with my wildly inaccurate seasons previews!

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

Race Picks (the last season?), Uncle Max vs. The Points Leader: Wrap Up

EDITOR’S NOTE: I’d like to thank Uncle Max for all his picks over the past few years. I’d also like to say that there WILL be a new picker next year, although I’m still working on getting all the kinks worked out. Here’s where Uncle Max wound up for 2025:

TRUCK SERIES (8 wins)

XFINITY SERIES (2 wins)

CUP SERIES Points Leader (1 win)

Favorite (3 wins)

Next Favorite (5 wins)

Dark Horse (2 wins)

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

Spade Racing Opens a 2025 Donruss Hobby Box: Pack 13 of 16

It’s back to new cards, with a “hobby box” of 2025 Donruss racing cards. There’s sixteen packs, so join me as I go through each of them!

Pack 13 of 16: What’s That with Him, an Acronym, and the Future’s Grim

First Look: What’s that in Michael McDowell’s right side, near the “26/99”? Kinda looks like a gasket of some sort.

To the Back: NWMT means Nascar Whelen Modified Tour, if you were curious. And if you don’t live in the Northeast and/or are under the age of 60, you don’t need to be.