Spade Racing Opens Six 2017 Donruss Racing Packs: 1 of 6

Here’s my latest haul—a “blaster box” containing six ten packs of 2017 Donruss Racing cards.  So join me as I take a look back about eight years ago with some cost-effective card packs

Pack 1 of 6: JHN, Earnhardt again, and Bobby’s end

First Look: Here’s a look at the basic design of the 2017 cards.  Personally, I like it, although the silver foil script doesn’t show up that well in pictures—just like how JHN’s sponsor logo doesn’t show up well behind those shades on his hat.

To the Back: Ralph Earnhardt had drive.  Dale Earnhardt had drive and talent.  Dale Earnhardt Jr. had talent.  Jeffrey Earnhardt had neither.

Say What: “I followed in my brother’s footsteps to Nascar, then to a Cup Series championship, and finally to obscurity with Go FAS Racing.”

Final Rating: 3 awkward grid walk interviews out of 10

www.spaderacing.com updated four times weekly

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

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Spade Racing’s Stars in Unusual Cars: Jimmie Johnson

Jimmie Johnson in his own #84 (2023-present)

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? After a disappointing (and, in retrospect, bizarre) two year sojourn in IndyCar, Jimmie Johnson bought into the former PettyGMS team, which was rechristened as Legacy Motor Club.  Jimmie then returned to the driver’s seat for their third part-time team in 2023 and 2024 (which plans to do so again in 2025).

How successful were they? So far they’ve been, well, terrible.  No top-twenties (that’s right—no finishes better than 26th), no strong qualifying efforts, and no contending races undone by bad luck.

What was the aftermath? While it has yet to be seen, Jimmie’s poor finish to his Hendrick run, followed by his lack of success running part-time, doesn’t exactly dispel the theory that it was mostly Chad Knaus’s doing for the 48 team’s success.

Ranking on the Strange-O-Meter? 5 neatly-trimmed beards out of 10—yeah its odd to see Jimmie in a Toyota running at the back of the pack, but ending a career in a mid-level car was far more common in NASCAR’s earlier days.

www.spaderacing.com updated four times weekly

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

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A MOXOC Media production

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Nascar Returns to the Turner Networks—A Look Back

On Saturday, Nascar returns to TNT for the first time since 2014 (…unless it rains), renewing a relationship the sport has had with the Turner networks going back to 1983.  Here’s a look back at some of the highlights:

1983—TBS begins broadcasting Nascar with the spring Richmond race, wedging it into its busy schedule of Georgia Championship Wrestling, Andy Griffith reruns, and more Georgia Championship Wrestling.

1993—TBS takes over broadcasting rights to the second Pocono race, increasing its Cup Series inventory from a meager two races to a mighty three.

2000—In the final race aired on TBS, the network experiments with “side-by-side” commercials at the fall Charlotte race, although given that it was in 2000, it was likely all dot-com startups that have since cratered.

2001—TNT takes over as a broadcast partner with NBC for the second half of the season, pairing radio veteran Allen Bestwick in the booth with seasoned tv commentator Benny Parsons.  Oh, and Wally Dallenbach Jr. is there too, for some reason.

2007—With the departure of NBC (for now), TNT signs on for a six-race “Summer Series” of races, and woahhhh was the coverage not very good.

2008—Larry McReynolds is sawed in half.

2009—Bill Weber is suspended (and later fired) for an incident at a hotel room the weekend of the New Hampshire race.  Jeez, the worst thing I ever did at a hotel room was take a pen.

2014—TNT airs its final race (until this weekend), looking to devote more time to airing endless re-airings of superhero movies.

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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Race Picks (the last season?), Uncle Max vs. The Points Leader: ATLANTA/LIME ROCK

EDITOR’S NOTE: Uncle Max is still on vacation, he texted me his picks yesterday afternoon.

TRUCK SERIES (3 wins) LiUNA 150 (Saturday 1pm ET on FS1) COREY HEIM—if the trophy isn’t a statue of Paul Newman I’m going to be very disappointed.

XFINITY SERIES (1 win) Focused Health 250 (Friday 7:30pm ET on CW) ANTHONY ALFREDO—fast pasta on a drafting track. 

CUP SERIES Quaker State 400 (Saturday 7pm ET on TNT) Points Leader picks WILLIAM BYRON.  Favorite (2 wins): CHRISTOPHER BELL—wait a minute—why didn’t Quaker State sponsor last week’s race?  Next Favorite (2 wins): ROSS CHASTAIN—I mean come on, last week’s race was at Pocono.  Dark Horse: RICKY STENHOUSE JR.—you know, Pocono Pennsylvania, which is THE QUAKER STATE.

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 Six 2017 Donruss Racing Packs: Preview

Here’s my latest haul—a “blaster box” containing six ten packs of 2017 Donruss Racing cards.  So join me as I take a look back about eight years ago with some cost-effective card packs

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’s Stars in Unusual Cars: Ricky Rudd (part 2)

The Rooster returns to RYR for his final season (2007)

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? After a disappointing three year stint with the Wood Brothers, Ricky Rudd made a single race appearance in 2006, qualifying (and later serving as a relief driver) for Tony Stewart at Dover.  However, he was lured out of his sabbatical by former team owner Robert Yates to run the 88 Ford for 2007.

How successful were they? A driver switch did little to stop the slide at Yates, as Rudd struggled all year long, regularly finishing outside the top-twenty.  Rudd would also miss five races due to injury, the first time in his lengthy career that had happened.

What was the aftermath? The team would change its name to Yates Racing after 2007, but would only survive for two more years before being merged out of existence.  Ricky Rudd, meanwhile, never returned to the driver’s seat.

Ranking on the Strange-O-Meter? 3 Snickers bars out of 10—while it was hoped that a Rudd-Yates reunion could provide a shot in the arm to the team’s performance, it was too little, too late. 

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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The Hero Card Project 2025 Part 5

Click here for Part 4

Hero Cards!  They’re collectable, they’re colorful, and they’re free!  I have SASEs (Self Addressed Stamped Envelopes) going out to every Cup, Xfinity and Truck team, as well as a few major ARCA operations as well.  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.

Here’s my third batch of Hero Cards—they arrived between June 7th through 18th: 

Two mini-cards (one of them signed!) from Sam Hunt Racing
of the Xfinity Series

An autographed Joey Gase card

A signed Dawson Sutton card from Truck Series
team RackleyWAR

Six cards from Spire Motorsports

Four Cup Series cards (and a nice note) from Joe Gibbs Racing

Four cards from Hyak Motorsports

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

EDITOR’S NOTE: Uncle Max is on vacation, he texted me his picks last night.

TRUCK SERIES (3 wins) MillerTech 200 (Friday 5pm ET on FS1) CARSON HOCEVAR—maybe Ricky Stenhouse Jr. will block his way into victory lane, Buckshot Jones-style.

XFINITY SERIES (1 win) Pocono Mountains 250 (Saturday 3:30pm ET on CW) CHASE ELLIOTT—sure there’s no podium here, but there IS the “Lehr Wall”. 

CUP SERIES Great American Getaway 400 (Sunday 2pm ET on Prime) Points Leader picks WILLIAM BYRON.  Favorite (2 wins): DENNY HAMLIN—maybe he can celebrate with an ISTABOY-brand cigar.  Next Favorite (2 wins): CHRISTOPHER BELL—a surprisingly quiet (but still strong) first half of the season.  Dark Horse: RICKY STENHOUSE JR.—assuming Carson Hocevar doesn’t wipe him out.  Repeatedly.

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 10 Value Packs of 2012 Press Pass Cards: 10 of 10

Here’s my latest haul—ten 8 card packs of 2012 Press Pass Cards.  So join me as I take a look back about 13 years ago with some cost-effective card packs

Pack 10 of 10: Head of the Class, A Little Sass, and Brendan’s Mass

First Look: “Head of the Class”.  Gee, that makes sense for a guy who claims the moon landing was faked.

To the Back: I can’t help but think that if Danica Patrick had a personality transplant, that she would’ve been much-better received by fans.  As it is she’s nearly forgotten in Nascar, and all five IndyCar fans don’t exactly remember her fondly.

Say What: “I’m about fifty pounds away from reaching full Mike Harmon.”

Final Rating: 5 post-race interviews 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

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Spade Racing’s Stars in Unusual Cars: Ricky Rudd (part 1)

Ricky Rudd’s two years with Richard Childress Racing (1982-83)

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? 1981 was a breakout year for the well-travelled Rudd, who finished sixth in points.  However, his DiGard team chose to sign veteran Bobby Allison, leading to Rudd moving to Richard Childress Racing’s #3 car, where he replaced Dale Earnhardt.

How successful were they? Rudd took the RCR car to its first two wins in his second year, posting a pair of 9th place points finishes in the process.  Considering that RCR was a small independent team prior to 1981, this was a major step up in performance.

What was the aftermath? Richard Childress went back to Dale Earnhardt Sr. for 1984, while an angry Rudd moved to Earnhardt’s old ride at Bud Moore Engineering.  While the Earnhardt-Childress combo would go on to win six Cup championships, Rudd would become something of a journeyman.

Ranking on the Strange-O-Meter? 6 pairs of Wrangler jeans washed in Tide out of 10—not only was this the spark for the Earnhardt-Rudd feud, but it made Rudd one of only four people EVER to drive the RCR #3 car on a regular basis.

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