Opening a Sealed Box of 2019 Donruss Racing Cards PACK 9

NOTE: Uncle Max picks Kyle Busch for this weekend’s Truck Series race (no picks for non-points events)

Recently I got a sealed box of 2019 Donruss Racing Cards—24 packs, 8 cards per pack.  Join me as I go through the entire case, pack-by-pack, to see what awaited me. (Click any picture to enlarge)

PACK 9 OF 24: Retro, Next to Go, and White Guy Fro

OVERVIEW: Now THIS is what I call variety!  Legends both old and recent, current drivers, and a look towards the future.  Even the constant presence of Terry Labonte (again!) can’t put a damper on things.

SPECIAL SPECIAL: Perhaps the only thing better than seeing the beginnings of Rusty Wallace’s legendary white-guy fro is seeing it in OPTIC form.  Helps that he has a facial expression here that matches his personality.

IN FOCUS: “NEXT IN LINE” returns for 2019 to take a look at the current “Nascar NEXT” class, drivers picked by Nascar to keep an eye on as they move up through the developmental series.  And his name is Chase, which I think was required by law back in the early-00’s.

SPOTLIGHT: Jimmie Johnson’s Retro Rated Rookie card—the only place you’ll see a seven-time champion and Loy Allen Jr. mentioned together.

SCORE: 9 spark plugs out of 10

Kyle Larson Forced to Return to Camden, Delaware for Good Luck Charms

A week after posting a much-needed top-five at Dover International Speedway, Kyle Larson was preparing for this weekend’s race at Kansas Speedway.  However, Larson was forced to make a return trip to Camden, Delaware, in order to receive the good-luck charms he got in a pre-race segment for Fox Sports.

“Geez, another trip to Camden”, a visibly annoyed Larson posted in a short video to his official Twitter feed.  “I thought the whole thing was a publicity stunt to make fun of my bad luck so far this season, but apparently my team, sponsors, and management felt differently, so its another trip down US-13 for me.”

Larson visited a specialist in good-luck charms in Camden, a small suburb of Dover, along with Axalta executive Jeff Gordon.  The segment, while mildly entertaining, appeared to have some positive effect on Larson’s performance, albeit most-likely coincidentally.

“I’ve never believed in much of that stuff—good luck charms, reversing curses, and so forth”, Larson said while waiting for the fortune healer to open for the day.  “But (primary sponsor) Credit One liked what they saw and I guess (team owner) Chip (Ganassi) agreed.

“So here I am, waiting on a side street for a person to open their store so I can go in and have incense spread around me while I sit idly in a chair.  Yeah.”

Larson’s previously dismal 2019 was credited by most to an uncompetitive Chevy body, the loss of sponsor DC Solar, and the overall dominance of Joe Gibbs Racing and Team Penske.  However, Larson disagreed on these counts.

“I mean, yeah—we’re running against the best of the best every week—well, the best of the best and whoever’s in the 51 car”, Larson said, “but there’s certain racing luck involved, if you want to call it that.  The choices are simple—spend years and years working with GM on making a body style that can actually pass on 1.5 mile tracks while simultaneously rebuilding the team from the grass-roots level up to be a force on the track every week, or getting a new rabbit’s foot.  I say, bring on the fuzzy feets.”

Larson also added that he was terrified at first of going to Camden, then was reassured that it was in Delaware, not New Jersey.

Spade Racing Picks: Uncle Max vs. Mystery Picker—Kansas

This past week’s been very up-and-down—much like my picks lately.  Kinda like here the small stuff has been up—been planning out my annual Shore trip, making some headway in my fantasy baseball league, and so forth.  But the big stuff?  Not so good.

There’s nothing like getting angry at work for no good reason.  Its not important why (although it might have something to do with someone copping an attitude FOR NO GOOD REASON) but I, like a lot of people, have some issues expressing my anger.  I’m not very artistic, and the only writing I do is this column, so there’s not many outlets.  Thankfully, sometimes a late night drive home is just what it takes to soothe the savage beast—well, that and punching the dashboard repeatedly.

CUP SERIES Digital Ally 400: Mystery Picker picks Joey Logano.  Favorite (3 wins): Kyle Busch—back on the Rowdy Train for a bit.  Next Favorite (1 win): Martin Truex Jr.—two in a row…but is it one of his home tracks?  Dark Horse: Alex Bowman—FINALLY breaking through.

TRUCK SERIES (5 wins) Digital Ally 250: Matt Crafton—surprised there’s no ringers running this race.