Today’s the day that Panini America‘s first NASCAR product arrives in the form of 2016 Panini Prizm, and one of the biggest newcomers in that set is Chase Elliott, who’s the leading candidate for the Sprint Cup Rookie of the Year award.
Today’s also the day for the opening of the National Sports Collectors Convention in Atlantic City, N.J., too.
And how do those two things cross paths? Elliott will be one of the guests at Panini’s VIP Party on Saturday night — he’s the first guest confirmed by the company.
Prizm is the first of four products to arrive for NASCAR collectors this season.
“We’re thrilled to be aligned with Panini, which will provide a fresh approach and reenergize this category,” said Blake Davidson, NASCAR’s vice president of licensing and consumer products. “Partnering with a leader in the space was an important strategy for NASCAR, producing top-quality product for NASCAR fans, kids and collectors alike.”
The sentiment was echoed by Panini’s CEO Mark Warsop.
“We are excited to bring NASCAR trading cards back into the marketplace,” Warsop said. “NASCAR fans are some of the most passionate in all of sport, and we look forward to delivering an assortment of products across a broad range of price points that meet the needs of collectors and race fans alike.”
Elliott is the son of NASCAR Hall of Famer Bill Elliott and took over the No. 24 Chevy of Jeff Gordon, a future Hall of Famer, this season for Hendrick Motorsports. He was the 2014 Nationwide Series Rookie of the Year and the Xfinity Series Most Popular Driver award winner in 2014 and 2015. He has 11 top 10 finishes in the Sprint Cup Series and won five races in the Xfinity Series before his promotion to NASCAR’s top circuit.
>> Click here for a 2016 Panini Prizm checklist
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