Buzz Break: 2012 Press Pass Legends racing cards (two blaster boxes)

From time to time, Buzz will break a box of something and post the results here. Like this and want to see more? Or maybe there’s a box you’d want to see busted? Send Buzz an email at BlowoutBuzz@blowoutcards.com.

The box: 2012 Press Pass Legends racing (blaster)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby when available)

BOX 1

Packs per box: 1
Cards per pack: 5
Cards in this box: 5
Base set completion:  3 of 50 (6 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Base cards – Carl Edwards, Dale Inman, Dick Berggren

Insert cards: 1 (all cards from both boxes in gallery below)
Green parallel (1) – John Force

Autographs/Memorabilia: 1
Legends Autographs Gold (1) – Ray Evernham (/150)

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BOX 2

Packs per box: 1
Cards per pack: 5
Cards in this box: 5
Base set completion:  2 of 50 (4 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Base cards – Dario Franchitti, Terry Labonte

Insert cards: 2 (all cards from box in gallery below)
Green parallel (1) – Tony Stewart
Memorable Moments (1) – Richard Petty vs. Darrell Waltrip

Autographs/Memorabilia: 1
Pieces of History Memorabilia Silver (1) – Terry Labonte (/199; firesuit)

What’s Buzz-worthy: Buzz found these hit-per-pack boxes at a retail chain bargain bin and immediately scooped them up at half of their original price ($9.98 now) knowing that there’s a shot at some big names in NASCAR history possible among the hits — whether it’s an on-card autograph or a memorabilia card. The auto in one box here was Ray Evernham, the crew chief for three Cup championships with Jeff Gordon who went on to become a team owner and TV personality. He had about a dozen autos for Press Pass in the past and has fewer than 40 overall unique auto cards (most coming in National Treasures), making this an example of why this brand is a fun one that can pay off with something a bit more unique. The other box included a memorabilia card of a recent Hall of Famer and an extra insert card instead of a base. Not as appealing as ink but not bad for the price. Also helping these boxes? The Green parallels are retail-only — so a big name may have more demand than you might think — at least all these years later when both box types aren’t as easily found than back then. You can find a number of Hall of Fame drivers in this one as well as number of memorable names from the past with some nickname autos, printing plates and cut autos. Also in play here are memorabilia cards from big names with some being rarer than others based on the memorabilia type (shoes, gloves, firesuits, drag racers’ car parachutes, hats, sheet metal and more). When I see more of these, I will pick them off — and you’ll probably see them right here — because Legends is one of my favorite brands from Press Pass.

Product Grade: A
Box Grade: A for Box 1; B for Box 2
Fun Grade: A-

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