NASCAR diecast
A NASCAR diecast car is a scale model replica of a NASCAR driver's specific car, represented at a NASCAR track. They are typically made of die-cast metal with plastic components. The cars are typically made in two scales: 1:64 and 1:24. However, other scales have occasionally been available over the years, including 1:87, 1:43, 1:32, 1:18, and rarely 1:144 and 1:16. The manufacturing of NASCAR die-cast replicas became popular in 1992 with the formation of Action Racing Collectibles. As of November 2011, Lionel NASCAR Collectibles (the new producer of Action) is the sole producer of NASCAR die-cast.
History
NASCAR diecast cars[1] were first produced in the mid-1990s by Hot Wheels, Matchbox, and Racing Champions. They were a popular souvenir at racetracks. By the 2000s, most teams had die-cast models produced for their drivers. Near 2005, there were four brands: Action/Winners Circle, Racing Champions, Hot Wheels, and Team Caliber. In 2006, Racing Champions and Hot Wheels stopped producing NASCAR-licensed replicas. That same year, Action Performance Companies and Team Caliber merged to form Motorsports Authentics, Inc. Team Caliber's product lines fully merged with Action in early 2007. In 2010, Action discontinued its Winners Circle retail brand at the end of the year. The licenses were taken over by Lionel, LLC in 2011, becoming the sole die-cast producer under the NASCAR Licensing Trust. In 2010, Hot Wheels created three promotional 1:64 scale die-cast cars of Danica Patrick; the first Hot Wheels-branded NASCAR products since 2006, though using tooling from the now-defunct Winners Circle line. These diecast cars were sold at the NASCAR.com Superstore. The diecast cars are sold through retail, wholesale, and the RCCA ELITE Diecast Club.
Winners Circle
Winners Circle started in 1996 with a few NASCAR drivers, including Dale Earnhardt, Jeff Gordon, Ernie Irvan, and Dale Jarrett. These cars came on cardboard backing with a plastic bubble, similar to Hot Wheels, but also included a picture card. Around 2001, Winners Circle started producing more drivers such as Dale Jarrett, Rusty Wallace, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Ricky Rudd, Sterling Marlin, Bill Elliott, and others. The cars were produced in 1/18, 1/24, 1/43, and 1/64 scales. The 1/64 and 1/24 were the most popular. These cars were mainly sold at Wal-Mart, Target, Kmart, Meijer, and other major retailers. The cars did not include Series Entitlement Sponsor or Pole Award Sponsor logos due to appropriateness concerns, and these sponsors would be placed on a black base. In 2004, many primary schemes from that year were produced, and Series Entitlement Sponsor decals were added to flagship cars for the first time. In 2005, many alternative schemes were produced instead of primary schemes. However, in 2006, Winners Circle returned to producing the main schemes with some alternative schemes. A tribute to Dale Earnhardt 5-car set based on cars run at Talladega by Martin Truex Jr., Dale Earnhardt Jr., Paul Menard, and a special car featuring all of Dale Earnhardt's major achievements was created with alcoholic sponsors. In 2007, Winners Circle produced slightly fewer cars in retail stores. The company began producing Gen 4 cars until the race-version cars came out, then produced Gen 5 cars that won races. They switched to plastic packaging instead of cardboard, due to widespread cardboard package damage in stores. In 2008, fewer cars were made as the complete transition from Gen 4 to Gen 5 body styles occurred. They began the year with top drivers like Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, Kasey Kahne, Dale Earnhardt Jr., etc. They did not produce a special line like "American Heroes" or "Tribute to Dale" except for a special Hendrick case with Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. In 2009, a significant decrease in diecast production began. The year started with Daytona 500 special packaging and a special case with a promotional Daytona 500 car and a Sprint Cup Series driver's car like Kyle Busch, Mark Martin, or Jeff Gordon. In 2010, a limited number of paint schemes were produced, and Motorsports Authentics announced the discontinuation of the Winners Circle brand, coinciding with an early-season rule change affecting car body styles, requiring significant retooling. From mid-2010 to 2011, die-casts could only be purchased at track-side, licensed dealers, and through the Lionel NASCAR Collectibles website. However, in 2012, Spin Master, the creators of Air Hogs, Tech Deck, Bakugan, and other retail items, announced plans to produce a large retail NASCAR merchandise line in stores like Walmart, Dollar General, Kmart, and Target, under the NASCAR Authentics name. In late 2015, Lionel Racing NASCAR Authentics cars were seen in stores. The cars were modeled after the Winner's Circle brand, with hood pieces and checkered flags in the center. However, the brand remained NASCAR Authentics, marking the end of Spin Master's involvement.
