NASCAR trading cards were first created in 1988 as a way for fans of the sport to show off their love while also engaging in an exciting trading game at the same time.
Ever since then, the game has very quickly risen in popularity, and this is in no small part thanks to the many different companies that have been involved with creating these cards.
A number of companies have been responsible for creating these cards, and they have created numerous fascinating ranges that now vary in value in today’s collectibles market.
Are you interested in NASCAR, and the NASCAR trading card game? If so, you may also be interested in hearing about their extensive history, which contains quite a few surprises.
For instance, do you know which company was responsible for creating the early series of NASCAR trading cards? How much do those cards now bring in?
And which is the rarest card? If you want to know the answers to these questions, then you have definitely come to the right place. Read below to find out who made the early NASCAR trading cards!
Who Made The Early NASCAR Trading Cards?
The first official set of NASCAR trading cards was actually produced in 1988 by the then-new company Pinnacle, which specialized in creating trading cards for many major sports, including football, baseball, hockey, and even NASCAR.
These cards proved immensely popular in their original release period, thanks to being the first official set to represent NASCAR.
As well as this, they were also popular because they contained some of the most iconic images from the sport. These included Dale Earnhardt Sr., Rusty Wallace, Mark Martin, and Jeff Gordon among others.
Pinnacle continued producing new sets of trading cards throughout the 1990s, but it was unfortunately declared defunct by the year 1998 after ten years of operation, by which point, the company had begun to lose profits.
Who Owned The Pinnacle Trading Card Company?
The Pinnacle trading card company was actually set up from the ground up, and very little can currently be found about its founders and CEOs.
However, as a result of being in the collectibles industry, the company had plenty of competition from right out of the gate, including the company Panini who are still market leaders to this very day.
This is not to say that the company did not see tremendous success over its time on the market, however, as the company drew massive profits, as a result of its unique trading card sets, and the company was even so successful that it was able to acquire the well established Donruss company, which was first established in 1954.
However, as we know, Pinnacle only survived for around 10 years, becoming defunct in the year 1998, as a result of declining profits.
Pinnacle’s assets were then acquired by different companies. Panini seized control of Donruss in the wake of Pinnacle’s collapse.
What Is The Rarest NASCAR Trading Card?
It is not definitively clear exactly which of the Pinnacle NASCAR trading cards is the rarest. However, listings on eBay and other auctioning websites suggest that some of the rarest cards in the set sell for up to $120.
This is a fairly significant sum, and many of those cards could potentially sell for even more should they be highly graded and in mint condition.
Unopened packs of Pinnacle trading cards can go for well over $200 each, which is not a sum to scoff at! A large reason that many of these cards and packs now draw a large sum is because of the fact that Pinnacle is now a defunct company.
Because of this, these cards will never be reprinted officially again, and as such, well-maintained cards from that series will see a significant rise in value over the coming years.
In terms of other NASCAR trading cards, there are numerous rare cards in other series that can fetch truly incredible sums. One of the rarest NASCAR cards is the Dale Earnhardt 2021 Gold vinyl card, of which only a few were ever printed.
One of these cards, at a 10 out of 10 PSA grading can sell in excess of $20,000! This is an incredible sum and one that would have been unimaginable when the card was originally released.
Is It Worth Investing In NASCAR Trading Cards?
It is very difficult to say with certainty whether it will prove to be valuable and profitable to invest in NASCAR trading cards. Part of the excitement is the chance that the cards may actually decrease in value.
This risk creates a sense of excitement for many that are involved in trading card investments.
You never know when a specific card from a NASCAR trading card set may increase in value in the future, so while it may be worth holding on to all new cards you acquire, the likelihood of those cards acquiring value is quite significantly low.
As well as this, certain NASCAR trading card series, such as the Pinnacle series from the early 1990s may now fetch around $120 for a high-quality rare card; it would take many more years before that value would begin to climb up again.
As such, seeing a return on investment with NASCAR trading cards is a long and slow process that may never actually yield significant results.
To Conclude
So there we have it. Some of the earliest NASCAR trading cards were produced by the now-defunct company Pinnacle from the late 1980s, all the way until the company declared bankruptcy in 1998.
Many of the Pinnacle series of NASCAR trading cards are now worth a healthy sum if they are in good condition, and are appropriately graded.
However, it is unlikely that the value of these cards will see a significant increase in value over the next few years.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Much Is A Richard Petty Card Worth?
The most valuable Richard Petty NASCAR trading card is the 1988 MAXX #43 card, which can fetch up to $10. However, in order to achieve this price, it needs to be in near-mint condition.
Other Richard Petty cards have been valued anywhere from $1 to $3.
How Much Is Davey Allison Card Worth?
The most highly valued Davey Allison card is worth $2.53. This is the 1988 Maxx #5 card. In order to reach the value, it needs to be officially graded as near mint.
If the card is anything below Near Mint it could be worth up to $1.
How Much Is A Rusty Wallace Card Worth?
A near-mint 1988 Maxx #14 Rusty Wallace card could fetch upwards of $3 at any time. If the card is graded anywhere below this, it will earn $1 at most.
When I was just starting out with my card collection, I had lots of questions about authenticity, trading, and card conditions. But with not that much information available online, I felt quite alone in my queries. Some questions still haven’t been answered to this day.
This site aims to rectify this, and now, I am passing on my knowledge!
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