That being said its here and we get to open two boxes thanks to Press Pass. The box art features the biggest moneymakers in NASCAR plus the current 2011 champion.

This first product of the year has become a mainstay in the hobby. It doesn't change a lot and always has the sought after chase cards. 2012 does bring only cup [+Danica] autographs to this release. Also this year brings back a lot of favorite inserts and race used cards from the past.

This year the base set is 100 cards and features photographs from the prior season. Each base card has a unnumbered gold parallel and a blue serial numbered parallel /35.

Making its first appearance in four years is the Press Pass snapshots. Billed as a set within a set this is the largest snapshot set produced. There are 75 of these mini cards inserted at 1:3 packs and the short prints only 1:20 packs.

Three insert sets equally distributed at 1:15 packs two of these are also blasts from the past. Those being the showman and show car sets which are joined by newcomer the preferred line. Proffered line features the driver on front and a write up on the back about how they choose to handle a favorite track.

Continuing this year are the NASCAR Hall of Fame insert cards. There will once again be five per inductee and spread out over the 2012 releases. The 2012 press pass release has the first 10 which feature drivers Darrell Waltrip and Cale Yarborough.

What would the holidays be without Santa Claus not quite as fun. Santa makes an encore appearance this year with his own special card. Inserted at 1:150 packs its only the good that will get this present.

This release comes with a guarantee of one race used hit per box. We were lucky with one of our boxes in receiving an extra hit that was also autographed and race used.

2012 press is a great set that might benefit if it were brought out later. I admit to having no idea how long it takes to go from concept to reality. However it seems that if Press Pass were to wait until after the new year they could include some candid shots of the awards banquets. Who knows you might even convince one of the wives to donate her dress for an event used product.

While this years chase was unusual it would also be nice if the first product of the year included pictures of the final race. By waiting till January it also would allow collectors to catch up on the current years missed cards before starting a new season.

The photography is first class and the inserts look really great. The snapshots is not going to be for the faint of heart but should maintain a decent sell value in the future.

Triple gear makes its return this year and being one of the all time favorites its great to see them back. I continue to hope that the NASCAR hof sets will always have a place in the product for those of us who love the history of the sport and collect the legends.

I give this product a A for appearance but only having one hit per box brings execution to a B.