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The difference between the 09 art and the 2010 is light years. When the promo set arrived in my mailbox I knew I might be in for a great surprise. Sure enough the boxes arrived and the art was done to almost perfection.
The cards are printed on thick card stock with a canvas feel. Going through the set is like walking in a motor sports art gallery.
We start off with the 90 card base set. The first 27 cards feature an portrait of the drivers face, including one of Danica.
The next 19 cards are all about the rides. They feature the cars as if they were racing on the track. They even included cars of Richard and Dale.
My favorite of the base set is what comes next. The cards are called anthology. These feature the wining driver, name of the track, state flag of the track, track silhouette all on one card. These are truly a work of art.
The set even honors the Sprint Cup banquet with a las Vegas themed cards.
As I write this I can not think of what the next theme is called. It is when they use many images to produce one big image. They did this with the drivers head shots. You can tell the photo is made up of many images but might need a microscope to see what they all are.
Wrapping up the set is the Andy Warhol looking new season new color set. This was a great way to complete the base set. Normally I do not discuss every set within the base set but the eclipse is special.
Inserts tend to mean one thing in racing' foil. Foil is here but even with the foil. there is still an artistic feel to these. You have the cars set which features the car facing away from you with a sunburst background.
The second insert set is the decade set with the driver on it. The mixture of b/w and color really makes these cards standout.
There is a third insert called focus. I think they should have left this one out and included more of the decade cards.
The next release of the HOF cards are included at 1 per box. This continues to be a great set with new photos. I do hope this set continues into next years releases.
The hits are what sells the product and Eclipse has four per box.
Back this year are the race used spellbound cards. The cards spell out the last name of the driver using letter die-cuts with actual race used items behind them. Unlike many of the stick and ball cards of the same type these are real materials. There are even different numbering used with some being to door number.
Burning rubber makes an appearance in the eclipse release also. You receive one of these per box.
The autographs are inserted one per box. These are the year long release signature cards.
Eclipse is a great set, with a distinct look. Making the spellbound set of even one driver is going to require time but will be fun. The base sets artistic flair is refreshing. The only drawback to this set for many collectors is the lack of any known artists. Even without the Jeanne Barnes, Sam Bass, or Mike Hill of NASCAR fame what is not lacking is talent. Whoever designed these cards should have signed a few of them for insertion.
The only thing I really think this set needed would be a different autograph insert. Instead of using the 2010 press pass autographs, an eclipse only autograph would have been great. Using the first 27 with a real autograph instead of the facsimile one would have added value and interest.
This set receives an A from me. The things that could be tweaked are outweighed by what is right about the set.
Richard Petty 1975 Dodge Charger
Darrell Waltrip 1989 Chevy Monte Carlo
December Autograph Card of the Month
Adam Petty
December Race Used Card of the Month
JEFF BURTON 18/25
December Four Wide Card of the Month
JIMMIE JOHNSON 48/50
