More than any other piece of NASCAR merchandise, die-cast cars tell the story of a race season. The best-selling die-cast are those that capture a historic moment, commemorate an important win, or excite fans with a special paint scheme. This season was no exception. For the first time in the history of the Lionel Racing Bestsellers List, the die-cast of a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series rookie claimed the number one spot.


Top 10 Die-cast

Number 1 Artwork
Number 1

For the first time since 2011, a car that wasn't driven by Dale Earnhardt Jr. topped the best-sellers list. Elliott's primary paint scheme for 2016 was the companys top-selling die-cast. Not bad for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Rookie of the Year!

Number 2 Artwork
Number 2

Driven at Auto Club Speedway, Earnhardt's Batman v. Superman die-cast was a huge hit among collectors and fans of the Warner Bros. franchise.

Number 3 Artwork
Number 3

Earnhardt's standard Nationwide Insurance paint scheme made Lionel Racing's best-sellers list for the second year in a row.

Number 4 Artwork
Number 4

Longtime Hendrick Motorsports sponsor Axalta came on board the No. 88 Chevrolet this year and the resulting die-cast was one of the hottest cars of the year.

Number 5 Artwork
Number 5

Busch Beer announced its return to NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team sponsorship by unveiling an all-new paint scheme for Stewart-Haas Racing driver Kevin Harvick. Busch's return and the car's design was a win for die-cast collectors.

Number 6 Artwork
Number 6

Johnson drove his Batman v. Superman Chevrolet SS straight into Victory Lane at Fontana, helping this special paint scheme become the driver's best-selling die-cast of the year.

Number 7 Artwork
Number 7

The incoming NASCAR Premier Series sponsor gets a strong showing on the best-sellers list with Kurt Busch's No. 41 Monster Energy Chevy. In fact, this is the first year a Kurt Busch die-cast has made an appearance in Lionel Racing's Top 10.

Number 8 Artwork
Number 8

This history-making die-cast is the seven-time champ version of Johnson's standard Lowe's Chevrolet SS. Johnson's incredible feat at Homestead Miami Speedway made this a collectible for the ages.

Number 9 Artwork
Number 9

Buddy Baker's iconic Gray Ghost paint scheme was the inspiration for Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s Darlington Raceway throwback ride. The Gray Ghost is Earnhardt's favorite paint scheme and its modern-day version was also a favorite among collectors.

Number 10 Artwork
Number 10

This brand-new paint scheme for Kevin Harvick created real excitement among longtime NASCAR fans, putting this die-cast solidly into the top 10.

Top 5 Raced Win Die-cast


Number 1

Tony Stewart Code 3 Associates Sonoma Win

Number 1

Jimmie Johnson Lowes Superman Fontana Win

Number 1

Jimmie Johnson Lowes Homestead Win

Number 1

Dale Earnhardt Jr. Nationwide Can-Am Duel Win

Number 1

Kyle Larson Target Michigan
First Win

Top 5 Special Paint Schemes

Number 1 Artwork
Number 2 Artwork
Number 3 Artwork
Number 4 Artwork
Number 5 Artwork

Top 10 Bestselling Drivers

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Lionel Racing Announces Best-Selling Die-cast of 2016


Chase Elliott's No. 24 NAPA Chevrolet Is Best-Selling Die-Cast of the Year!

Lionel Racing - The Official Die-Cast of NASCAR - announced today that Chase Elliott's No. 24 NAPA Chevrolet is the company's best-selling die-cast of 2016.

The announcement marks the first time since 2011 that a driver other than Dale Earnhardt Jr. has claimed the top spot.

"Chase Elliott's arrival on the NASCAR scene has been big, and the overwhelming popularity of his first rookie NASCAR Sprint Cup Series die-cast is further proof that race fans relate to him and everything he represents," said Lionel Racing President Howard Hitchcock.

Earnhardt owned the best-selling spot from 2012 to 2015. Although he was out of his race car during the second half of 2016, Elliott's ascension to the top spot was not a result of Earnhardt's absence. Both drivers' standard paint schemes were ordered and shipped prior to Earnhardt's exit.

In fact, Earnhardt is still the company's best-selling driver overall.

"Junior Nation will be happy to know that Dale Jr. is still Lionel's biggest driver," said Hitchcock. "His cars account for four of our top 10 sellers."

Making the list for the first time is Kurt Busch, whose Monster Energy Chevrolet secured the seventh spot. Kevin Harvick's new partnership with Busch gave him the fifth and tenth spots, respectively. Finally, seven-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion Jimmie Johnson took spots six and eight, with his Lowe's 7X Champ die-cast well inside the top 10.