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1998 Wheels High Gear MPHs Serial Numbered & some w/Autographs

I used to be an avid NASCAR fan in the 1980s & 1990s... 1998 was the 50th anniversary of NASCAR, so I decided to take up collecting some rare cards in that year. I was drawn for some reason to the Wheels High Gear MPH set. The High Gear set had 72 cards and the MPH series was limited to a serial numbered production of only 100 of each card.

I managed to assemble the better part of a complete set and in some cases, I had two or three of each card. I was at the point where I needed to add an additional dynamic to the collection, so I begin finding ways to get driver autographs on many of the cards. A few were obtained from standing in line at a NASCAR event, but most were obtained by sending the card to the driver's race shop with a letter asking for the autograph, in many cases a donation to the drivers favorite charity, and a self addressed stamped envelope. It is fair to say that there were many cards that were not autographed or returned to me... But, many of them were...

NASCAR began to make changes to the premier program, to the point where I became less and less interested... I still have the collection today and take very good care of the cards..

I see more and more of the forgeries occurring In this day and age. So, it makes me want to do some research as to the authenticity of the autographs I have.

Curious how I go about getting some validation? Who is a good source? If I decided that I wanted to sell any of the cards, do I need to get a letter or COA?

Autographed 1998 Wheels High Gear MPHs I currently have in my possession are:

1 - Jeff Gordon - 64/100

2 - Dale Jarrett 33/100

3 - Mark Martin 56/100 (serial number many be incorrect as Mark signed the back of the card partially covering the serial number)

4 -Jeff Burton 83/100

5 - Dale Earnhardt 44/100

6 - Terry Labonte 100/100

7 - Bobby Labonte 11/100

8 - Bill Elliott 53/100

9 - Rusty Wallace 13/100

10 - Ken Schrader 16/100

11 - Johnny Benson - 37/100

12 - Ted Musgrave 98/100

13 - Jeremy Mayfield 77/100

14 - Ernie Irvan 58/100

16 - Bobby Hamilton 84/100

17 - Ricky Rudd 88/100

18 - Michael Waltrip 77/100

19 - Ricky Craven 58/100

20 - Jimmy Spencer 97/100

21 - Ward Burton 05/100

22 - Sterling Marlin - 93/100

24 - Joe Nemechek 18/100

25 - Mike Skinner 86/100

26 - David Green 22/100

37 - Randy Lajoie 81/100

38 - Todd Bodine 62/100

43 - Jack Sprague 90/100

45 - Ron Hornaday, Jr. 43/100

46 - Mark Martin Busch Pole Award 17/100 (**)

47 - Brian Whitesell Mechanic of the Year 29/100 (**)

49 - Mike Skinner Rookie of the Year 71/100 (**)

51 - Jeff Burton Exide All Charged Up Award 92/100 (**)

52 - Jimmy Fennig Quality Finish Award 44/100 (**)

53 - Charlie Siegars Engine Builder of the Year 91/100 (**)

54 - Dale Jarrett Fast Pace Award 37/100 (**)

(**) = denotes that the award cards have the New York sky line in the background that includes the World Trade Center Towers.

55 - Preview Johnny Benson/Cheerios 73/100

56 - Preview Todd Bodine/Tabasco 86/100

58 - Preview Bobby Hamilton/Kodak 35/100

59 - Preview Ernie Irvan/Skittles 96/100

61 - Preview Sterling Marlin/Coors Light 86/100

63 - Preview J Andretti/STP 66/100

All of these cards have been autographed. I welcome your comments and feedback on you collection and my questions.

Thanks... Doug

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Permalink Reply by Brian Peters on July 29, 2014 at 5:15pm

Hi Doug-

I have collected Nascar autographs for over 25 years since they started coming to my town in 1986. Even in the mid to late 90s big names like Jeff Gordon could be had through the mail, but you typically got one of their hero cards signed instead of your own. Dale Earnhardt was not known for answering fan mail, though "signatures" were returned by the thousands.

I have received in person autographs from every driver on your list, and have well over 1000 pieces in my Nascar collection. I certainly won't call myself an authenticator, but I do have a keen eye for the genre of your collection. I would be happy to offer you my two cents.

Brian.

PS- The Nascar cicuit rolls into town here Aug8-10, and you can guess where I'll be.

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Permalink Reply by Doug Wilson on July 29, 2014 at 5:26pm

Thanks for the reply Brian... I have several and it will take me some time to scan all, so I will do one or a few at a time... Here is J Gordon...

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J Gordon MPH 1 001.jpg, 169 KB

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Permalink Reply by Brian Peters on July 29, 2014 at 5:52pm

That Gordon is a good one. His sig. hasn't changed much over the years, He signs a little faster these days.

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Permalink Reply by Doug Wilson on July 29, 2014 at 6:24pm

Jarrett thru Earnhardt

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Jarrett thru Earnhardt 001.jpg, 690 KB

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Permalink Reply by Brian Peters on July 29, 2014 at 6:39pm

Jarrett, Burton and Martin all good...sadly I think the Earnhardt is secretarial. All of my IP ones of him differ from yours in various ways. Though I see a lot of sigs that look like yours, I believe that they are all fan club replies and not authentic. Did you get that one through the mail?