For the first time since 2011, a driver not named Dale Earnhardt Jr. had the best-selling die-cast at the end of the NASCAR season.
Earnhardt was unseated by his Hendrick Motorsports teammate Chase Elliott.
Lionel Racing released their top 10 best-selling die-casts of the 2016 season Thursday morning with Elliott topping the list. Elliott took over the famed No. 24 this season and qualified for the Chase for the Sprint Cup on his way to earning Rookie of the Year honors.
“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 in a release.
From 2012-2015, Earnhardt owned the best-selling spot, and he remains the company’s best-selling driver overall.This year, Earnhardt’s cars accounted for four of the top 10 spots.
Lionel said Earnhardt missing the final 18 races of the season had no effect on Elliott taking over the top spot. Both driver’s standard paint schemes were ordered and shipped before Earnhardt vacated the seat.
Kurt Busch with his No. 41 Monster Energy Chevrolet made the top 10 best-selling list for the first time in 2016.
The complete top 10 best-selling list for 2016:
- Chase Elliott, No. 24 NAPA Chevrolet
- Dale Earnhardt Jr., No. 88 Nationwide/Batman Chevrolet
- Dale Earnhardt Jr., No. 88 Nationwide Chevrolet
- Dale Earnhardt Jr., No. 88 Axalta Chevrolet
- Kevin Harvick, No. 4 Busch Chevrolet
- Jimmie Johnson, No. 48 Lowe’s/Superman Chevrolet
- Kurt Busch, No. 41 Monster Energy Chevrolet
- Jimmie Johnson, No. 48 Lowe’s 7X Time Champion Chevrolet
- Dale Earnhardt Jr., No. 88 Nationwide/Grey Ghost Darlington Chevrolet
- Kevin Harvick, No. 4 Busch Light Chevrolet