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Since the first car engine stuttered to a start in NASCAR, the sport has carried on its shoulders the legacies of many. Over the last 75 years, heroes whom time will never forget have risen and fallen for the sake of entertainment and the thrill of racing. Though the fables of yesteryear heroes are afresh in our minds, merchandise that carries their images plays a big role in keeping their legacy alive. One such valuable entity is trading cards.

A table discussing NASCAR cannot keep lull about the names of Dale Earnhardt and Richard Petty. While both were heroes in their own peak times behind the wheel, it appears the former might have just edged past “King” Petty when it comes to the card game.

Dale Earnhardt’s name sells for a higher value than Richard Petty’s

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Dale Earnhardt Sr and Richard Petty were two of the pillars without whom NASCAR would certainly not be where it is now. With a staggering number of seven Cup Series championships each to their name, both played crucial roles in shaping stock car racing as a sport in modern-day America. Regardless of their contributions to the same sport, comparing the racing prowess of these legends is a vain exercise. Earnhardt was a rising star at a time when Petty had made the call to hang up his racing suit. In fact, Earnhardt bagged his first title only after Petty got his seventh and final one.

As pointless as it is to compare the driving caliber of these drivers who were from different eras of racing, the monetary worth of their iconic image can definitely be compared. In a recent list curated by one37pm.com, the most valuable NASCAR tradings cards were featured based on their latest valuations. And as it appears, the Intimidator has pulled one over the King.

Individual cards of both Earnhardt and Petty made multiple appearances on the 14-card list. The highest-valued Petty card was one from his rookie 1972 season. The rare merch was an 11-card set that reportedly has just 21 copies of it in the PSA registry. Valued at $4,650, this was the highest Richard Petty climbed up the ladder.

Earnhardt, on the other hand, was able to keep the first two spots on the list for himself. The most valued card on the list was a “1996 Pinnacle Zenith Highlights” card from Earnhardt. It is reported that only two of these CSG 7 cards have been sold over the past five years and it was done so for $10,000.

While the trading card war between Petty and Dale Sr appears to be leaning toward the side of the latter, a few other NASCAR legends also made appearances on this list. One rather shocking entry, however, was that of the youngster Hailie Deegan.

Watch Story: The $75,000 Legacy: Dale Earnhardt’s Priceless Memorabilia

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Hailie Deegan bags multiple spots in the list of NASCAR’s elite

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The list curated by one37pm.com featured the cards of Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and more legends along the lines of them. Surprisingly, it also had Hailie Deegan on it. The 22-year-old female driver is a current-generation driver bound to the Xfinity Series after a fruitless search for glory in the Truck Series. Regardless of her on-track performances, it is known that Deegan is one of the most popular drivers of NASCAR owing to her social media presence.

Deegan’s most valuable card on the list was a “2018 Panini Prizm White” from her rookie season. The card was reportedly closed at $3,600 back in 2022 and sits at the fifth spot on the fourteen-card list. Should Deegan’s career reach its potential in the Xfinity Series come 2024, it can be expected that this number will shoot up further.

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Memorabilia are a beacon of the memories of heroes and legends who have graced the tracks of NASCAR. While the values of these cards are in no way reflections of the contributions of the drivers’ to the sport, they certainly reflect the following that they continue to have. Let us know which yesteryear legend’s trading card you would like to own the most!

Read More: “My Expectation Was My Father” – Emotional Dale Earnhardt Jr Reveals Dejection on Failings to Carry the Intimidator’s Legacy