Buzz Break: 2021 Donruss NASCAR cards (blaster box)

From time to time, Buzz will break a box of something and post the results here. Like this and want to see more? Or maybe there's a box you'd want to see busted? Send Buzz an email at BlowoutBuzz@blowoutcards.com.

The box: 2021 Donruss NASCAR cards (blaster)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby)

Click to see the full breakdown and a gallery of highlights.

Packs per box: 7
Cards per pack: 8
Cards in this box: 57
Set completion: 24 of 200 (12 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards – Tyler Reddick, Denny Hamlin, Tony Stewart, Ryan Blaney ... a bit of an odd/lean run of base here (see gallery)

Rookie Cards (Rated Rookies) – Natalie Decker, Josh Williams

Insert/short-print cards: 32 (all inserts and some base in gallery below)
Optic (6) – Denny Hamlin, Chase Briscoe, Justin Haley, Brandon Brown, Ray Black Jr., Todd Gilliland
Optic Holo (1) – Kyle Busch
Optic Orange Pulsar (4) – Bill Elliott, Kevin Harvick, Daniel Hemric, Greg Biffle
Orange parallels (7) – Ryan Blaney, Chase Elliott, Ryan Newman, Tanner Gray, Christian Eckes, Jeremy Clements, John Hunter Nemechek
Silver parallels (5) – Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Taylor Gray, Todd Gilliland, Derek Kraus, Brett Moffitt
Red parallels (1) – Ray Black Jr. (/299)
Artist Proof (1) – Kurt Busch (/25)
Action Packed (1) – Chase Elliott
Aero Package (1) – Clint Bowyer
Contenders (1) – Hailie Deegan
Contenders Checkers (1) – Denny Hamlin
Dominators (1) – Joey Logano
Elite Series (1) – Brad Keselowski
Retro Series (1) – Jimmie Johnson

Autographs/Memorabilia: 1
Signature Series (1) – Mike Harmon

What's Buzz-worthy: This was an odd box but let's first talk about this autograph. You might not know his name but dude is one of the luckiest drivers in NASCAR history. Why? He walked away from this crash during practice at Bristol several years ago -- click the link or see it below. He hits the end of a wall that literally slices his car in half. Then what's left still spinning from that impact gets hit by a another car at full speed ... and he simply steps out of the cage from the middle of it all unharmed. Harmon doesn't have a lot of autos, but this is one I'd want simply because of this insane moment in NASCAR history. Now, on to the box ... the run of base cards here seemed oddly lean on notables (see gallery for all) but the inserts made up for thigs for it to be a pretty strong box for a blaster. Two numbered inserts (one on the rarer side) plenty of Optic, plenty of paper parallels and some appearances by younger names like Hailie Deegan helped this one out ... even if I don't know a bunch of those base names. (It may say more about me as I'm an occasional NASCAR watcher but, still, I know names.) The mix here is a fun one -- some might argue it's too much but that's how basic sets need to be in any sport these days if you ask me. I was on the fence about trying some of this release in hobby where there are a number of relatively easily pulled fifth anniversary on-card buyback autos and a lot more to find but I will at some point soon after this break.

Product Grade: A-
Box Grade: A- (lean base names but strong insert presence and an auto = win)
Fun Grade: A+

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