Impact of Tariff War on NASCAR Diecast Market
The ongoing tariff war, initiated by the U.S. government, has begun to significantly affect the NASCAR diecast industry. Lionel Racing, the exclusive producer of diecast models for NASCAR, has announced price increases on its products due to the new tariffs on imports from China. Specifically, prices for 1:24 scale race win diecasts rose by 18%, while ‘Elite’ versions saw an increase of 29%.
Lionel Racing, which has held the production rights since 2013, has halted pre-orders for new diecasts and adjusted its shipment schedules. This decision comes amid uncertainties related to the current economic landscape. Collectors are notably waiting for the diecast from Austin Cindric’s recent victory at Talladega, which is conspicuously absent from the company’s website. In its place, a notice stating "coming soon" accompanies an image from Victory Lane. The only available race win diecast in stock is from Denny Hamlin’s triumph at Darlington.
A company statement addressed the sudden stoppage: “We know many of you have noticed a halt in pre-order offers over the past few weeks… This is a temporary measure until the current tariff situation settles down.” The firm assures collectors that efforts are still underway to gather necessary materials for future diecast releases once the tariff situation stabilizes.
Key Quotes:
- “The only things currently on hold are new pre-orders and shipping from our factory,” the company emphasized, promising to resume normal operations as soon as feasible.
As the situation develops, collectors and fans alike remain eager for updates and new merchandise releases.
