1/64 Diecast Update: Week of 6/8

This week was predictably quieter from Lionel Racing as the company has seemingly caught up from several of the tariff related delays. There were only seven announced 1/64 scale preorders this week, two of them were raced versions of the winning cars from Nashville. No Fords were announced this week. 23XL, Legacy M.C., and Trackhouse all get attention in the Standard Version category. There are a few cars that are probably in line for paint scheme of the year in this group, hopefully they will all receive enough orders to be made. Read on for more...

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Raced Versions:

Leading off the Diecast Update are a couple of raced versions from last week's race at Nashville. Ryan Blaney and the number 12 group from Team Penske delivered in a major way. In what's been a long time coming, Blaney's Mustang was the car to beat on Sunday night under the lights. Blaney was able to hold off a hard charging Carson Hocevar to collect his first victory of the 2025 season and the 14th of his career, tying him with William Byron for 57th on the all-time wins list. 

In Craftsman Truck series, an electric Saturday night showdown offered some of the best racing of the year. Rajah Caruth skillfully defended against huge runs generated by the 11 of Corey Heim, Layne Riggs, and Daneil Hemric. This was an important win for Spire, and the second Truck win for Caruth. 

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Standard Versions

Chevrolet:
Trackhouse is the only Chevrolet affiliated team to announce 1/64 diecast preorders this week. First up an electric Tootsies livery for Ross Chastain. Ross drove this paint scheme to a second place finish at Texas in race number 11 of the season finishing just behind the winner, Joey Logano. This has the potential to be one of the best paint schemes of the season, and I have high confidence this car will be produced. This is the 8th 1/64 scale preorder for Chastain this season, and I'd argue, the best of all of them. 

Daniel Suarez has two top 10's on the season so far. One of them came behind the wheel of the Wendy's Frosty number 99 Chevy during race number 10 at Talladega in April. This is the third 1/64 announced for Suarez this year, and it's certainly a busy and interesting livery, but I do have some concerns that it will reach MOQ.

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Toyota:
Last week there weren't any new Toyota Camrys to discuss, this week we have three. Two from 23XL Racing, and one from Legacy Motor Club. The first of which is another front runner for paint scheme of the year, if it gets produced. While Bubba Wallace has had a consist season with plenty of good finishes, he's still struggling to prove he can win. Often, Columbia brings some of the best looking race cars, but due to a lack of popularity, they struggle to be produced. I'm hopeful that this car gets the interest is needs, but with the race already in the past, even though he drove the car to a 3rd place finish, this one is going to be a stretch. This is the 7th 1/64 preorder for Wallace this year. 

Next up, Tyler Reddick. By my count, this is the 6th preorder option for Reddick this year, and the third Jordan Brand car to be offered. This 'Diamond' livery was dedicated to Tyler's wife, Alexa, and her name is also above the door. The car rode to a 21st place finish at Texas on May 4th. 

The nicest surprise of the week is easily the DriveValue.com Carmy from the Legacy Motor Club stables. DriveValue.com is a new LMC and was first displayed on John Hunter Nemecheck's number 42 Toyota at Nashville last weekend. It remains to be seen if the company will return for any more races this year. This is the third 1/64 preorder option for J.H.N. on the season, and by count, just the 6th preorder option for the team on the season. 

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Notes:
This week brings some high powered paint schemes, and potentially, some contenders for the best looking car of the season, but there isn't much that's historically significant. My overall picks this week would be the Trackhouse, Tootsies Chevy, and the 23XL Columbia Camry. With some thrilling races in the books at Michigan in the books, and a big event for Nascar next week in Mexico, I'm sure there's quite a few new cars that will be in the pipeline soon. See you back here next week!