Diecast Update: Week of 4/13/2026

4/12/2026

It's been a couple of weeks since the last edition of the Diecast Update, so this week's edition is loaded with lots of 1/64 deicast of all kinds, from raced versions, Cup, O'Reilly, Trucks, ARCA, LMSC, and more, there's so much to catch up on in the world of 1/64 Nascar diecast. There are some especially nice offerings from Lionel Racing that you may not want to miss out on, and there are a few scheduled releases that are truly historic and unique. This week also features a first look and the first DNP of 2026. As usual, for all of the latest and more, read on.

Raced Version: (Bristol)

Connor Zilisch was excited to remind us that at the ripe old age of 19, he's still got it. The tongue in cheek comment and joking aside, it has been a rough start for Zilisch as a rookie in the Cup series so far, so I'm sure regaining his familiarity with victory lane, at Bristol no less, was a welcome reminder of how good the young driver really is. This was Connor's 12th win in 39 starts in the O'Reilly series, and it was the 111th win for JRM in there series.

Raced Version: (Rockingham)

Special things seem more likely to happen at special places. The Nascar passion project that has been the return to Rockingham has gone well for the O'Reilly series and the Craftsman series. William Sawalich has waited patiently for his first trip to victory lane, and with 80 laps to go, Sawalich took the lead to cement his name as a winner at the penultimate level of Nascar racing.

Lurking. That's the best word I can come up with for the time being. As Corey Heim continues to follow his own path in Nascar, his inevitable first Cup full time season just moved a bit closer. Has Heim really won 25 races in the Craftsman series?! The kid is a great driver, and his second win in a row is just another reason why people will be saying his name a lot in the future. This is the first win for Heim and Robinhood. Don't forget to throw in the Tripple Truck Challenge $100,000 as well.

Raced Version: (Martinsville)

The first regulation win for UniFirst in the Cup series, and the earliest ever win for Chase Elliott came on lap 400 of the Cookout 400. The 155th recorded Cup race at the track gave Elliott the 22nd win of his career tying him with Hall of Fame driver, Terry Labonte. The day seemed like it was going to be Denny Hamlin's, but a late call made by 9 team leader Alan Gustafson changed the status quo.

Justin Allgaier made it three wins on the season on Saturday afternoon. While the NOAPS at Martinsville has been guaranteed wreckfest as of late, the best still manage to shine. This is Allgaier's first win at Martinsville since 2023. This is also the first win of the year in the normal Brandt paint scheme. The win also came along at the same time that the Nascar community has been discussing and debating the credentials needed for the Nascar HOF, and whether or not Allgaier is worthy of admission.

Standard Versions (Cup)

Chevrolet:

Ross Chastain brought the Busch Light Fishing Chevy to a mediocre 20th place finish on Sunday night during the Bristol Spring race. The less than stellar 2026 season rolls on for Trackhouse Racing that saw all three teams and drivers continue to struggle. While the results, and speed are certainly lacking, the cars look great. The Busch Light Chevy with a big bass on the side goes back a long way and reminds me of the car Kevin Harvick drove in 2016.

For a guy that sometimes struggles to make in impact on race fans, there's a curious selection of diecast cars that to do and don't get made for Austin Dillon and the No. 3 RCR team. This Titan Risk Solutions Chevy will be what the organization brings to Atlanta for the summer race in a few months. It's not a bad looking car, but it's the second 1/64 for Dillon this year, and certainly second best compared to the Bass Pro/Winchester dynamo the team led off with.

I really wanted to like this new LLumar paint scheme for 2026. At first glance, it gave some strong vibes, think Dodge and Evernham days, and even some Hooter's No. 9 feels, but the closer you look, the more 'AI slop' feels most appropriate. The car is just awkward no matter which way you look at it. This is the fifth 1/64 scale diecast car for Chase Elliott fans, and it's easily the worst one. I think the HMS designers are really struggling this year.

On the polar opposite side of the spectrum, we have what is perhaps the best looking 1/64 we've seen for Ricky Stenhouse in a very long time. Jack Links gave us a really nice Jack Links Duo's Chevy last year that I've recently just picked up. I like that car a lot, but this one just looks even better. The Non-Vegan movement that the jerky brand has kickstarted in Nascar has been a lot of fun, but this car takes it to the next level. Look out Jerky Boys.

Last up for the Chevy crew is a couple of new liveries for rookie sensation Connor Zilisch. These are his sixth and seventh paint schemes of 2026 respectively. This ties him with both Ross Chastain and William Byron with seven 1/64s total. Both of these cars raced in recent weeks at Martinsville and Bristol. Between the two, I especially like the look of the Roto-Rooter car. It's about as good looking as anyone could make a plumbing brand appear!

Ford:

Noah Gragson, despite struggling in the Cup series, continues to be a top prospect for brands looking to work with exciting drivers who truly resonate with the Nascar fanbase. FUEL by Franzia joined Gragson and FRM at Martinsville this spring. I had the opportunity to see this car in person (check out the Race Report, here). This car will come with an attached base, so buyer beware. I've got this car ranked as the best looking for Gragson so far this season of this three 1/64s being offered.

Toyota:

Chase Briscoe is really building something great at Joe Gibbs Racing. The fourth and fifth new paint schemes for the former SHR driver indicate that Briscoe is attracting multiple brands to his cause. The premier of the Lance snacks and crackers car last week at Bristol, and the upcoming debut of the WIX Filters car at North Wilkesboro are great interrupters of the usual Bass Pro colors that ride on the No. 19 Camry. Both of these paint schemes are strong, and the Lance car only ranks fourth because it breaks one of my rules of using pictures of actual food on the car. (WIX is ranked 2nd).

Christopher Bell and Chase Briscoe are tied at Joe Gibbs Racing with five 1/64s for each driver. The return of Rheem to JGR for multiple races also means the return of one of Bell's best looking liveries. I've got this one ranked third bast after the Mobile 1 scheme and the Interstate Batteries scheme. The Rheem scheme gets a nice upgrade with the added slogan of 'engineered for life.' I like this added detail, it fills up the space and gives the car a better identity.

This next one has the potential to compete for paint scheme of the year. The second Mobile 1 livery of the 2026 season is one of the best looking cars we've had so far. This Legacy Motor Club Camry will be driven by John Hunter Nemechek during select events in 2026. Comparing this livery to the Mobile 1 design we've already seen onChristopher Bells car, this one is easily better in my opinion. The LMC design team is on a roll.

The final Toyota this week comes from the 23XL garage. Tyler Reddick has been enjoying a career season and he continues to attract new partners to the 23XL team. Comparion Insurance made their Nascar debut this past weekend at Bristol. As Reddick manages his hold on first place in the Cup series, he drove this car to a quiet but meaningful 4th place finish. Even with a variety of new paint schemes this year, this car is very basic. I've got this one ranked 6th out of 6.

Standard Versions (O.A.P.S.)

The first diecast of the 2026 season for Young's Motorsports was announced this past week. Brad Perez drove this car sponsored by Live to be Different Foundation, an organization developed by Bubba Wallace and the Boys and Girls Club of Lucie County. Perez drove this car to a very respectable 21st place finish at Martinsville last month. This is a nice looking car and it's good to see a smaller team like Young's MS get some coverage in 1/64 scale.

Standard Version (Trucks)

Chevy:

Ross Chastain will continue to make appliances in the Nascar Craftsman Truck series in 2026. Perhaps his longest running supporter, the Use Your Mellon initiative will adorn the watermelon themed Chevy Silverado that Niece will bring to the track presumably on multiple occasions. This truck has yet to make its debut this year, but Chastain has already completed two Truck races to this point, netting two top five finishes thus far.

Dodge:

Brenden Queen continues to find his way in the Truck series, and with recent Truck OEM entrant, Dodge Ram. Back in March, at Darlington, Kaulig Racing brought this special livery to commemorate the 1952 Cummins Diesel Special, the first diesel-powered car to capture the pole for the Indianapolis 500. 'Butterbean' Queen brought this truck to a 20th place finish during the Buckle Up South Carolina 200 on March 20th, 2026,

The other Kaulig Ram that was announced for preorder is this fellow Darlington throwback that was driven by Corey Lajoie. The No. 25 Ram as many are aware, is the 'celebrity' car for Kaulig Racing. Tony Stewart led the season off at Daytona, and the vehicle has seen a range of different drivers. This paint scheme appropriately pays homage to Corey Lajoie's father, Randy who piloted this design in 2004. I'm anxious to see these samples when they finally make it to Lionel HQ.

Ford:

Frankie Muniz has remained dedicated to his career in Nascar despite the many challenges and hardships he's faced along the way. This will be the first 1/64 diecast for Muniz and it's a great looking truck. The main sponsor, Panini went all in on a vibrant and eye-catching design. The only point of criticism I have is with the truck's roof number. Why not keep it consistent with the door number design? This is the second Team Reaume truck of 2026.

Another race team that's getting its first 1/64 scale representation of 2026 is the legacy team, ThorSport. We've seen plenty of ThorSport trucks in the past, our first of the year represents Ben Rhodes. Rhodes has been competing in the Truck series for a decade now. He's got 7 career wins in that span, but hasn't been to victory lane since 2023. TYM North America will be celebrating its 75th anniversary this year and will be showcasing their brand on the No. 99. This is a great scheme, simple, refined, elite.

Standard Version (ARCA)

It's been quite a while since Hailie Deegan has made much noise in a stock car, but she's quietly come back on the scene. Most recently she raced for Bill McAnally at Phoenix in early March. The race went well for Deegan. She started in 19th and brought the car home in 16th. This version of the Napa scheme works well on the old Gen6 Chevy S body. I'm not sure if Deegan has more races lined up, but I hope she does. This is a nice looking race car.

The other ARCA car announced this week was Derek Kneeland's 2026 A & D Welding Chevy SS that's fielded by ARCA team Pinnacle Racing. Kneeland primarily serves as a spotter for RCR racing, but has made one start so far this season at the ARCA Menards East series race at Hickory Motor Speedway. Out of 23 cars, Kneeland brought his Chevy to the finish line in 4th place. I like that Lionel is keeping this Chevy SS mould in rotation and this is another nice looking ARCA car, I sure hope it makes MOQ.

LMSC/CARS Tour

Perhaps the most interesting curveball from Lionel this past week was this LMSC representing Stephen Nasse's sensational win at the Snowball Derby at Five Flags Speedway last December. This was Nasse's first win at the Snowball Derby for Mitch-Smith Racing. The car looks super cool with the black, silver and gold features. The car also has a ton of detailing and many contingency sponsors. This one could be special for Late Model collectors.

First Look Report

Surfacing on social media this week, the first copies of Alex Bowman's 2026 Ally standard livery 1/64s have started to pop up. These cars are shown to have the full diecast body and chassis as well as the prototypical blue box art that seems to be standard on most 1/64 scale diecast cars this year. Special thanks to Diecast Pro Shop for posting these photos. Be sure to check out their page.

DNP Report

Unfortunately, this week also involves a DNP Report. I was very hopeful that Justin Allgaier's Carolina Carports Chevy would make it into production, but it did not make MOQ. This car was announced back in early December alongside two other JRM cars wearing the same livery. This brings the current available non-raced Allgaier JRM cars from four down to three with the Roto-Rooter as my currently highest ranked of the remaining group.

Conclusion:
Taking a couple of weeks off have certainly put us a bit behind, but there continues to be a more diverse and exciting bunch of diecast 1/64s available to collectors than ever before. Lionel quietly continues to push the boundaries of creativity, and they also have truly improved their product by offering fully diecast race cars. Things are trending in the right direction, and hopefully they continue to do so.

My top picks this week are the Noah Gragson FUEL Mustang. That's a tier one preorder for me, and I've already put my name down for one. I'm also not going to miss out on the opportunity to preorder the best looking Mobile 1 scheme we've seen this year. John Hunter Nemechek's Legacy Camry looks amazing. There are sure to be a plethora of new liveries in the coming weeks with Talladega, the Coke 600, and the Allstar race all on the horizon. That's it for this week, we'll see you back here next time on the Diecast Update!

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