A card set I thought I would never be able to add to my collection

There are some specific cards that I know I'll never be able to afford. There are very few Sets that I could say that about. Today, July 3rd, one that I thought I would never get, that I could never afford...arrived in the mail!

That is the 1972 STP set. The very first NASCAR set ever issued!

A promotional issue, issued by STP and handed out at tracks. They are rare. They normally sell for anywhere between $90 and $200 per card, and depending on driver. My limit is $20 on a specific card...and when I found one of these for that price, I jumped on it!

It arrived today, and features Elmo Langley, who drove his own cars, later owned cars for others - almost always #64 - and later became NASCAR's pace car driver until he was felled by a heart attack in 1996. He also won the famed Legends race in 1991 held at the Winston.

I know I will probably never complete this set - at least not without winning the lottery - even though it's only 11 cards. But I am thrilled to have this one, and to have this set, in my collection.

The card is pretty simple, but for a promotional issue, of that time in particular, it's got more production quality than many cards that came later.

I also got three NASCAR promo sets in the mail, and an NBA autograph, but those will (may) be covered at another time. This STP card deserves a post all it's own.

I have been feeling really bad lately...but I am on the proverbial cloud nine due to this one!

I need to do a little research on this set...it's listed as 1972 everywhere...but I think it may actually be from 1971. Referencing the stats at the start of the 1971 season just adds to my feeling that it may be from 1971 instead of 1972.