Lionel Releases Another Wave of 2026 NASCAR Authentics Diecast

What’s Happening?

Lionel Racing has dropped the second batch of Wave 1 of its 2026 line of retail-exclusive 1:64 scale NASCAR Authentics diecast.

• This wave, which is officially labeled as Wave 1, is the second released by Lionel this week. The first wave, Wave 1A, was a throwback wave from NASCAR’s 2025 throwback race weekend at Darlington Raceway.
• Wave 1, much like 1A, features six cars, with four from the 2025 season and two from the 2026 season. Those two cars from 2026 include Justin Allgaier’s Roto-Rooter car and Jimmie Johnson’s 2026 Daytona 500 paint scheme.
• The other cars in the line include Chase Elliott, William Byron, Todd Gilliland, and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Elliot’s NAPA 100th Anniversary car also acts as a seventh car in the series, with it also serving as the set’s Liquid Color chase piece.
• Many fans have noted that both Wave 1 and Wave 1A are smaller than the past year’s waves, which would feature upwards of nine cars and a chase piece. But, some online have said that if smaller waves mean quicker turnaround times, then it’s worth the decrease in size.

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