Round 2 acquires Lionel to hopefully make better racing diecasts

Round 2 is a company big-time collectors seem to like, though I’m not familiar with their work. Lionel’s work I am all too familiar with; they’re the ones who cancel production of all the diecasts of Black drivers’ cars after I order them. I go way out of my way to order my NASCAR diecasts from third parties or direct from teams because that is how bad The Official Diecast Brand of NASCAR™ is to deal with.

How did an industry that made the most famous race car drivers on Earth 25 years ago fall so hard? Well, I’m sure there is some macroeconomic explanation, but hopefully this consolidation indicates a new path forward for racing collectibles that actually takes advantage of the last 25 years of logistical advances, which have been, you know, considerable.

Prodigious racing collector Cale says:

Round 2 owns the Racing Champions brand, too, so if there is any justice in the world…

— Cale Putnam (@caleputnam.bsky.social) Mar 5, 2026 at 10:06 AM