Tony Stewart Remote Control Racer by Shelcore

The bright orange Tony Stewart / Home Depot Remote Control Racer is one of several NASCAR-branded remote control cars from Shelcore. It features a simple 2-button controller to help develop manual dexterity. Buttons not only make the car move but also reinforce that movement with racing sounds such as squealing tires. It's a basic remote control toy that a young child can also play with without the controller.

Each of the Joe Gibbs Racing and Hendrick Motorsports vehicles by Shelcore sports the colors, sponsors, and numbers of racers including Jeff Gordon's blue #24 DuPoint car (compare prices) and Denny Hamlin's black #11 FedEx car (compare prices). They have rounded plastic bodies with a steering wheel-shaped controller. For toddlers, NASCAR branding may not mean much but they'll like the colors.

How It Sounds: In operation, the first thing I noticed about this car is the sound. Every push of the forward button the car says "Let's Race." With the release of the forward button and every push of the reverse button you get the sound of squealing tires. It doesn't take long to find that annoying -- at least for parents. The sounds do help get a toddler's attention though and it helps them learn how the controller works -- the movements of the car are reinforced by the sounds it makes.

How It Moves: Forward causes both back wheels to turn. They have a little rubber ridge around the middle to provide traction. With the reverse button only the left rear wheel turns. This causes the vehicle to move backward and turn. That's how it turns around to go in another direction.

It doesn't do well on carpet but drives nicely -- though not in particularly straight lines -- on a hard, smooth surface. I recommend having plenty of room to operate the car.

Video: See it and hear it in action in this short video of my grandson's first encounter with the Tony Stewart Remote Control Racer.

Age Recommendation: The box says this toy is for ages 2+. The Shelcore Web site says 1+. I feel that children under 2 may not be able to really understand the relationship between the controller and the car movements but they may enjoy watching mom or dad race the car around. For 2 to 3 year olds -- it's a nice toy.