| One of the biggest events on America's | | | | previous NASCAR Cup Series champion Lee |
| sporting calendar and the most important of | | | | Petty, who won twenty seven races back in |
| NASACAR's racing series is the NASCAR Nextel | | | | 1967, is the most successful driver ever in |
| Cup Series. Nextel took over sponsorship of | | | | the NASCAR Cup Series. The NASCAR Cup Series |
| the NASACAR Cup Series back in 2004. The | | | | was born to promote the sport of racing which |
| series was previously called the Grand | | | | started out with little reward on dirt |
| National and later, the NASCAR Winston Cup | | | | tracks. The first driver in a NASCAR Cup |
| Series. After taking over sponsorship, the | | | | Series to collect winnings in excess of |
| Cup Series was changed to give new NASACAR | | | | $100,000 was Richard Petty. |
| drivers a better chance and also to make it | | | | |
| more competitive. The NASCAR Nextel Cup "Race | | | | Winning the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series depends |
| to the Chase" was established which added | | | | not only on the skills of the drivers but |
| more excitement, much like a "playoff" | | | | also on designers who work year round on |
| system. After 26 races the top ten drivers in | | | | improving cars for participation in the |
| points are eligible to compete for the Cup in | | | | series, and on the dedicated crews who |
| the last 10 races of the season. As with | | | | support cars as they race for the cup. These |
| other NASCAR series, the NASCAR Nextel Cup | | | | days, NASCAR crew chiefs use computer |
| Series rewards drivers can for wins and for | | | | simulations, to help them judge how cars are |
| laps led. Five bonus points are awarded to | | | | likely to perform in the series. Most agree |
| drivers who lead a whole lap during a race. | | | | that the most important thing is a strong, |
| | | | durable engine, which can make all the |
| The NASCAR Nextel Cup Series incorporates the | | | | difference when it comes to winning the |
| Nextel Cup Driver's Championship and the | | | | NASCAR cup. |
| Nextel Cup Owner's Championship, each of | | | | |
| which operates a separate Chase for the | | | | Corporate interest in the telecommunications |
| Championship. Sometimes owner's points will | | | | company was revived by Nextel's sponsorship |
| differ from drivers' points over the course | | | | of the NASCAR Cup Series. The Sprint |
| of a cup series. These days it is rare for | | | | corporation recently purchased Nextel, |
| owners and drivers in the NASCAR Nextel Cup | | | | creating Sprint Nextel. It's expected that |
| Series to be the same people. This is partly | | | | next year's premiere racing competition will |
| because the structure of the modern NASCAR | | | | have it's name changed from the NASCAR Nextel |
| Nextel Cup Series races favour multiple car | | | | Cup Series to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. |
| teams. | | | | NASCAR is continually evolving and |
| | | | reinventing itself to appeal to provide |
| The youngest person to win the NASCAR Cup | | | | increased value to it's sponsors, to provide |
| Series is Bill Rexford, back in 1950 when the | | | | more safety to the drivers and to appeal to |
| Cup Series was born. Richard Petty, son of | | | | the masses. |