| The NASCAR
NEXTEL Cup series is the sport's
highest level of professional competition,
and consequently it is the most popular
and most profitable NASCAR series.
The 2006 NEXTEL Cup season consists of 36
races over 10 months, with well over $4
million in total prize money at stake at
each race. Writers and fans often use "Cup"
to refer to the NEXTEL Cup series, and although
ambiguous, the use of "NASCAR"
as a synonym for the NEXTEL Cup series is
common.
In 2004, NEXTEL took over sponsorship
of the premier series from Winston, formally
renaming it from the Winston Cup to the
NEXTEL Cup Series. In 2004 Kurt Busch
became the first driver to win the NEXTEL
Cup. In 2005, Tony Stewart became the
first driver to win both the Winston Cup
and the NEXTEL Cup, although they are
the same championship.
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