Sprint merger means new name for Nextel Cup in 2006: It may have taken more than a year, but most NASCAR race fans have gotten used to the name change that took place at the beginning of 2004 when Nextel took over as the NASCAR Cup Series' primary sponsor. But, don't start getting too used to the Nextel Cup logo because thanks to the impending merger of Nextel and Sprint, next season race fans will have to try to remember a brand new sponsorship name and logo. Corporate leaders from Nextel and Sprint are currently sitting behind closed doors trying to decide - among other things - what to call NASCAR's premier touring division in 2006. As a result of the merger, which is expected to be concluded toward the end of 2005, the new combined company will inherit the remaining eight years as the primary sponsor of NASCAR's Cup division. Nextel Director of Corporate Communications Mike Mooney said Thursday the merger won't have anything but a positive effect on NASCAR Nextel Cup racing, except for causing fans to have to get used to a new sponsorship name for the second time in three years. "The Sprint folks are very supportive and enthusiastic of the NASCAR program, and in fact Sprint was a primary sponsor of Petty Enterprises for a number of years, so they understand the value of NASCAR," Mooney said. "Right now there are a lot of people doing brand studies on the name, but there hasn't been anything formally announced. There won't be any new name for the series in 2005, but I would imagine the new name in 2006 will reflect where the new company is heading".(Kingsport Times-News), see past news on the merger on my Nextel News page.(4-1-2005)

Just when people started getting used to saying Nextel Cup, they're gonna change it again. Sigh.... I hope they at least keep the black and gold colors since I designed the site around them. It better not be "Sprint Cup".

And no it's not an April Fools joke!