2006 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series

The 2006 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series was the 58th season of professional stock car racing in the United States and the 35th modern-era NASCAR Cup series season. It was started at Daytona International Speedway on Sunday, February 12 with the Budweiser Shootout and ended on Monday, November 20, with the Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The Chase for the Nextel Cup began with the Sylvania 300 on Sunday, September 17, at New Hampshire International Speedway. This was the last full-time season with the Gen 4 car.

The 2006 season was the first for Ford's all-new Fusion, which replaced the Taurus both in NASCAR and in showrooms. Also, a new version of the Chevrolet Monte Carlo, called the Monte Carlo Super Sport (SS for short) debuted on the circuit. Additionally, 2006 was the first Cup Series season since 1979 without Rusty Wallace and first since 1974 without Ricky Rudd, although Rudd made one appearance in relief and would return for one final year in 2007 before retiring. It was also the last season before Toyota joined the NASCAR Cup Series as a manufacturer.

Manufacturer	Team	No.	Driver(s)	Crew Chief
Chevrolet	Dale Earnhardt, Inc.	1	Martin Truex Jr. (R)	Kevin Manion
		8	Dale Earnhardt Jr.	Tony Eury Jr.
	Furniture Row Racing	78	Kenny Wallace 31	Joe Garone
			Jimmy Spencer 3
			Travis Kvapil 1
			Max Papis 1
	Ginn Racing	01	Joe Nemechek	Ryan Pemberton
		14	Sterling Marlin	Doug Randolph
	Haas CNC Racing	66	Jeff Green	Harold Holly
	Hall of Fame Racing	96	Terry Labonte 7	Phillipe Lopez
			Tony Raines 29
	Hendrick Motorsports	5	Kyle Busch	Alan Gustafson
		24	Jeff Gordon	Steve Letarte
		25	Brian Vickers	Lance McGrew
		48	Jimmie Johnson	Chad Knaus
	Joe Gibbs Racing	11	Denny Hamlin (R)	Mike Ford
		18	J. J. Yeley (R)	Steve Addington
		20	Tony Stewart	Greg Zipadelli
	Morgan-McClure Motorsports	4	Scott Wimmer 28	Chris Carrier
			P. J. Jones 1
			Todd Bodine 3
			Ward Burton 4
	PPI Motorsports	32	Travis Kvapil 34	James Ince
			Ron Fellows 2
	Richard Childress Racing	07	Clint Bowyer (R)	Gil Martin
		29	Kevin Harvick	Todd Berrier
		31	Jeff Burton	Scott Miller
	Robby Gordon Motorsports	7	Robby Gordon	Greg Erwin
Dodge	BAM Racing	49	Brent Sherman (R) 8	Ron Otto
			Jimmy Spencer 1
			Mike Wallace 1
			Kevin Lepage 17
			Chris Cook 2
			Mike Bliss 7
	Bill Davis Racing	22	Dave Blaney	Kevin Hamlin
	Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates	40	David Stremme (R) 34	Jeff Vandermoss
			Scott Pruett 2
		41	Reed Sorenson (R)	Jimmy Elledge
		42	Casey Mears	Donnie Wingo
	Evernham Motorsports	9	Kasey Kahne	Kenny Francis
		10	Scott Riggs	Rodney Childers
		19	Jeremy Mayfield 21	Chris Andrews
			Bill Elliott 1
			Elliott Sadler 14
	Penske Racing South	2	Kurt Busch	Roy McCauley
		12	Ryan Newman	Matt Borland
	Petty Enterprises	43	Bobby Labonte	Todd Parrott 22 Greg Steadman 4 Paul Andrews 10
		45	Kyle Petty	Paul Andrews 26 Billy Wilburn 10
	Waltrip-Jasper Racing	55	Michael Waltrip	Derrick Finley
Ford	Robert Yates Racing	38	Elliott Sadler 22	Tommy Baldwin Jr.
			David Gilliland 14
		88	Dale Jarrett	Slugger Labbe
	Roush Racing	6	Mark Martin	Pat Tryson
		16	Greg Biffle	Doug Richert
		17	Matt Kenseth	Robbie Reiser
		26	Jamie McMurray	Jimmy Fennig/Wally Brown
		99	Carl Edwards	Bob Osborne
	JTG Racing[2]	21	Ken Schrader	David Hyder
Chevrolet Dodge Ford	Peak Fitness Racing 9 Front Row Motorsports 27	34	Randy LaJoie 2	Wayne Hatfield
			Chad Chaffin (R) 11
			Chad Blount 7
			Carl Long 3
			Greg Sacks 2
			Mike Skinner 2
			Johnny Miller 1
			Joey McCarthy 1
			Brian Simo 1
			Kertus Davis 1
			Kevin Lepage 4
		61	Kevin Lepage 13	Greg Conner 15 Mike Steurer 17 Craig Osbourne 4
			Chad Chaffin (R) 17
			Brian Simo 1
			Chad Blount 1
			Ted Christopher 1
			Derrike Cope 1
			Stanton Barrett 1

Manufacturer	Team	No.	Driver(s)	Crew Chief	Rounds
Chevrolet	Andy Belmont Racing	59	Andy Belmont	Billy Owen	1
	Braun Racing	71	Jason Leffler	Todd Lohse	1
	CJM Racing	72	Kertus Davis	Doug George	2
			Brent Sherman		1
			David Gilliland		1
			Dale Quarterley		1
			Mike Skinner		4
			Brandon Whitt		2
	Competitive Edge Motorsports	51	Mike Garvey	Barry Haefele	10
	Cupp Motorsports	46	Carl Long	Stan Hover	4
	Dale Earnhardt, Inc.	15	Paul Menard	Dan Stillman	10
	Front Row Motorsports	92	Chad Chaffin (R)	Teddy Brown	1
			Randy LaJoie		1
			Chad Blount		6
			Johnny Miller		1
	Haas CNC Racing	70	Johnny Sauter	Bootie Barker	2
	Hendrick Motorsports	44	Terry Labonte	Peter Sospenzo	10
	Kirk Shelmerdine Racing	27	Kirk Shelmerdine	Phil Harris	6
			Tom Hubert		2
			Ted Christopher		3
			Mike Skinner		1
	MB2 Motorsports	36	Bill Elliott	Frank Stoddard	1
	Michael Waltrip Racing	00	Bill Elliott	Larry Carter	5
	Morgan-McClure Motorsports	04	Eric McClure	Danny Gill	1
	Richard Childress Racing	33	Scott Wimmer	Pat Smith	1
	Stanton Barrett Racing	95	Stanton Barrett	Shawn Parker	16
Dodge	Arnold Motorsports	50	Larry Foyt	Buddy Sisco	1
	Bill Davis Racing	23	Mike Skinner	Ricky Viers	1
			Bill Lester		3
	Bobby Hamilton Racing	04	Bobby Hamilton Jr.		3
	Brandon Ash Racing	02	Brandon Ash	Ed Ash	2
	Chip Ganassi Racing	30	Juan Pablo Montoya	Dan Kolanda 3 Steve Boyer 1	1
	Rick Ware Racing		Stanton Barrett		3
		52		Dan Kolanda	1
			Larry Gunselman		2
			Steve Portenga		1
			Donnie Neuenberger		2
	McGlynn Racing	74	Derrike Cope	Dom Turse	27
	R&J Racing	37	Chad Blount	Mark Tutor	1
			Mike Skinner		5
			Carl Long		3
			David Murry		2
			Bill Elliott		4
	Shepherd Racing Ventures	89	Morgan Shepherd	Doug George	16
			Kertus Davis		1
	Team Red Bull	83	Bill Elliott	Ricky Viers	1
		84	A. J. Allmendinger		2
Ford	Brent Sherman Racing	04	Brent Sherman		1
	Hover Motorsports	80	Carl Long	Stan Hover	1
	No Fear Racing	60	Boris Said	Frank Stoddard	4
			David Ragan		2
	Robert Yates Racing	90	Stephen Leicht	Raymond Fox Jr.	2
			Marc Goossens		1
	Roush Racing	06	Todd Kluever	Frank Stoddard	7
			David Ragan		2
	Sacks Motorsports	13	Greg Sacks		1
Chevrolet Ford	MBA Racing	00	Hermie Sadler	Micah Horton	17
Chevrolet Dodge Ford	Phoenix Racing	09	Mike Wallace	Marc Reno	6
			Jeremy Mayfield		2

Several new drivers were in their first stint as regulars on the Nextel Cup circuit in 2006. After winning back-to-back Busch Series championships in 2004 and 2005, Martin Truex Jr. drove the No. 1 Chevrolet for Dale Earnhardt, Inc. (DEI). Vacated by Michael Waltrip, their No. 15 car was driven by rookie Paul Menard and ran a part-time schedule of only seven races.

Waltrip left DEI to drive

.

2004 Nextel Cup champion

continued his "Salute to You" tour for their No. 6 car.

With the egressing of both McMurray and

.

Jeff Green replaced Mike Bliss in the No. 66 (formerly No. 0) car, which left Petty Enterprises' No. 43 Dodge open for former Joe Gibbs Racing driver Bobby Labonte to step in. His new teammate/team owner Kyle Petty brought sponsorships from Wells Fargo, NTB, and Schwan's to the No. 45 car, with Schwan's moving from the No. 49. Competitive Edge Motorsports ceased operations, and Marathon Petroleum Company sponsored Kyle Petty. J. J. Yeley took over for Labonte in JGR's No. 18 Chevrolet. Denny Hamlin, after scoring three Top 10 finishes at the end of the previous season, raced full-time in their newly entered No. 11 car, and he claimed rookie of the year honors, two checkered flags (both at Pocono Raceway, the first rookie to sweep both races in a single season) and third in the Championship standings.

Hall of Fame Racing started operations in 2006. Two-time Cup series champion Terry Labonte drove their No. 96 car for the first five races utilizing the past champions provisional rule, and Tony Raines took over at Martinsville. Labonte wound down his career "Texas Style" in the No. 44 Hendrick Motorsports second car following the Dickies 500 race in November in his home state at Texas Motor Speedway, where he finished 34th.

Brent Sherman took over for Ken Schrader in the No. 49 Dodge for BAM Racing, only to be replaced by Kevin Lepage, who started the season in the No. 61 (formerly No. 66) car for Peak Fitness Racing. Bliss replaced Sherman in the No. 49 as well. Front Row Motorsports hired Chad Chaffin to run for Rookie of the Year and Randy LaJoie (who was replaced by Chad Blount) to run full-time in their No. 34/92 car as well as buying Peak Fitness Racing's No. 61, suspending the 92's operations. Schrader replaced Ricky Rudd in the Wood Brothers No. 21 Ford. Starting this season, Wood Brothers made a partnership with JTG Racing (a Busch Series and Truck Series at the time) to field the No. 21 entry and the team was renamed to Wood Brothers/JTG Racing.^[2]

driving their No. 78 Chevrolet.

Schedule

No.	Race Title	Track	Date
	Budweiser Shootout	Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach	February 12
	Gatorade Duel		February 16
1	Daytona 500		February 19
2	Auto Club 500	California Speedway, Fontana	February 26
3	UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400	Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Las Vegas, Nevada	March 12
4	Golden Corral 500	Atlanta Motor Speedway, Hampton	March 20
5	Food City 500	Bristol Motor Speedway, Bristol	March 26
6	DirecTV 500	Martinsville Speedway, Ridgeway	April 2
7	Samsung/Radio Shack 500	Texas Motor Speedway, Fort Worth	April 9
8	Subway Fresh 500	Phoenix International Raceway, Phoenix	April 22
9	Aaron's 499	Talladega Superspeedway, Talladega	May 1
10	Crown Royal 400	Richmond International Raceway, Richmond	May 6
11	Dodge Charger 500	Darlington Raceway, Darlington	May 13
	Nextel Open	Lowe's Motor Speedway, Concord	May 20
	Nextel All-Star Challenge
12	Coca-Cola 600		May 28
13	Neighborhood Excellence 400 presented by Bank of America	Dover International Speedway, Dover	June 4
14	Pocono 500	Pocono Raceway, Long Pond	June 11
15	3M Performance 400 presented by Post-It Picture Paper	Michigan International Speedway, Brooklyn	June 18
16	Dodge/Save Mart 350	Infineon Raceway, Sonoma	June 25
17	Pepsi 400	Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach	July 1
18	USG Sheetrock 400	Chicagoland Speedway, Joliet	July 9
19	Lenox Industrial Tools 300	New Hampshire International Speedway, Loudon	July 16
20	Pennsylvania 500	Pocono Raceway, Long Pond	July 23
21	Allstate 400 at the Brickyard	Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Speedway	August 6
22	AMD at The Glen	Watkins Glen International, Watkins Glen	August 13
23	GFS Marketplace 400	Michigan International Speedway, Brooklyn	August 20
24	Sharpie 500	Bristol Motor Speedway, Bristol	August 26
25	Sony HD 500	California Speedway, Fontana	September 3
26	Chevy Rock & Roll 400	Richmond International Raceway, Richmond	September 9
Chase for the Nextel Cup
27	Sylvania 300	New Hampshire International Speedway, Loudon	September 17
28	Dover 400	Dover International Speedway, Dover	September 24
29	Banquet 400 presented by ConAgra Foods	Kansas Speedway, Kansas City	October 1
30	UAW-Ford 500	Talladega Superspeedway, Talladega	October 8
31	Bank of America 500	Lowe's Motor Speedway, Concord	October 14
32	Subway 500	Martinsville Speedway, Ridgeway	October 22
33	Bass Pro Shops 500	Atlanta Motor Speedway, Hampton	October 29
34	Dickies 500	Texas Motor Speedway, Fort Worth	November 5
35	Checker Auto Parts 500 presented by Pennzoil	Phoenix International Raceway, Phoenix	November 12
36	Ford 400	Homestead-Miami Speedway, Homestead	November 19

Races

No.	Race	Pole position	Most laps led	Winning driver	Manufacturer
	Budweiser Shootout	Ken Schrader	Ken Schrader	Denny Hamlin	Chevrolet
	Gatorade Duel 1	Jeff Burton	Elliott Sadler	Elliott Sadler	Ford
	Gatorade Duel 2	Jeff Gordon	Jeff Gordon	Jeff Gordon	Chevrolet
1	Daytona 500	Jeff Burton	Dale Earnhardt Jr.	Jimmie Johnson	Chevrolet
2	Auto Club 500	Kurt Busch	Greg Biffle	Matt Kenseth	Ford
3	UAW-Daimler Chrysler 400	Greg Biffle	Matt Kenseth	Jimmie Johnson	Chevrolet
4	Golden Corral 500	Kasey Kahne	Greg Biffle	Kasey Kahne	Dodge
5	Food City 500	Tony Stewart	Tony Stewart	Kurt Busch	Dodge
6	DirecTV 500	Jimmie Johnson	Tony Stewart	Tony Stewart	Chevrolet
7	Samsung/Radio Shack 500	Kasey Kahne	Tony Stewart	Kasey Kahne	Dodge
8	Subway Fresh 500	Kyle Busch	Greg Biffle	Kevin Harvick	Chevrolet
9	Aaron's 499	Elliott Sadler	Jeff Gordon	Jimmie Johnson	Chevrolet
10	Crown Royal 400	Greg Biffle	Kevin Harvick	Dale Earnhardt Jr.	Chevrolet
11	Dodge Charger 500	Kasey Kahne	Greg Biffle	Greg Biffle	Ford
	Nextel Open	Scott Riggs	Scott Riggs	Scott Riggs	Dodge
	Nextel All-Star Challenge	Kasey Kahne	Jimmie Johnson	Jimmie Johnson	Chevrolet
12	Coca-Cola 600	Scott Riggs	Kasey Kahne	Kasey Kahne	Dodge
13	Neighborhood Excellence 400 presented by Bank of America	Ryan Newman	Jamie McMurray	Matt Kenseth	Ford
14	Pocono 500	Denny Hamlin	Denny Hamlin	Denny Hamlin	Chevrolet
15	3M Performance 400 presented by Post-It Picture Paper	Kasey Kahne	Jeff Gordon	Kasey Kahne	Dodge
16	Dodge/Save Mart 350	Kurt Busch	Jeff Gordon	Jeff Gordon	Chevrolet
17	Pepsi 400	Boris Said	Tony Stewart	Tony Stewart	Chevrolet
18	USG Sheetrock 400	Jeff Burton	Matt Kenseth	Jeff Gordon	Chevrolet
19	Lenox Industrial Tools 300	Ryan Newman	Kyle Busch	Kyle Busch	Chevrolet
20	Pennsylvania 500	Denny Hamlin	Denny Hamlin	Denny Hamlin	Chevrolet
21	Allstate 400 at the Brickyard	Jeff Burton	Jeff Burton	Jimmie Johnson	Chevrolet
22	AMD at the Glen	Kurt Busch	Kurt Busch	Kevin Harvick	Chevrolet
23	GFS Marketplace 400	Jeff Burton	Matt Kenseth	Matt Kenseth	Ford
24	Sharpie 500	Kurt Busch	Jeff Burton	Matt Kenseth	Ford
25	Sony HD 500	Kurt Busch	Kasey Kahne	Kasey Kahne	Dodge
26	Chevy Rock & Roll 400	Denny Hamlin	Kyle Busch	Kevin Harvick	Chevrolet
27	Sylvania 300	Kevin Harvick	Kevin Harvick	Kevin Harvick	Chevrolet
28	Dover 400	Jeff Gordon	Matt Kenseth	Jeff Burton	Chevrolet
29	Banquet 400 presented by ConAgra Foods	Kasey Kahne	Jimmie Johnson	Tony Stewart	Chevrolet
30	UAW-Ford 500	David Gilliland	Dale Earnhardt Jr.	Brian Vickers	Chevrolet
31	Bank of America 500	Scott Riggs	Kasey Kahne	Kasey Kahne	Dodge
32	Subway 500	Kurt Busch	Jimmie Johnson	Jimmie Johnson	Chevrolet
33	Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500	Matt Kenseth	Tony Stewart	Tony Stewart	Chevrolet
34	Dickies 500	Brian Vickers	Tony Stewart	Tony Stewart	Chevrolet
35	Checker Auto Parts 500 presented by Pennzoil	Jeff Gordon	Kevin Harvick	Kevin Harvick	Chevrolet
36	Ford 400	Kasey Kahne	Kasey Kahne	Greg Biffle	Ford

NOTE: An asterisk (*) in each Top Ten finish denotes a rookie driver.

Budweiser Shootout

This non-points race, which involved the previous season's pole winners and past Shootout winners, was held February 12, 2006, at

Checker Auto Parts 500

held November 13, 2005 in Phoenix. Hamlin drove in only 7 Nextel Cup races in 2005.

Daytona 500

• Complete Results

Jeff Burton won the pole for the race with a speed of over 189 mph, and would start alongside Jeff Gordon in an all-Chevy front row. Gordon would win the second Gatorade Duel (his third career victory in a Daytona qualifying race) after Elliott Sadler won in race 1, which was delayed by showers.

The weather dawned cloudy and cold for the 48th running of the "Great American Race", when

for hitting Stewart's car in retaliation on pit road. The three drivers involved in these two incidents would repair their cars and get back into contention. Kenseth at first failed to answer the black flag, which resulted in NASCAR no longer continuing to score the 17 car for 1 lap. Kenseth would make up the lost lap and catch up to lead lap traffic.

.

One surprise of this race was Kirk Shelmerdine, who finished 20th. He had barely qualified for the Daytona 500 and his independently owned No. 27 was fielded with a car that had a borrowed engine and donated tires, as well as a team with a volunteer pit crew.

Top Ten Results: (Race distance extended to 203 laps/507.5 miles due to green-white-checkered rule.)

1. No. 48 Jimmie Johnson
2. No. 42 Casey Mears
3. No. 12 Ryan Newman
4. No. 38 Elliott Sadler
5. No. 20 Tony Stewart
6. No. 07 Clint Bowyer *
7. No. 25 Brian Vickers
8. No. 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr.
9. No. 21 Ken Schrader
10. No. 88 Dale Jarrett

Failed to qualify: Scott Riggs (No. 10), Kenny Wallace (No. 78), Scott Wimmer (No. 4), Mike Skinner (No. 23), Derrike Cope (No. 74), Larry Gunselman (No. 52), Chad Blount (No. 37), Larry Foyt (No. 50), Andy Belmont (No. 59), Randy LaJoie (No. 64), Morgan Shepherd (No. 89), Chad Chaffin (No. 92), Carl Long (No. 80), Paul Menard (No. 15), Stanton Barrett (No. 95)

• Clint Bowyer scored a top-10 finish in his first full-time Nextel Cup race.
• As of 2024, this was the final Daytona 500 televised by NBC. The NASCAR TV deal for 2001 through 2006 allowed for FOX and NBC to rotate the Daytona 500 and the Pepsi 400 every year. FOX would broadcast the Daytona 500 on odd-numbered years, and NBC would broadcast the race on even-numbered years. FOX would televise every Daytona 500 after the new broadcast rights deal went into effect in 2007.
• As of 2024, 2017 NASCAR Cup Series Champion Martin Truex Jr. has made every start at this point.

• Complete Results

Body styles and engines were the story for the second race of the

, drove the Charger.

On race day,

green-white-checkered finish

to earn his 11th career win.

Top ten results: (Race distance extended to 502 miles/251 laps due to green-white checkered rule.)

1. No. 17 Matt Kenseth
2. No. 48 Jimmie Johnson
3. No. 99 Carl Edwards
4. No. 9 Kasey Kahne
5. No. 31 Jeff Burton
6. No. 26 Jamie McMurray
7. No. 42 Casey Mears
8. No. 18 J. J. Yeley *
9. No. 6 Mark Martin
10. No. 5 Kyle Busch

Failed to qualify: Travis Kvapil (No. 32), Hermie Sadler (No. 00), Derrike Cope (No. 74), Randy LaJoie (No. 34), Morgan Shepherd (No. 89)

• Complete Results

After a week off, the Nextel Cup series returned to action at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 12, 2006, for the UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400. Greg Biffle clocked the fastest lap in qualifying at 172.403 mph.

In the third consecutive race to require a

wrecked three laps from the end, bunching the field and leading to the overtime finish. Before the lap 268 restart, Kenseth told his crew that his engine felt weak, but he was able to protect the lead until the last corner, where Johnson, who had not led all day, overtook the 17 car on the high side to take the win by a half a car length. This was the first time that a green-white-checkered finish occurred in the first three races of the season.

Top Ten Results: (Race distance extended to 270 laps/405 miles due to green-white-checkered rule.)

1. No. 48 Jimmie Johnson
2. No. 17 Matt Kenseth
3. No. 5 Kyle Busch
4. No. 9 Kasey Kahne
5. No. 24 Jeff Gordon
6. No. 6 Mark Martin
7. No. 31 Jeff Burton
8. No. 16 Greg Biffle
9. No. 42 Casey Mears
10. No. 11 Denny Hamlin *

Failed to qualify: Stanton Barrett (No. 95), Hermie Sadler (No. 00), Brandon Ash (No. 02), Mike Skinner (No. 37), Morgan Shepherd (No. 89), Randy LaJoie (No. 92)

• This was last time The Overtime Rule in this event until 2022 where Alex Bowman won,also in the 48 for Headrick Motorsports.

• Complete Results

There were no extra laps in race four of the Nextel Cup season, the Golden Corral 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway, but there was an extra day, as rain showers forced the green flag to be moved to Monday, March 20 at 11 am Television coverage moved to cable's FX channel for the race (with some exceptions).

but was treated at the infield care center.

Several rookies had good days at Atlanta. Paul Menard and Reed Sorenson finished in the top ten, and Denny Hamlin led 16 laps. He was forced to make an unscheduled pit stop because of a loose condition, and finished 31st.

On the track, the 9 car was near the front all day. Kahne took the lead from

.

Top ten results:

1. No. 9 Kasey Kahne
2. No. 6 Mark Martin
3. No. 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr.
4. No. 24 Jeff Gordon
5. No. 20 Tony Stewart
6. No. 48 Jimmie Johnson
7. No. 15 Paul Menard *
8. No. 45 Kyle Petty
9. No. 88 Dale Jarrett
10. No. 41 Reed Sorenson *

Failed to qualify: Mike Garvey (No. 51), Stanton Barrett (No. 95), Chad Chaffin (No. 34), Derrike Cope (No. 74), Kenny Wallace (No. 78), Travis Kvapil (No. 32), Mike Skinner (No. 37), Greg Sacks (No. 13), Chad Blount (No. 92)

• Complete Results

The fifth race of the season, the Food City 500, was held at Bristol Motor Speedway on March 26, 2006. Qualifying was cancelled on March 24 due to snow, sleet and rain, and the field was set with top 35 owners points from 2005, the Champion's Provisional (for Terry Labonte) and seven others, based on qualifying attempts in 2006. As a result, 2005 champion Tony Stewart sat on pole.

The race featured 18 cautions, and over 100 of the 500 laps were run under the yellow flag. Points leader Jimmie Johnson made contact with the car of Reed Sorenson which caused a flat tire and put the 48 car multiple laps down. He finished 30th. Lap 188 saw the most notable wreck of the first half of the race, as Clint Bowyer spun Dave Blaney, causing a chain reaction that collected David Stremme, Brian Vickers and Michael Waltrip and brought out a red flag to clean up.

Jeff Gordon spun Martin Truex Jr. out on lap 415 in an incident that collected Jeff Burton, Robby Gordon and J. J. Yeley. Kurt Busch, who had made up two laps lost earlier in the day due to tire problems, used the "bump-and-run" to nudge Matt Kenseth out of the lead with four laps to go. Jeff Gordon used the same tactic to take third, but on the final lap, Kenseth used the bump and run to spin Gordon out as Busch raced to victory. Gordon finished 21st and was involved in a shoving match with Kenseth.

The win was Busch's fifth in 11 career races at the Tennessee track and the fifteenth in his career. It was Dodge's first win at Bristol since Richard Petty in 1975.

Top ten results:

1. No. 2 Kurt Busch
2. No. 29 Kevin Harvick
3. No. 17 Matt Kenseth
4. No. 99 Carl Edwards
5. No. 43 Bobby Labonte
6. No. 6 Mark Martin
7. No. 16 Greg Biffle
8. No. 5 Kyle Busch
9. No. 12 Ryan Newman
10. No. 9 Kasey Kahne

Failed to qualify: Chad Chaffin (No. 34), Mike Skinner (No. 37), Mike Garvey (No. 51), Derrike Cope (No. 74), Kenny Wallace (No. 78), Morgan Shepherd (No. 89), Chad Blount (No. 92).

• Complete Results

The sixth race of the season, the DirecTV 500, was held at Martinsville Speedway on April 2, 2006. Jimmie Johnson won the pole.

Top ten results:

1. No. 20 Tony Stewart
2. No. 24 Jeff Gordon
3. No. 48 Jimmie Johnson
4. No. 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr.
5. No. 5 Kyle Busch
6. No. 38 Elliott Sadler
7. No. 29 Kevin Harvick
8. No. 25 Brian Vickers
9. No. 26 Jamie McMurray
10. No. 10 Scott Riggs

Failed to qualify:

(No. 00).

Samsung/Radio Shack 500

• Complete Results

The Samsung/Radio Shack 500, the seventh race of the season was held at Texas Motor Speedway on April 9, 2006. Kasey Kahne won the pole.

Top ten results:

1. No. 9 Kasey Kahne
2. No. 17 Matt Kenseth
3. No. 20 Tony Stewart
4. No. 11 Denny Hamlin *
5. No. 29 Kevin Harvick
6. No. 31 Jeff Burton
7. No. 10 Scott Riggs
8. No. 1 Martin Truex Jr. *
9. No. 6 Mark Martin
10. No. 43 Bobby Labonte

Failed to qualify: Brent Sherman (No. 49), Chad Blount (No. 92), Kenny Wallace (No. 78), Chad Chaffin (No. 34), Stanton Barrett (No. 95).

• Complete Results

The Subway Fresh 500, the eighth race of the season was held at

won the pole.

Top ten results:

1. No. 29 Kevin Harvick
2. No. 20 Tony Stewart
3. No. 17 Matt Kenseth
4. No. 99 Carl Edwards
5. No. 07 Clint Bowyer *
6. No. 9 Kasey Kahne
7. No. 48 Jimmie Johnson
8. No. 43 Bobby Labonte
9. No. 31 Jeff Burton
10. No. 24 Jeff Gordon

Failed to qualify: Chad Chaffin (No. 34), Mike Garvey (No. 51), Chad Blount (No. 92), Kevin Lepage (No. 61), Morgan Shepherd (No. 89), Steve Portenga (No. 52)

• Complete Results

The ninth race of the season, the Aaron's 499, was scheduled to be held at

was one of five impound races this year in the Nextel Cup Series.

Top ten results:

1. No. 48 Jimmie Johnson
2. No. 20 Tony Stewart
3. No. 25 Brian Vickers
4. No. 31 Jeff Burton
5. No. 26 Jamie McMurray
6. No. 17 Matt Kenseth
7. No. 2 Kurt Busch
8. No. 99 Carl Edwards
9. No. 10 Scott Riggs
10. No. 7 Robby Gordon

Failed to qualify: Morgan Shepherd (No. 89), Stanton Barrett (No. 95), Mike Wallace (No. 09), Chad Blount (No. 92), Brent Sherman (No. 49), Kenny Wallace (No. 78)

• With the win, Jimmie Johnson completed the Career Grand Slam. (Daytona 500, spring Talladega race, Coca-Cola 600, Southern 500)

• Complete Results

The Crown Royal 400, NASCAR's tenth race of the season was held at

won the pole. This was the second impound race of the 2006 season.

Top ten results:

1. No. 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr.
2. No. 11 Denny Hamlin *
3. No. 29 Kevin Harvick
4. No. 16 Greg Biffle
5. No. 5 Kyle Busch
6. No. 20 Tony Stewart
7. No. 99 Carl Edwards
8. No. 12 Ryan Newman
9. No. 14 Sterling Marlin
10. No. 07 Clint Bowyer *

Failed to qualify: Kertus Davis (No. 89), Chad Chaffin (No. 34), Stanton Barrett (No. 95), Hermie Sadler (No. 00)

• This was Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s final win driving for Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Earnhardt Jr. went winless in 2007 before joining Hendrick Motorsports in 2008.
• Final career Top 10 finish for Sterling Marlin.

• Complete Results

The Dodge Charger 500, the eleventh race of the season was held at Darlington Raceway on May 13, 2006. Kasey Kahne won the pole.

Top ten results:

1. No. 16 Greg Biffle
2. No. 24 Jeff Gordon
3. No. 17 Matt Kenseth
4. No. 48 Jimmie Johnson
5. No. 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr.
6. No. 12 Ryan Newman
7. No. 5 Kyle Busch
8. No. 6 Mark Martin
9. No. 31 Jeff Burton
10. No. 11 Denny Hamlin *

Failed to qualify: Chad Chaffin (No. 61), Kenny Wallace (No. 78), Carl Long (No. 37), Chad Blount (No. 34)

The first of two non-points doubleheader races was held May 20, 2006, at

won the pole, and would go on to win after having led every single lap.

Top Ten Results

1. 10- Scott Riggs
2. 66- Jeff Green
3. 25- Brian Vickers
4. 11- Denny Hamlin*
5. 18- J. J. Yeley*
6. 40- David Stremme*
7. 31- Jeff Burton
8. 14- Sterling Marlin
9. 7- Robby Gordon
10. 21- Ken Schrader

The second non-points race was held May 20, 2006, at

. Kasey Kahne won the pole in the unique three-lap qualifier that included a required four-tire pit stop.

Top Ten Results

1. 48- Jimmie Johnson
2. 29- Kevin Harvick
3. 24- Jeff Gordon
4. 99- Carl Edwards
5. 12- Ryan Newman
6. 43- Bobby Labonte
7. 88- Dale Jarrett
8. 45- Kyle Petty +
9. 8- Dale Earnhardt Jr.
10. 10- Scott Riggs §

+ – Was selected by fans in a poll to participate following Nextel Open.

§ – Winner of Nextel Open.

• Complete Results

The twelfth points-paying race, the Coca-Cola 600, NASCAR's longest race in terms of distance, was run on May 28, 2006, at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Scott Riggs won the pole.

Top Ten Results:

1. No. 9 Kasey Kahne
2. No. 48 Jimmie Johnson
3. No. 99 Carl Edwards
4. No. 6 Mark Martin
5. No. 17 Matt Kenseth
6. No. 31 Jeff Burton
7. No. 16 Greg Biffle
8. No. 26 Jamie McMurray
9. No. 11 Denny Hamlin *
10. No. 41 Reed Sorenson *

Failed to qualify: Kevin Lepage (No. 49), Hermie Sadler (No. 00), Chad Chaffin (No. 61), Michael Waltrip (No. 55)+, Stanton Barrett (No. 95), Mike Garvey (No. 51), Chad Blount (No. 34), Carl Long (No. 37), Kirk Shelmerdine (No. 27), and Kertus Davis (No. 72).

• Jimmie Johnson would come up one spot short on his quest to win 5 straight races at Charlotte Motor Speedway. He would also fail to break out of a 3-way tie with Bill Elliott and Dale Earnhardt Jr. by trying to win 5 straight superspeedway races at one track.

+ Michael Waltrip failed to qualify, but he bought Derrike Cope's 43rd starting spot (No. 74).

• Kyle Busch was fined $50,000 (US) and had 25 championship points deducted for throwing his HANS device at Casey Mears after an accident.

• Complete Results

The thirteenth race of the season, the Neighborhood Excellence 400 presented by

won the pole for this race.

Top ten results:

1. No. 17 Matt Kenseth
2. No. 26 Jamie McMurray
3. No. 29 Kevin Harvick
4. No. 31 Jeff Burton
5. No. 5 Kyle Busch
6. No. 48 Jimmie Johnson
7. No. 9 Kasey Kahne
8. No. 16 Greg Biffle
9. No. 6 Mark Martin
10. No. 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Failed to qualify: Carl Long (No. 34), Donnie Neuenberger (No. 52), Chad Chaffin (No. 61), and Stanton Barrett (No. 95).

• Tony Stewart was injured at Charlotte and needed relief from Ricky Rudd, who was taking a year off from racing.
• This was the final NASCAR Cup Series race aired on FX.

• Complete Results

The Pocono 500, the fourteenth race of the season was held at Pocono Raceway on June 11, 2006. Denny Hamlin sat on pole and led 49 of the first 50 laps before crashing and coming back from 40th place to become the first rookie to win in 2006.

Top Ten Results:

1. No. 11 Denny Hamlin *
2. No. 2 Kurt Busch
3. No. 20 Tony Stewart
4. No. 25 Brian Vickers
5. No. 17 Matt Kenseth
6. No. 16 Greg Biffle
7. No. 9 Kasey Kahne
8. No. 10 Scott Riggs
9. No. 31 Jeff Burton
10. No. 48 Jimmie Johnson

Failed to qualify: Scott Wimmer (No. 4), Derrike Cope (No. 74), Stanton Barrett (No. 95), Greg Sacks (No. 34), Brent Sherman (No. 72)

• This was Denny Hamlin's first career Cup victory.

• Complete Results

The fifteenth race of the season, the 3M Performance 400, was held at Michigan International Speedway on June 18, 2006. Kasey Kahne won the pole.

Top Ten Results: (Race called after 129 laps/258 miles because of rain.)

1. No. 9 Kasey Kahne
2. No. 99 Carl Edwards
3. No. 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr.
4. No. 16 Greg Biffle
5. No. 41 Reed Sorenson *
6. No. 48 Jimmie Johnson
7. No. 42 Casey Mears
8. No. 24 Jeff Gordon
9. No. 2 Kurt Busch
10. No. 29 Kevin Harvick

Failed to qualify:

(No. 78)

• Complete Results

Race number sixteen on the 2006 schedule was the Dodge/Save Mart 350, the 100th road race in Cup history. The race was held at

won the pole.

Top Ten Results:

1. No. 24 Jeff Gordon
2. No. 12 Ryan Newman
3. No. 96 Terry Labonte *
4. No. 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr.
5. No. 2 Kurt Busch
6. No. 99 Carl Edwards
7. No. 31 Jeff Burton
8. No. 38 Elliott Sadler
9. No. 60 Boris Said *
10. No. 48 Jimmie Johnson

Failed to qualify: Johnny Miller (No. 34), Chris Cook (No. 49), Travis Kvapil (No. 78), Stanton Barrett (No. 95), Brian Simo (No. 61)

• Tom Hubert in this race, had his third-consecutive 43rd-place finish at Sonoma going back to 2003.
• Terry Labonte running a part-time schedule for Hendrick Motorsports and Hall of Fame Racing, finished an amazing third-place finish in the #96 DLP HD TV Chevrolet, after leading the race with less than 20 laps to go.
• Boris Said made his debut as a NASCAR team owner with the SoBe - No Fear Energy #60 Ford Fusion, in which he led 1 lap and finished in 9th place.
• Final career Top 5 for Terry Labonte.

• Complete Results

The Pepsi 400, the traditional "halfway point" of the season, and the seventeenth race of the season, was held at Daytona International Speedway on July 1, 2006. Veteran driver Boris Said won the pole, his first on an oval. He had a great run as he ran in the top ten nearly the entire race. Because of a strategy call by his crew chief with three laps to go Said led the race but Tony Stewart got by Said for the win just before the white flag waved. Said ended up fourth and emotionally said after the race that his performance was the highlight of his career. This race was the third impound race of the season.

Top ten results:

1. No. 20 Tony Stewart
2. No. 5 Kyle Busch
3. No. 2 Kurt Busch
4. No. 60 Boris Said
5. No. 17 Matt Kenseth
6. No. 38 Elliott Sadler
7. No. 42 Casey Mears
8. No. 26 Jamie McMurray
9. No. 29 Kevin Harvick
10. No. 07 Clint Bowyer *

Failed to qualify: Scott Wimmer (No. 4), Kevin Lepage (No. 49), Kenny Wallace (No. 78), Chad Blount (No. 34), Kertus Davis (No. 72)

• Complete Results

The USG Sheetrock 400, the Nextel Cup Series' eighteenth race of the season, was held at

with three laps remaining.

Top Ten Results: (Race distance extended to 270 laps/405 miles due to green-white-checkered rule.)

1. No. 24 Jeff Gordon
2. No. 31 Jeff Burton
3. No. 5 Kyle Busch
4. No. 29 Kevin Harvick
5. No. 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr.
6. No. 48 Jimmie Johnson
7. No. 41 Reed Sorenson *
8. No. 2 Kurt Busch
9. No. 07 Clint Bowyer *
10. No. 18 J. J. Yeley *

Failed to qualify: Paul Menard (No. 15), Kevin Lepage (No. 61), Chad Blount (No. 61), Brent Sherman (No. 04), Mike Garvey (No. 51), Derrike Cope (No. 74), Carl Long (No. 34)

• Complete Results

The nineteenth race of the season, the Lenox Industrial Tools 300, was held at

just before the green flag was to have flown on lap 304.

Top Ten Results: (Race distance extended to 308 laps/308 miles due to green-white-checkered rule.)

1. No. 5 Kyle Busch
2. No. 99 Carl Edwards
3. No. 16 Greg Biffle
4. No. 6 Mark Martin
5. No. 29 Kevin Harvick
6. No. 11 Denny Hamlin *
7. No. 31 Jeff Burton
8. No. 9 Kasey Kahne
9. No. 48 Jimmie Johnson
10. No. 10 Scott Riggs

Failed to qualify: Ted Christopher (No. 61), Joey McCarthy (No. 34), Derrike Cope (No. 74), Morgan Shepherd (No. 89)

• Complete Results

The twentieth race of the season, the Pennsylvania 500, was held at Pocono Raceway on July 23, 2006. Denny Hamlin took the pole in qualifying and went on to win the race, earning his second career win and sweeping both races at Pocono. Hamlin led 151 of the race's 200 laps.

Top Ten Results:

1. No. 11 Denny Hamlin *
2. No. 2 Kurt Busch
3. No. 24 Jeff Gordon
4. No. 25 Brian Vickers
5. No. 29 Kevin Harvick
6. No. 48 Jimmie Johnson
7. No. 20 Tony Stewart
8. No. 43 Bobby Labonte
9. No. 31 Jeff Burton
10. No. 1 Martin Truex Jr. *

Failed to qualify:

(No. 78)‡

• ‡ – Chad Chaffin originally qualified in the No. 61 car, but his time was disqualified due to failing a post-qualifying inspection. Spencer took his place in the grid as he was the fastest of the four who failed to qualify on time.
• Last career start for
  Jimmy Spencer
  .
• Brian Vickers finished fourth in both races at Pocono In 2006.

• Complete Results

The

in 1996.

Top Ten Results:

1. No. 48 Jimmie Johnson
2. No. 17 Matt Kenseth
3. No. 29 Kevin Harvick
4. No. 07 Clint Bowyer *
5. No. 6 Mark Martin
6. No. 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr.
7. No. 5 Kyle Busch
8. No. 99 Carl Edwards
9. No. 20 Tony Stewart
10. No. 2 Kurt Busch

Failed to qualify: Paul Menard (No. 15), Michael Waltrip (No. 55), Johnny Sauter (No. 70), Kevin Lepage (No. 49), Stephen Leicht (No. 90), Bobby Hamilton Jr. (No. 04), Derrike Cope (No. 61)

• The caution flag came out after Jimmie Johnson took the white flag, officially ending this race under caution.
• This was the final race for Jeremy Mayfield in the No. 19 Evernham Motorsports Dodge. He had fallen out of the top 35 in owner's points, thereby no longer guaranteeing him a spot in each race.

• Complete Results

The AMD at The Glen, NASCAR's second and final road course race of the season and the twenty-second race on the season, was held at Watkins Glen International on August 13, 2006. Kurt Busch won the pole.

Top Ten Results:

1. No. 29 Kevin Harvick
2. No. 20 Tony Stewart
3. No. 26 Jamie McMurray
4. No. 7 Robby Gordon
5. No. 99 Carl Edwards
6. No. 40 Scott Pruett
7. No. 38 Elliott Sadler
8. No. 12 Ryan Newman
9. No. 5 Kyle Busch
10. No. 11 Denny Hamlin *

Failed to qualify: Chris Cook (No. 49), Max Papis (No. 78), Tom Hubert (No. 27), David Murry (No. 37), Dale Quarterley (No. 72), Johnny Miller (No. 92), Brandon Ash (No. 02)

• This would be the last race for Sadler in the No. 38 car. As of August 20, he became the driver of Evernham Motorsports' No. 19 Dodge.

• Complete Results

The GFS Marketplace 400, the twenty-third race of the season was held at Michigan International Speedway August 20, 2006. Jeff Burton won his fourth pole of the year. Matt Kenseth held off Jeff Gordon in the closing laps to earn his third victory of the season.

Top Ten Results:

1. No. 17 Matt Kenseth
2. No. 24 Jeff Gordon
3. No. 20 Tony Stewart
4. No. 9 Kasey Kahne
5. No. 6 Mark Martin
6. No. 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr.
7. No. 16 Greg Biffle
8. No. 41 Reed Sorenson
9. No. 11 Denny Hamlin *
10. No. 19 Elliott Sadler

Failed to qualify: Scott Wimmer (No. 4), Mike Skinner (No. 34), Chad Chaffin (No. 61), Kenny Wallace (No. 78)

• Complete Results

One of the most popular races on the circuit, the Sharpie 500, NASCAR's twenty-fourth race of the season was held on August 26, 2006, under the lights on the 0.533-mile Bristol International Speedway.

.

Top Ten Results:

1. No. 17 Matt Kenseth +
2. No. 5 Kyle Busch
3. No. 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr.
4. No. 10 Scott Riggs
5. No. 24 Jeff Gordon
6. No. 11 Denny Hamlin *
7. No. 99 Carl Edwards
8. No. 12 Ryan Newman
9. No. 31 Jeff Burton
10. No. 48 Jimmie Johnson +

Failed to qualify: Chad Chaffin (No. 61), Hermie Sadler (No. 00), Mike Wallace (No. 09), Mike Skinner (No. 37). NOTE: Morgan Shepard (No. 89) and Stanton Barrett (No. 30) withdrew from qualifying.

+ – Clinched a spot in the Chase for the Nextel Cup.

• Complete Results

The twenty-fifth race, and the penultimate race prior to the Chase for the Nextel Cup was the Sony HD 500, held at California Speedway on September 3, 2006. Kurt Busch won the pole.

Top ten results:

1. No. 9 Kasey Kahne
2. No. 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr.
3. No. 07 Clint Bowyer *
4. No. 99 Carl Edwards
5. No. 24 Jeff Gordon
6. No. 11 Denny Hamlin *
7. No. 17 Matt Kenseth
8. No. 5 Kyle Busch
9. No. 20 Tony Stewart
10. No. 88 Dale Jarrett

Failed to qualify: Todd Kluever (No. 06), Kertus Davis (No. 34), Chad Chaffin (No. 61), Bill Lester (No. 23)

• Complete Results

The twenty-sixth and final race prior to the Chase, the Chevy Rock and Roll 400 was held at Richmond International Raceway on September 9, 2006. Following this race, the top ten drivers in point qualified for the ten-race Chase. Richmond-area native Denny Hamlin won the pole in front of his hometown fans, and clinched a spot in the Chase for the Nextel Cup. This was the season's fourth impound race.

Top ten results:

1. No. 29 Kevin Harvick +
2. No. 5 Kyle Busch +
3. No. 9 Kasey Kahne +
4. No. 22 Dave Blaney
5. No. 6 Mark Martin +
6. No. 16 Greg Biffle
7. No. 21 Ken Schrader
8. No. 17 Matt Kenseth
9. No. 31 Jeff Burton +
10. No. 10 Scott Riggs

Failed to qualify: Derrike Cope (No. 74), Mike Wallace (No. 09), Michael Waltrip (No. 55), Hermie Sadler (No. 00), Ted Christopher (No. 27)

+ – Clinched spots in the Chase for the Nextel Cup.

Making The Chase - The following 10 drivers made the Chase for the Cup field in 2006:

1. 17 - Matt Kenseth
2. 48 - Jimmie Johnson
3. 29 - Kevin Harvick
4. 5 - Kyle Busch
5. 11 - Denny Hamlin
6. 8 - Dale Earnhardt Jr.
7. 6 - Mark Martin
8. 31 - Jeff Burton
9. 24 - Jeff Gordon
10. 9 - Kasey Kahne

With the top ten positions all locked in, the playoff began.

In the top ten results, a • indicates one of the 10 drivers who made the Chase for the Nextel Cup.

• Complete Results

The Sylvania 300, the first race in the 2006 Chase for the Nextel Cup, was held September 17 at

won the pole and the race, becoming the overall points leader for the first time in his career.

Top ten results:

1. No. 29 Kevin Harvick •
2. No. 20 Tony Stewart
3. No. 24 Jeff Gordon •
4. No. 11 Denny Hamlin * •
5. No. 25 Brian Vickers
6. No. 19 Elliott Sadler
7. No. 31 Jeff Burton •
8. No. 18 J. J. Yeley *
9. No. 22 Dave Blaney
10. No. 17 Matt Kenseth •

Failed to qualify: Stanton Barrett (No. 30), Derrike Cope (No. 74), Carl Long (No. 46), Kenny Wallace (No. 78), Chad Blount (No. 34)

• Complete Results

The Dover 400, the second race of the 2006 Chase, was held September 24 at

won the pole. Jeff Burton broke a 175-race winless streak after getting alongside Matt Kenseth several times between Laps 385–395. Kenseth ran out of fuel at the white flag.

Top Ten results:

1. No. 31 Jeff Burton •
2. No. 99 Carl Edwards
3. No. 24 Jeff Gordon •
4. No. 2 Kurt Busch
5. No. 16 Greg Biffle
6. No. 1 Martin Truex Jr.
7. No. 43 Bobby Labonte
8. No. 07 Clint Bowyer
9. No. 11 Denny Hamlin *•
10. No. 17 Matt Kenseth •

Failed to qualify: Morgan Shepherd (No. 89), Kenny Wallace (No. 78), Chad Blount (No. 34), Donnie Neuenberger (No. 52)

• Complete Results

The third race of the 2006 Chase, the Banquet 400, was held October 1 at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kansas. Kasey Kahne won the pole. Tony Stewart captured his third win of the year despite running the last half of the final lap with no fuel.

Top ten results:

1. No. 20 Tony Stewart
2. No. 42 Casey Mears
3. No. 6 Mark Martin •
4. No. 88 Dale Jarrett
5. No. 31 Jeff Burton •
6. No. 99 Carl Edwards
7. No. 5 Kyle Busch •
8. No. 25 Brian Vickers
9. No. 07 Clint Bowyer *
10. No. 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. •

Failed to qualify: Scott Wimmer (No. 4), Kevin Lepage (No. 49), Chad Blount (No. 92), Carl Long (No. 46)

• This marked the first time that NBC broadcast a race in 1080i (HDTV).
• Dale Jarrett would score his last career top-5, and top-10, in this race.

• Complete Results

Considered the wild card track of the Chase, the fourth race on the 2006 Chase, the UAW-Ford 500 was held on the newly repaved Talladega Superspeedway Sunday, October 8, 2006. The repaving was the first on the 2.66-mile trioval since 1979. David Gilliland won his first career pole. This race was the fifth and final impound race of the season. Brian Vickers won his first Nextel Cup race when he was declared the winner after he, Jimmie Johnson, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. made contact on the final lap.

Top ten results:

1. No. 25 Brian Vickers
2. No. 9 Kasey Kahne •
3. No. 2 Kurt Busch
4. No. 17 Matt Kenseth •
5. No. 1 Martin Truex Jr. *
6. No. 29 Kevin Harvick •
7. No. 66 Jeff Green
8. No. 43 Bobby Labonte
9. No. 6 Mark Martin •
10. No. 99 Carl Edwards

Failed to qualify: Hermie Sadler (No. 00), Todd Bodine (No. 4), Kirk Shelmerdine (No. 27), Travis Kvapil (No. 32), Kevin Lepage (No. 34), Chad Chaffin (No. 61)

• First career top 5 for Martin Truex Jr.

• Complete Results

Race number five on the 2006 Chase, and the halfway point of the playoff, the Bank of America 500, was held on Saturday, October 14, 2006, at

) in fines as well as a four race suspension for his crew chief.

Top ten results:

1. No. 9 Kasey Kahne •
2. No. 48 Jimmie Johnson •
3. No. 31 Jeff Burton •
4. No. 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. •
5. No. 43 Bobby Labonte
6. No. 5 Kyle Busch •
7. No. 96 Tony Raines
8. No. 99 Carl Edwards
9. No. 01 Joe Nemechek
10. No. 25 Brian Vickers

Failed to qualify: Bill Elliott (No. 83), Kevin Lepage (No. 34), Derrike Cope (No. 74), Chad Chaffin (No. 61), Hermie Sadler (No. 00), Kirk Shelmerdine (No. 27), Carl Long (No. 46), Kenny Wallace (No. 78), Morgan Shepherd (No. 89)

• Mark Martin's championship hopes came to an end after being wrecked by J.J. Yeley on lap 243.

• Complete Results

The sixth event on the Chase, the Subway 500, was held on October 22, 2006, at Martinsville Speedway outside Martinsville, Virginia. The .526-mile track is the shortest in the Nextel Cup series and the Chase as well. Kurt Busch won his sixth pole of the season. Ward Burton, the 2002 Daytona 500 champion, returned to the circuit to drive the Morgan-McClure No. 4 Chevy after a two-year absence.

Top ten results:

1. No. 48 Jimmie Johnson •
2. No. 11 Denny Hamlin *•
3. No. 43 Bobby Labonte
4. No. 20 Tony Stewart
5. No. 24 Jeff Gordon •
6. No. 42 Casey Mears
7. No. 9 Kasey Kahne •
8. No. 66 Jeff Green
9. No. 29 Kevin Harvick •
10. No. 45 Kyle Petty

Failed to qualify: Mike Bliss (No. 49), Hermie Sadler (No. 00), Chad Chaffin (No. 61), Morgan Shepherd (No. 89), Ted Christopher (No. 27), Derrike Cope (No. 74), Stanton Barrett (No. 30)

• Complete Results

The seventh Chase event, the Bass Pro Shops 500 was held at Atlanta Motor Speedway, located in Hampton, Georgia, on October 29. Qualifying was rained out, and the starting order was set by owner points, with Matt Kenseth sitting on the pole. Tony Stewart captured his second race win in a 2006 Chase race.

Top ten results:

1. No. 20 Tony Stewart
2. No. 48 Jimmie Johnson •
3. No. 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. •
4. No. 17 Matt Kenseth •
5. No. 16 Greg Biffle
6. No. 24 Jeff Gordon •
7. No. 99 Carl Edwards
8. No. 11 Denny Hamlin *•
9. No. 01 Joe Nemechek
10. No. 7 Robby Gordon

Failed to qualify: Derrike Cope (No. 74), Kirk Shelmerdine (No. 27), Mike Skinner (No. 72), A. J. Allmendinger (No. 84)

• In a video replay shown by NBC after the race, it was determined that Robby Gordon deliberately and willfully caused a late-race caution by throwing out his rollbar padding (for which he got the free pass to the lead lap). For that, he was docked 50 owner and driver points, fined $15,000 and placed on probation until December 31.

• Complete Results

The eighth Chase race, the Dickies 500, was run on November 5, 2006, at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas. Brian Vickers won the pole for this race. Tony Stewart won his third race of the chase.

Top Ten Results: (Race distance extended to 339 laps/508.5 miles due to green-white-checkered rule.)

1. No. 20 Tony Stewart
2. No. 48 Jimmie Johnson •
3. No. 29 Kevin Harvick •
4. No. 5 Kyle Busch •
5. No. 07 Clint Bowyer
6. No. 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. •
7. No. 42 Casey Mears
8. No. 2 Kurt Busch
9. No. 24 Jeff Gordon •
10. No. 11 Denny Hamlin *•

Failed to qualify: Chad Chaffin (No. 34), Bill Elliott (No. 37), David Ragan (No. 60), Kevin Lepage (No. 61), Mike Skinner (No. 72), Derrike Cope (No. 74), A. J. Allmendinger (No. 84)

• Following this race, Craig Curione, the front tire carrier for the No. 10 Evernham Dodge driven by Scott Riggs, shoved Kevin Harvick, his wife Delana and NASCAR official John Sacco to the pavement after Harvick was blamed for a late-race incident that led to the green-white-checkered finish. Curione was suspended indefinitely and fined $10,000 by NASCAR and fired from Evernham, while Sacco suffered a sprained ankle.

• Complete Results

The ninth race on the Chase for the Nextel Cup, the Checker Auto Parts 500, was held at

won the race.

Top Ten Results:

1. No. 29 Kevin Harvick •
2. No. 48 Jimmie Johnson•
3. No. 11 Denny Hamlin *•
4. No. 24 Jeff Gordon •
5. No. 99 Carl Edwards
6. No. 6 Mark Martin •
7. No. 9 Kasey Kahne •
8. No. 2 Kurt Busch
9. No. 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. •
10. No. 31 Jeff Burton •

Failed to qualify: Jason Leffler (No. 71), Todd Kluever (No. 06), Morgan Shepherd (No. 89), Brandon Ash (No. 02), Kevin Lepage (No. 34), Kenny Wallace (No. 78), Derrike Cope (No. 74), Jeremy Mayfield (No. 09)

• Complete Results

The final race of the season, and the last race in the

, who died less than 2 months after this event in early 2007.

Top ten results: (Race extended to 268 laps/402 miles due to green-white-checkered rule.)

1. No. 16 Greg Biffle
2. No. 1 Martin Truex Jr. *
3. No. 11 Denny Hamlin *•
4. No. 9 Kasey Kahne •
5. No. 29 Kevin Harvick •
6. No. 17 Matt Kenseth •
7. No. 10 Scott Riggs
8. No. 99 Carl Edwards
9. No. 48 Jimmie Johnson •°
10. No. 07 Clint Bowyer

° – Clinched 2006 Nextel Cup Championship

Failed to qualify: Michael Waltrip (No. 55), Todd Kluever (No. 06), Ward Burton (No. 4), Brandon Whitt (No. 72), Kenny Wallace (No. 78), Mike Skinner (No. 27), Derrike Cope (No. 74), Kevin Lepage (No. 61), Carl Long (No. 46), Chad Chaffin (No. 34), Casey Atwood (No. 95), David Ragan (No. 60) Note: Morgan Shepherd (No. 89) withdrew after his only car crashed during practice.

(key) Bold - Pole position awarded by time. Italics - Pole position set by owner's points standings. * – Most laps led.

Pos.	Driver	DAY	CAL	LVS	ATL	BRI	MAR	TEX	PHO	TAL	RCH	DAR	CLT	DOV	POC	MCH	SON	DAY	CHI	NHA	POC	IND	GLN	MCH	BRI	CAL	RCH		NHA	DOV	KAN	TAL	CLT	MAR	ATL	TEX	PHO	HOM	Pts.
1	Jimmie Johnson	1	2	1	6	30	3	11	7	1	12	4	2	6	10	6	10	32	6	9	6	1	17	13	10	11	23		39	13	14*	24	2	1*	2	2	2	9	6470
2	Matt Kenseth	15	1	2*	13	3	24	2	3	6	38	3	5	1	5	13	17	5	22*	14	14	2	21	1*	1	7	8		10	10*	23	4	14	11	4	12	13	6	6419
3	Denny Hamlin (R)	30	12	10	31	14	37	4	34	22	2	10	9	11	1*	12	12	17	14	6	1*	10	10	9	6	6	15		4	9	18	21	28	2	8	10	3	3	6407
4	Kevin Harvick	14	29	11	39	2	7	5	1	23	3*	37	34	3	13	10	24	9	4	5	5	3	1	11	11	15	1		1*	32	15	6	18	9	31	3	1*	5	6397
5	Dale Earnhardt Jr.	8*	11	27	3	11	4	12	23	31	1	5	11	10	14	3	26	13	5	43	43	6	18	6	3	2	17		13	21	10	23*	4	22	3	6	9	19	6328
6	Jeff Gordon	26	13	5	4	21	2	22	10	15*	40	2	36	12	34	8*	1*	40	1	15	3	16	13	2	5	5	31		3	3	39	36	24	5	6	9	4	24	6256
7	Jeff Burton	32	5	7	25	34	33	6	9	4	15	9	6	4	9	11	7	15	2	7	9	15*	11	42	9*	16	9		7	1	5	27	3	42	13	38	10	14	6228
8	Kasey Kahne	11	4	4	1	10	35	1	6	39	34	21	1*	7	7	1	31	25	23	8	31	36	22	4	12	1*	3		16	38	33	2	1*	7	38	33	7	4*	6183
9	Mark Martin	12	9	6	2	6	13	9	11	35	11	8	4	9	17	23	13	33	18	4	19	5	20	5	28	12	5		11	14	3	8	30	24	36	22	6	18	6168
10	Kyle Busch	23	10	3	12	8	5	15	36	32	5	7	38	5	22	14	11	2	3	1*	12	7	9	39	2	8	2		38	40	7	11	6	18	27	4	38	38	6027
Chase for the Nextel Cup cut-off
Pos.	Driver	DAY	CAL	LVS	ATL	BRI	MAR	TEX	PHO	TAL	RCH	DAR	CLT	DOV	POC	MCH	SON	DAY	CHI	NHA	POC	IND	GLN	MCH	BRI	CAL	RCH		NHA	DOV	KAN	TAL	CLT	MAR	ATL	TEX	PHO	HOM	Pts.
11	Tony Stewart	5	43	21	5	12*	1*	3*	2	2	6	12	42	25	3	41	28	1*	32	37	7	8	2	3	22	9	18		2	33	1	22	13	4	1*	1*	14	15	4727
12	Carl Edwards	43	3	26	40	4	16	36	4	8	7	39	3	15	25	2	6	39	20	2	39	9	5	22	7	4	35		18	2	6	9	8	12	7	15	5	8	4428
13	Greg Biffle	31	42*	8	16*	7	31	42	15*	38	4	1*	7	8	6	4	4	31	11	3	24	33	38	7	19	24	6		14	5	12	41	37	32	5	35	34	1	4075
14	Casey Mears	2	7	9	21	25	27	14	20	20	17	17	23	21	43	7	20	7	25	21	23	23	35	16	17	14	11		21	22	2	30	12	6	28	7	26	32	3914
15	Brian Vickers	7	18	22	23	37	8	43	13	3	37	41	37	23	4	17	14	18	13	17	4	17	16	15	33	41	24		5	29	8	1	10	17	19	27	11	21	3906
16	Kurt Busch	38	16	16	37	1	11	34	24	7	29	19	39	16	2	9	5	3	8	38	2	12	19*	40	37	27	27		19	4	25	3	32	27	14	8	8	43	3900
17	Clint Bowyer (R)	6	14	15	27	29	22	19	5	40	10	23	19	17	21	39	16	10	9	27	41	4	14	33	38	3	12		24	8	9	35	23	23	25	5	33	10	3833
18	Ryan Newman	3	20	43	18	9	18	40	39	33	8	6	35	14	11	15	2	11	36	39	18	13	8	25	8	33	20		12	24	24	13	27	13	30	34	15	23	3748
19	Martin Truex Jr. (R)	16	15	20	19	38	19	8	22	36	41	14	21	22	24	16	15	29	16	18	10	19	28	30	18	18	40		22	6	11	5	31	36	37	14	12	2	3673
20	Scott Riggs	DNQ	19	28	11	41	10	7	38	9	14	31	13	20	8	29	27	20	15	10	22	21	23	14	4	17	10		35	34	34	19	17	30	22	31	22	7	3619
21	Bobby Labonte	35	31	30	43	5	32	10	8	29	24	22	17	13	12	28	35	42	12	23	8	40	24	19	23	26	22		40	7	17	10	5	3	12	16	27	41	3567
22	Elliott Sadler	4	23	14	29	13	6	33	37	16	13	29	30	40	20	22	8	6	29	25	32	43	7	10	39	13	16		6	16	40	29	35	38	21	37	17	36	3469
23	Dale Jarrett	10	17	19	9	20	15	17	19	12	21	24	43	24	38	20	34	22	31	31	28	28	26	36	15	10	21		28	15	4	12	41	16	11	29	39	31	3438
24	Reed Sorenson (R)	29	21	40	10	22	12	13	40	26	23	11	10	19	36	5	29	34	7	24	26	30	12	8	36	21	14		17	11	43	39	36	35	29	17	29	16	3434
25	Jamie McMurray	37	6	23	14	35	9	37	14	5	19	42	8	2*	18	23	18	8	39	33	20	26	3	17	29	20	25		29	17	42	37	34	19	40	26	40	35	3405
26	Dave Blaney	22	30	31	32	23	17	29	27	24	20	27	32	30	27	30	39	27	17	13	16	29	40	24	14	28	4		9	12	21	28	26	33	18	32	23	26	3259
27	Joe Nemechek	33	27	13	17	28	23	23	35	27	28	16	18	35	29	26	25	19	33	41	17	24	42	26	26	25	32		32	26	27	18	9	20	9	18	19	13	3255
28	Jeff Green	42	24	18	26	15	25	18	18	14	18	32	12	28	37	33	19	26	27	26	35	38	15	27	24	22	41		43	20	30	7	16	8	23	13	37	22	3253
29	J. J. Yeley (R)	41	8	17	15	33	20	35	28	11	22	26	20	42	15	40	33	37	10	12	11	34	33	37	31	19	13		8	30	41	32	29	31	16	20	20	30	3220
30	Robby Gordon	13	26	12	28	26	43	20	41	10	39	13	16	36	35	18	40	14	19	19	13	35	4	12	27	43	19		15	41	36	16	25	37	10	39	32	40	3113
31	Ken Schrader	9	28	41	24	24	40	16	16	42	16	15	26	33	30	42	41	12	42	34	15	14	34	18	13	23	7		33	19	13	25	40	41	24	42	24	29	3049
32	Kyle Petty	39	25	29	8	18	30	39	31	18	26	18	25	27	40	35	21	28	28	28	42	27	30	31	34	35	34		37	25	29	38	22	10	17	11	25	28	2938
33	David Stremme (R)	28	33	33	33	36	38	21	29	34	33	25	31	41	26	19		16	21	11	29	18		28	35	36	26		20	18	26	33	15	15	39	24	18	11	2865
34	Sterling Marlin	34	32	36	34	17	14	30	12	37	9	28	28	31	42	24	42	24	26	16	30	31	39	29	32	29	30		25	31	20	40	11	21	20	40	36	37	2854
35	Tony Raines						21	24	17	17	30	20	40	26	16	38		21	40	22	21	11		32	25	37	39		26	23	28	20	7	14	34	19	21	20	2609
36	Travis Kvapil	27	DNQ	39	DNQ	40	34	27	21	19	27	30	22	29	19	21	DNQ	30	37	35	27	25		21	20	34	28		27	39	19	DNQ	20	40	32	28	30	27	2451
37	Michael Waltrip	18	36	35	20	32	29	26	42	25	31	35	41	32	28	25	23	38	30	36	40	DNQ	36	23	16	31	DNQ		23	28	35	14	38	34	33	43	42	DNQ	2350
38	Scott Wimmer	DNQ	39	32	30	19	28	28	30	21	36	33	27	34	DNQ	31		DNQ	34	20	38	20	25	DNQ	42	30	29		31	36	DNQ							12	1812
39	Jeremy Mayfield	36	22	25	41	16	26	31	26	13	32	38	15	18	23	36	22	36	24	29	37	41															DNQ	42	1684
40	Kevin Lepage	25	35	37	35	31	DNQ	32	DNQ	28	42	36	DNQ	39	31	34		DNQ	DNQ	30	34	DNQ		41	21	38	33		30	37	DNQ	DNQ	DNQ	43	43	DNQ	DNQ	DNQ	1346
41	Terry Labonte	17	34	24	22	27		23				34	33		39		3		43		25		37			40					38		21			36			1278
42	David Gilliland																32							38	40	32	36		36	27	22	15	33	28	15	21	16	33	1178
43	Kenny Wallace	DNQ	41	38	DNQ	DNQ	DNQ	DNQ	25	DNQ	25	DNQ	29	38				DNQ	38	42		32		DNQ	30	39	37		DNQ	DNQ	31	42	DNQ	29	35	30	DNQ	DNQ	984
44	Bill Elliott	19																	35	32		22	27			42					16		DNQ		41	DNQ	31	25	765
45	Paul Menard	DNQ			7								29						DNQ			DNQ	29	20								34				41		17	669
46	Chad Chaffin	DNQ		42	DNQ	DNQ	36	DNQ	DNQ	30	DNQ	DNQ	DNQ	DNQ	33	DNQ		35			DNQ	39		DNQ	DNQ	DNQ	38		34		37	DNQ	DNQ	DNQ		DNQ	35	DNQ	553
47	Boris Said																9	4				42	31																415
48	Mike Bliss																															26	42	DNQ	26	23	41	39	387
49	Brent Sherman (R)	21	37	34	36	42		DNQ	32	DNQ					DNQ				DNQ																				372
50	Mike Wallace	24								DNQ	35							23							DNQ		DNQ					17							355
51	Stanton Barrett	DNQ	40	DNQ	DNQ	39	39	DNQ	33	DNQ	DNQ	40	DNQ	DNQ	DNQ	Wth	DNQ			40	DNQ				DNQ				DNQ	35				DNQ					343
52	Derrike Cope	DNQ	DNQ	Wth	DNQ	DNQ	DNQ	41	Wth		43	43	QL	37	DNQ	43			DNQ	DNQ	DNQ	DNQ		34	43		DNQ		DNQ	43		43	DNQ	DNQ	DNQ	DNQ	DNQ	DNQ	317
53	Ward Burton																																	26		25	28	DNQ	252
54	Hermie Sadler	40	DNQ	DNQ	42	43	DNQ			43	DNQ	Wth	DNQ	43				41						35	DNQ		DNQ					DNQ	DNQ	DNQ					251
55	Scott Pruett																30						6																223
56	Todd Kluever																		41					43		DNQ					32		39				DNQ	DNQ	187
57	Mike Skinner	DNQ		DNQ	DNQ	DNQ										37						37		DNQ	DNQ								43	39	DNQ	DNQ		DNQ	184
58	Kirk Shelmerdine	20								41			DNQ					43														DNQ	DNQ		DNQ				177
59	Todd Bodine																															DNQ	19		42				143
60	Mike Garvey		38		DNQ	DNQ	41	38	DNQ				DNQ		41	DNQ			DNQ																				138
61	Jimmy Spencer		Wth				DNQ								32	DNQ					36																		122
62	Ron Fellows																37						32																119
63	David Ragan																													42				25	Wth	DNQ		DNQ	88
64	Brandon Ash			DNQ					43								38						DNQ														DNQ		88
65	Chad Blount	DNQ			DNQ	DNQ	42	DNQ	DNQ	DNQ		DNQ	DNQ					DNQ	DNQ								42		DNQ	DNQ	DNQ								74
66	Morgan Shepherd	DNQ	DNQ	DNQ		DNQ	DNQ		DNQ	DNQ										DNQ					DNQ		43		42	DNQ			DNQ	DNQ			DNQ	Wth	71
67	Eric McClure																															31							70
68	Bill Lester				38											32										DNQ													67
69	Juan Pablo Montoya																																					34	61
70	P. J. Jones																36																						55
71	Brian Simo																DNQ						41																40
72	Carl Long	DNQ										DNQ	DNQ	DNQ		DNQ			DNQ						41				DNQ		DNQ		DNQ					DNQ	40
73	Ted Christopher																			DNQ							DNQ		41					DNQ					40
74	Tom Hubert																43						DNQ															34
75	Marc Goossens																						43															34
76	Brandon Whitt																																			43	DNQ	34
77	Johnny Sauter												24									DNQ
78	Stephen Leicht																				33	DNQ
79	Andy Belmont	DNQ
80	Larry Foyt	DNQ
81	Larry Gunselman	DNQ																		Wth
82	Randy LaJoie	DNQ	DNQ	DNQ
83	Greg Sacks				DNQ										DNQ						DNQ
84	Steve Portenga								DNQ
85	Kertus Davis										DNQ		DNQ					DNQ								DNQ
86	Donnie Neuenberger													DNQ															DNQ
87	Johnny Miller																DNQ						DNQ
88	Chris Cook																DNQ						DNQ
89	Joey McCarthy																			DNQ
90	Bobby Hamilton Jr.			Wth																	Wth	DNQ
91	Max Papis																						DNQ
92	David Murry																						DNQ
93	Dale Quarterley																						DNQ
94	A. J. Allmendinger																																	DNQ	DNQ
95	Jason Leffler																																			DNQ
96	Casey Atwood																																				DNQ
97	Damon Lusk																				Wth
98	Ricky Rudd													QL
Pos.	Driver	DAY	CAL	LVS	ATL	BRI	MAR	TEX	PHO	TAL	RCH	DAR	CLT	DOV	POC	MCH	SON	DAY	CHI	NHA	POC	IND	GLN	MCH	BRI	CAL	RCH	NHA	DOV	KAN	TAL	CLT	MAR	ATL	TEX	PHO	HOM	Pts.

• Clint Bowyer, No. 07 Chevrolet (Richard Childress Racing)
• Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Chevrolet (Joe Gibbs Racing) --winner of the Raybestos Rookie of the Year award
• Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates
  )
• Martin Truex Jr., No. 1 Chevrolet (Dale Earnhardt, Inc.)
• Brent Sherman, released from No. 49 Dodge (BAM Racing)
• Reed Sorenson, No. 41 Dodge (Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates)
• J. J. Yeley, No. 18 Chevrolet (Joe Gibbs Racing)

The battle for ROTY was not expected to be fierce, as many predicted that two time Busch Series champion

award.

NASCAR Hall of Fame

Until March 6, 2006, NASCAR was without a recognized

opened in 2010.

Television

The 2006 season marked the final year of television contracts with

ABC

joined in, taking over for NBC.

See also

• 2006 NASCAR Busch Series
• 2006 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series
• 2006 ARCA Re/Max Series
• 2006 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour
• 2006 NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour

• 2006 Nextel Cup drivers standings