The Nextel Cup Series is easily the best known of the NASCAR touring series, and may be the most popular racing series in the world. It holds 36 races each season at tracks of various sizes throughout the United States. It features competition among Dodge, Ford and Chevrolet cars carrying small-block 358 engines.

The series has rich television contracts with NBC and Fox. Its 2001 ratings increased 33 percent over 2000 ratings. Track attendance was also up. Matt Kenseth won the final Winston Cup championship in 2003. Among his leading competitors are Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, Jimmie Johnson, Ryan Newman and Dale Earnhardt, Jr, the son of the sport’s greatest hero, who was killed during the 2001 Daytona 500.

In addition to the Nextel Cup Series, NASCAR offers two other national touring series – the Busch Series for cars similar to the Nextel Cup cars, and the Craftsman Truck Series, which features stock trucks including the Dodge Ram, Ford-150, Chevrolet Silverado and the Toyota Tundra.

NASCAR also sanctions eight regional touring series featuring stock cars, late models and modifieds. The NASCAR Grand National division features stock cars similar to the Busch Series via the NASCAR Busch North Series and the NASCAR West Series. The NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division boasts four — Midwest, Northwest, Southeast and Southwest — regional late-model touring series. Finally, NASCAR sanctions the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour and the NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour. As well, the NASCAR Weekly Racing Series presented by Dodge crowns a national championship from competitors at more than 60 race tracks.