NASCAR Cup Title Sponsor Change Rumors

Over on ESPN.com, Marty Smith writes the following:

"Beginning with the 2008 season, Sprint will replace Nextel as title sponsor of NASCAR's premiere racing series, multiple high-ranking industry sources told ESPN.com on condition of anonymity.

The series will be known as the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, sources said.

NASCAR declined comment. "

This folllows up media commentary over the last year or so after the $36 BILLION merger between Sprint and Nextel wireless provider companies.

Over on USAtoday.com, they note that:

Changing the name would require substantial lead time and expense on the part of Sprint/Nextel, given the amount of signage and participating sponsorships involved.

Nextel officials were flying to California Wednesday afternoon, in preparation for Sunday's Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Infineon Raceway, and not available for comment. However, USA TODAY learned that the topic of changing the NASCAR series name did not come up at Wednesday's corporate communications meeting.

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Obviously, if this were to come to be, they need to deny any rumors or info leaks until any official announcement that needs to be made via proper channels.

Bruce Simmons, the Fan Reporter