NASCAR unveils Nextel Series logo

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) today unveiled the official logo for the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series that will begin in 2004.

Sporting a bold yellow-and-black look, the distinctive logo will be the brand identifier for the nation's most popular form of motorsports and the nation's second-most popular sport overall.

"We think this design will be appealing to our drivers, team members, tracks and, of course, our fans," NASCAR President Mike Helton said.

The new logo will be utilized beginning in January, when NASCAR Nextel Cup teams come to Daytona International Speedway for NASCAR Preseason Thunder, the annual test sessions leading up to the season-opening Daytona 500.

"We've worked with NASCAR to create a logo and identity that exudes the strength of the athletes and the power of the sport," said Nextel Senior Vice President of Marketing Mark Schweitzer.

"Since announcing the 10-year partnership between NASCAR and Nextel, one of the most-asked questions we've received has been about the logo. It's bright, bold and forward moving – just like the sport it represents."

Nextel Communications and NASCAR signed a 10-year title-sponsor agreement in June. Nextel, a Fortune 300 company based in Reston, Va., is a leading provider of fully integrated wireless communications services and has built the largest guaranteed all-digital wireless network in the country covering thousands of communities across the United States. Nextel and Nextel Partners, Inc. currently serve 293 of the top 300 U.S. markets. Through recent market launches, Nextel and Nextel Partners service is available today in areas of the U.S. where approximately 242 million people live or work.