2007 Nextel Cup Season Released

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) _ Next year's Nextel Cup schedule looks a lot like this year's. NASCAR announced today there will be no changes to the ten races in the 2007 Chase for the Championship, with much of the season's schedule the same as the 2006 version. The 26th and final qualifying race will again be at Richmond International Raceway, and the Chase will begin September 16th at New Hampshire International Speedway. Then it's on to Dover, Kansas, Talladega and a stop at Lowe's Motor Speedway in suburban Charlotte. From there the Cup series will go to Martinsville, Atlanta, Texas and Phoenix, with the champion crowned at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 18th. There had been speculation NASCAR would add a road course to the final ten events. The season begins with the exhibition Budweiser Shootout at Daytona on February tenth and the season-opening Daytona 500 will be February 18th.