2006 Nextel Cup Series

The 2006 Nextel Cup Series was the sixth year of the simulation. The 58th NASCAR Cup Series season and the 35th season of the modern era of the sport, it began with the 47th Daytona 500 and finished with the New Hampshire 300. Dale Earnhardt Jr., driving the #8 Chevrolet for Dale Earnhardt Inc., was crowned the champion. The 2006 season was the first for two new models: the Ford Fusion, which replaced the Taurus, and the Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS, a slightly different variant which replaced the Monte Carlo. 2006 was the last season to utilise the Gen-4 car, and the last without Toyota as a manufacturer.

### Schedule

The 2006 schedule remained the same as the one used in the previous season. It can be found in the page for the 2004 Nextel Cup Series.

### Race results

47th Daytona 500

1.     8- Dale Earnhardt Jr.

2.     24- Jeff Gordon

3.     99- Jeff Burton

4.     17- Matt Kenseth

5.     20- Tony Stewart

6.     55- Clint Bowyer

7.     29- Kevin Harvick

8.     15- Ricky Hendrick

9.     97- Hermie Sadler

10.  2- Carl Edwards

DuraLube 400

1.     22- Kyle Busch

2.     20- Tony Stewart

3.     66- Denny Hamlin

4.     8- Dale Earnhardt Jr.

5.     24- Jeff Gordon

6.     29- Kevin Harvick

7.     55- Clint Bowyer

8.     15- Ricky Hendrick

9.     31- Marcos Ambrose

10.  9- Kasey Kahne

UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400

1.     24- Jeff Gordon

2.     20- Tony Stewart

3.     19- Casey Atwood

4.     66- Denny Hamlin

5.     2- Carl Edwards

6.     8- Dale Earnhardt Jr.

7.     29- Kevin Harvick

8.     55- Clint Bowyer

9.     9- Kasey Kahne

10.  38- Justin Allgaier

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store 500

1.     2- Carl Edwards

2.     24- Jeff Gordon

3.     20- Tony Stewart

4.     8- Dale Earnhardt Jr.

5.     19- Casey Atwood

6.     46- David Gilliland

7.     55- Clint Bowyer

8.     10- Shane Hmiel

9.     01- Matt Crafton

10.  9- Kasey Kahne

Carolina Dodge Dealers 400

1.     24- Jeff Gordon

2.     19- Casey Atwood

3.     20- Tony Stewart

4.     25- Jerry Nadeau

5.     8- Dale Earnhardt Jr.

6.     29- Kevin Harvick

7.     33- Steadman Marlin

8.     83- Jason Keller

9.     38- Justin Allgaier

10.  2- Carl Edwards

Food City 500

1.     2- Carl Edwards

2.     20- Tony Stewart

3.     8- Dale Earnhardt Jr.

4.     55- Clint Bowyer

5.     66- Denny Hamlin

6.     29- Kevin Harvick

7.     24- Jeff Gordon

8.     68- Andy Houston

9.     10- Shane Hmiel

10.  9- Kasey Kahne

Harrah’s 500

1.     8- Dale Earnhardt Jr.

2.     29- Kevin Harvick

3.     19- Casey Atwood

4.     2- Carl Edwards

5.     17- Matt Kenseth

6.     9- Kasey Kahne

7.     66- Denny Hamlin

8.     97- Hermie Sadler

9.     55- Clint Bowyer

10.  22- Kyle Busch

Virginia 500

1.     2- Carl Edwards

2.     19- Casey Atwood

3.     9- Kasey Kahne

4.     55- Clint Bowyer

5.     20- Tony Stewart

6.     29- Kevin Harvick

7.     28- Greg Biffle

8.     8- Dale Earnhardt Jr.

9.     88- Austin Petty

10.  21- Casey Mears

UAW-GM Quality 500

1.     9- Kasey Kahne

2.     97- Hermie Sadler

3.     18- Bobby Labonte

4.     8- Dale Earnhardt Jr.

5.     6- Johnny Sauter

6.     55- Clint Bowyer

7.     29- Kevin Harvick

8.     19- Casey Atwood

9.     33- Steadman Marlin

10.  28- Greg Biffle

NAPA Auto Parts 500

1.     20- Tony Stewart

2.     8- Dale Earnhardt Jr.

3.     24- Jeff Gordon

4.     2- Carl Edwards

5.     29- Kevin Harvick

6.     17- Matt Kenseth

7.     83- Jason Keller

8.     66- Denny Hamlin

9.     9- Kasey Kahne

10.  18- Bobby Labonte

Pontiac Excitement 400

1.     2- Carl Edwards

2.     8- Dale Earnhardt Jr.

3.     29- Kevin Harvick

4.     20- Tony Stewart

5.     55- Clint Bowyer

6.     24- Jeff Gordon

7.     9- Kasey Kahne

8.     19- Casey Atwood

9.     6- Johnny Sauter

10.  66- Denny Hamlin

Coca-Cola 600

1.     8- Dale Earnhardt Jr.

2.     20- Tony Stewart

3.     2- Carl Edwards

4.     29- Kevin Harvick

5.     28- Greg Biffle

6.     55- Clint Bowyer

7.     18- Bobby Labonte

8.     66- Denny Hamlin

9.     9- Kasey Kahne

10.  25- Jerry Nadeau

MBNA Platinum 400

1.     19- Casey Atwood

2.     20- Tony Stewart

3.     55- Clint Bowyer

4.     97- Hermie Sadler

5.     24- Jeff Gordon

6.     66- Denny Hamlin

7.     38- Justin Allgaier

8.     70- J.J. Yeley

9.     2- Carl Edwards

10.  9- Kasey Kahne

Kmart 400

1.     29- Kevin Harvick

2.     2- Carl Edwards

3.     6- Johnny Sauter

4.     10- Shane Hmiel

5.     66- Denny Hamlin

6.     24- Jeff Gordon

7.     55- Clint Bowyer

8.     20- Tony Stewart

9.     9- Kasey Kahne

10.  18- Bobby Labonte

Pocono 500

1.     29- Kevin Harvick

2.     24- Jeff Gordon

3.     19- Casey Atwood

4.     20- Tony Stewart

5.     2- Carl Edwards

6.     9- Kasey Kahne

7.     18- Bobby Labonte

8.     66- Denny Hamlin

9.     01- Matt Crafton

10.  28- Greg Biffle

Dodge-Save Mart 350

1.     19- Casey Atwood

2.     29- Kevin Harvick

3.     55- Clint Bowyer

4.     8- Dale Earnhardt Jr.

5.     20- Tony Stewart

6.     93- Aric Almirola

7.     32- Ricky Craven

8.     9- Kasey Kahne

9.     01- Matt Crafton

10.  40- Sam Hornish Jr.

Pepsi 400

1.     29- Kevin Harvick

2.     17- Matt Kenseth

3.     2- Carl Edwards

4.     55- Clint Bowyer

5.     8- Dale Earnhardt Jr.

6.     24- Jeff Gordon

7.     20- Tony Stewart

8.     15- Ricky Hendrick

9.     32- Ricky Craven

10.  40- Sam Hornish Jr.

Tropicana 400

1.     66- Denny Hamlin

2.     33- Steadman Marlin

3.     55- Clint Bowyer

4.     24- Jeff Gordon

5.     46- David Gilliland

6.     2- Carl Edwards

7.     8- Dale Earnhardt Jr.

8.     19- Casey Atwood

9.     21- Casey Mears

10.  28- Greg Biffle

New England 300

1.     20- Tony Stewart

2.     55- Clint Bowyer

3.     8- Dale Earnhardt Jr.

4.     24- Jeff Gordon

5.     19- Casey Atwood

6.     15- Ricky Hendrick

7.     66- Denny Hamlin

8.     2- Carl Edwards

9.     17- Matt Kenseth

10.  29- Kevin Harvick

Pennsylvania 500

1.     19- Casey Atwood

2.     8- Dale Earnhardt Jr.

3.     20- Tony Stewart

4.     24- Jeff Gordon

5.     55- Clint Bowyer

6.     28- Greg Biffle

7.     40- Sam Hornish Jr.

8.     2- Carl Edwards

9.     46- David Gilliland

10.  9- Kasey Kahne

Brickyard 400

1.     19- Casey Atwood

2.     55- Clint Bowyer

3.     29- Kevin Harvick

4.     8- Dale Earnhardt Jr.

5.     20- Tony Stewart

6.     9- Kasey Kahne

7.     25-  Jerry Nadeau

8.     46- David Gilliland

9.     66- Denny Hamlin

10.  2- Carl Edwards

Global Crossing @ The Glen

1.     20- Tony Stewart

2.     2- Carl Edwards

3.     8- Dale Earnhardt Jr.

4.     17- Matt Kenseth

5.     55- Clint Bowyer

6.     24- Jeff Gordon

7.     25- Jerry Nadeau

8.     19- Casey Atwood

9.     29- Kevin Harvick

10.  66- Denny Hamlin

Pepsi 400 presented by Meijer

1.     20- Tony Stewart

2.     55- Clint Bowyer

3.     19- Casey Atwood

4.     24- Jeff Gordon

5.     22- Kyle Busch

6.     29- Kevin Harvick

7.     10- Shane Hmiel

8.     66- Denny Hamlin

9.     93- Aric Almirola

10.  42- Jimmie Johnson

Sharpie 500

1.     55- Clint Bowyer

2.     24- Jeff Gordon

3.     8- Dale Earnhardt Jr.

4.     2- Carl Edwards

5.     9- Kasey Kahne

6.     88- Austin Petty

7.     38- Justin Allgaier

8.     32- Ricky Craven

9.     42- Jimmie Johnson

10.  66- Denny Hamlin

Mountain Dew Southern 500

1.     66- Denny Hamlin

2.     24- Jeff Gordon

3.     97- Hermie Sadler

4.     29- Kevin Harvick

5.     99- Jeff Burton

6.     8- Dale Earnhardt Jr.

7.     15- Ricky Hendrick

8.     9- Kasey Kahne

9.     55- Clint Bowyer

10.  19- Casey Atwood

NAPA 500

1.     19- Casey Atwood

2.     55- Clint Bowyer

3.     10- Shane Hmiel

4.     25- Jerry Nadeau

5.     8- Dale Earnhardt Jr.

6.     2- Carl Edwards

7.     88- Austin Petty

8.     28- Greg Biffle

9.     46- David Gilliland

10.  29- Kevin Harvick

MBNA Cal Ripken Jr. 400

1.     19- Casey Atwood

2.     20- Tony Stewart

3.     2- Carl Edwards

4.     17- Matt Kenseth

5.     55- Clint Bowyer

6.     97- Hermie Sadler

7.     24- Jeff Gordon

8.     66- Denny Hamlin

9.     29- Kevin Harvick

10.  9- Kasey Kahne

Protection One 400

1.     19- Casey Atwood

2.     8- Dale Earnhardt Jr.

3.     2- Carl Edwards

4.     55- Clint Bowyer

5.     42- Jimmie Johnson

6.     17- Matt Kenseth

7.     29- Kevin Harvick

8.     46- David Gilliland

9.     20- Tony Stewart

10.  24- Jeff Gordon

Talladega 500

1.     55- Clint Bowyer

2.     66- Denny Hamlin

3.     29- Kevin Harvick

4.     2- Carl Edwards

5.     8- Dale Earnhardt Jr.

6.     19- Casey Atwood

7.     10- Shane Hmiel

8.     24- Jeff Gordon

9.     40- Sam Hornish Jr.

10.  32- Ricky Craven

Old Dominion 500

1.     20- Tony Stewart

2.     24- Jeff Gordon

3.     19- Casey Atwood

4.     8- Dale Earnhardt Jr.

5.     66- Denny Hamlin

6.     55- Clint Bowyer

7.     2- Carl Edwards

8.     29- Kevin Harvick

9.     25- Jerry Nadeau

10.  9- Kasey Kahne

EA Sports 500

1.     19- Casey Atwood

2.     20- Tony Stewart

3.     8- Dale Earnhardt Jr.

4.     2- Carl Edwards

5.     55- Clint Bowyer

6.     42- Jimmie Johnson

7.     9- Kasey Kahne

8.     93- Aric Almirola

9.     33- Steadman Marlin

10.  66- Denny Hamlin

Checker Auto Parts 500 presented by Pennzoil

1.     2- Carl Edwards

2.     33- Steadman Marlin

3.     6- Johnny Sauter

4.     10- Shane Hmiel

5.     9- Kasey Kahne

6.     20- Tony Stewart

7.     8- Dale Earnhardt Jr.

8.     24- Jeff Gordon

9.     22- Kyle Busch

10.  66- Denny Hamlin

Pop Secret Microwave Popcorn 400

1.     29- Kevin Harvick

2.     20- Tony Stewart

3.     24- Jeff Gordon

4.     99- Jeff Burton

5.     8- Dale Earnhardt Jr.

6.     55- Clint Bowyer

7.     15- Ricky Hendrick

8.     17- Matt Kenseth

9.     2- Carl Edwards

10.  19- Casey Atwood

Pennzoil Freedom 400

1.     55- Clint Bowyer

2.     8- Dale Earnhardt Jr.

3.     2- Carl Edwards

4.     66- Denny Hamlin

5.     97- Hermie Sadler

6.     24- Jeff Gordon

7.     19- Casey Atwood

8.     88- Austin Petty

9.     15- Ricky Hendrick

10.  29- Kevin Harvick

Chevrolet Monte Carlo 400

1.     19- Casey Atwood

2.     55- Clint Bowyer

3.     20- Tony Stewart

4.     8- Dale Earnhardt Jr.

5.     42- Jimmie Johnson

6.     17- Matt Kenseth

7.     24- Jeff Gordon

8.     2- Carl Edwards

9.     22- Kyle Busch

10.  9- Kasey Kahne

New Hampshire 300

1.     20- Tony Stewart

2.     24- Jeff Gordon

3.     2- Carl Edwards

4.     55- Clint Bowyer

5.     8- Dale Earnhardt Jr.

6.     46- David Gilliland

7.     29- Kevin Harvick

8.     9- Kasey Kahne

9.     42- Jimmie Johnson

10.  31- Marcos Ambrose

### Milestones

Most Wins: Casey Atwood- #19, Evernham Motorsports (9)

Daytona 500 Winner: Dale Earnhardt Jr- #8, Dale Earnhardt Inc.

Most Consecutive Wins: Casey Atwood- #19, Evernham Motorsports (3)

Rookie of the Year: Justin Allgaier- #38, Robert Yates Racing

Unexpected Win: The Tropicana 400 delivers an unexpected winner for the 2nd year running, with Denny Hamlin achieving just his third career win. Hamlin would go on to win again in 2006.