Sprint-Nextel merger may affect NASCAR

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - NASCAR may be looking at another name change for its top racing circuit.

After three decades of racing for the Winston Cup, a sponsorship change led to the renaming of the Nextel Cup series this year. Telecommunications giant Sprint and Nextel Communications are merging into a new company that will be called Sprint Nextel.

It's not known if there will be any long-term impact on the Nextel Cup Series. NASCAR chairman Brian France says there's no danger of Nextel's ten-year sponsorship deal being voided, but beyond that he says the new company has to figure out its branding stragegy.

Nextel officials say it's premature to discuss any possible name changes.