NASCAR Can you say 'Nextel Cup'?

One specific company hasn't been identified as stock car racing's new title sponsor.
COMBINED DISPATCHES
ESPN reported on its website that Nextel would be announced the next NASCAR Winston Cup series sponsor at a press conference Thursday morning in New York.
A NASCAR spokesman, however, denied a deal has been reached with Nextel to become the title sponsor of its top racing series. R.J. Reynolds, which sponsors Winston Cup, told NASCAR to look for a new sponsor because of uncertainty in the tobacco industry.
"It's safe to say that the first phase of [looking for a primary sponsor] was when we were looking for sponsors to hook up to our series. Now we have moved to the second phase and have companies seriously interested," NASCAR spokesman Herb Branham told the Miami Herald Monday. "That's where we are now. We can't talk about one specific company because it's still too early to do that."
Branham told the Herald that NASCAR has not scheduled a press conference.
RJR signed a five-year extension to sponsor the series in 2002.
The Charlotte Observer reported last week that Nextel, a Virginia-based provider of wireless communication services, was negotiating with NASCAR.
Sources told The Observer, however, that "major issues" had to be resolved before Nextel would take over the sponsorship deal that RJR has had since 1972.
Skinner fired
ABINGDON, Va. -- Mike Skinner was fired from Morgan-McClure Motorsports on Monday, ending a short and unsuccessful stint.
The team hit bottom last weekend in Michigan, when Skinner failed to qualify the No. 4 Pontiac for Sunday's race.
Johnny Miller, the Trans-Am Road Racing series points leader, will drive the car this weekend in Sonoma, Calif. No permanent replacement has been named, but John Andretti, fired last week from Petty Enterprises, is the logical choice to take over the ride.
Skinner has been with Morgan-McClure since the end of 2001, when he was released from Richard Childress Racing. He had one top-10 finish in 50 races with Morgan-McClure.
"We feel it is necessary to perform better for our race team and for our sponsor," McLure said. "We appreciate Mike's efforts in the car, but it is time for a change. We have to finish races and that has not been happening."
Miller, a road course specialist, will be making his Winston Cup debut. The 37-year-old currently leads Trans-Am Series in championship points.
Citgo ending sponsorship
CONCORD, N.C. -- Roush Racing lost the primary sponsor on Jeff Burton's car Monday when Citgo Petroleum Corp., said it was leaving at the end of the season.
Car owner Jack Roush is looking for a replacement and Burton was confident a deal will come together.
"I am committed to Jack Roush, Roush Racing and my entire No. 99 team," Burton said.
Citgo signed on with Burton and the No. 99 Ford late in the 2000 season after ending its longtime association with the Wood Brothers. Prior to joining Roush, Citgo sponsored the Wood Brothers' car for 16 years.
Burton's team becomes the fourth at Roush this season to experience sponsorship problems.
Roush's Truck teams both lack sponsors and Roush closed its No. 60 Ford team in the Busch series because of problems with sponsorship.