Nextel will take over as Series top sponsor

R.J. Reynolds ended its 33-year history as sponsor on Sunday.
HOMESTEAD, Fla. (AP) -- Winston's sponsorship of America's top auto racing circuit ended Sunday, providing a bittersweet finale to more than three decades of a union that appeared destined to last.
The Ford 400 will be remembered as the last race of the NASCAR Winston Cup Series, to which R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. attached the name of one of its cigarette brands in 1971.
The cooperation lasted through stock car racing's boom and the anti-smoking sentiment that overtook the nation. RJR thought its sponsorship was so essential, the company picked NASCAR as the one program it could bankroll under the 1998 tobacco settlement.
Decided in June
But RJR announced in June it was ending its sponsorship commitment. Changing "business dynamics" were blamed.
Telecommunications giant Nextel seized the opportunity, pledging $700 million over the next decade to be the title sponsor. Nextel Cup competition begins Feb. 15, 2004 with the Daytona 500.
Matt Kenseth, history's last Winston Cup champion, said Nextel's sponsorship will help spread NASCAR into markets that were leery of RJR's tobacco ties.
Still, he said, there would be a void created by Winston's absence.
"In just the little time I've spent here, they've done a tremendous amount for the sport," Kenseth said. "They pumped tons of money into it, they've marketed us, they've become friends, they've done things to make it really fun at the same time as trying to grow the sport."
Put $millions into sport
The company based in Winston-Salem, N.C., has handed out more than $101 million in postseason awards in its 33 years in NASCAR, as well as spending millions more on promoting the sport.
Winston's contributions to NASCAR were celebrated in a ceremony before the Ford 400. The 15 different Winston Cup winners were honored, and former champions Richard Petty and Tony Stewart took a prerace victory lap. The victory lap tribute, featuring a series champ or the pairing of a former and active champ, has been performed at eight other races this season.
Perfect partner
"RJR has been a perfect partner in helping NASCAR become one of the most popular sports in America," NASCAR president Mike Helton said. "They deserve and have the gratitude of the entire NASCAR industry, and we are proud to pay tribute to everything they have done for our sport."
Jimmie Johnson added he'd miss the Winston name -- even though at first he wasn't sure what Winstons were.
"I can't say what they took the sport from to where it is, but I can say I've wanted to race Winston Cup my whole life," said Johnson, who finished second to Kenseth in the points standings. "For good or bad, I thought Winston was what NASCAR called it; I didn't realize it was a cigarette brand."