NEW YORK (Dec. 1, 2006) – NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series teams and drivers have competed all season long for this. It’s time to present the final point fund awards and this year’s total is another record-setting amount for NASCAR.

NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet) will collect a point fund award of $6,785,982, bringing his 2006 season total winnings to $15,770,125 – a new single season winnings record. Johnson has won more than $44 million during his NASCAR NEXTEL Cup career. And that’s just the beginning.

The NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Top 10 drivers will share $22,081,489, the largest top 10 point fund payout in series history. Each of the Top 10 will receive over $1 million, and they aren’t the only million-dollar winners at year’s end.

Eleventh-place driver Tony Stewart (No. 20 The Home Depot Chevrolet) received a $250,000 bonus for finishing 11th and his total point fund award is $1,143,888. Stewart also receives $310,000 for winning three special awards – the Bank of America Card Services Mid-Race Leader Award, the USG Improving the Finish Award and the WIX Lap Leader Award – bringing his 2006 total to $8,739,169, the third-highest season total in the series.

Matt Kenseth (No. 17 DeWALT Power Tools Chevrolet), who finished second in the standings, receives $2,841,047 from the point fund and $75,000 for the Goodyear Gatorback Fastest Lap Award – to go along with his regular-season race winnings of $6,608,919 for a 2006 total of $9,524,966. It is $102,202 more than he won in 2003, when he was the series champion.

Sixth-place Jeff Gordon (No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet), the series’ all-time money leader, collects $1,495,574 from the point fund for a season total of $7,471,447. With this payout, Gordon’s career winnings now total $82,838,526.

The NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Top 10 – those drivers who participated in the Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup – gain the greatest rewards for their efforts, but the point fund is shared among many more drivers, down to 30th place in the standings. In total, more than $30.4 million will be distributed to the top 30 drivers.

NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Top 10 – Point Awards and Season Totals:
Driver Race winnings Special Awards Point Fund Total
1.Jimmie Johnson $8,909,143 $75,000 $6,785,982 $15,770,125
2. Matt Kenseth $6,608,919 $75,000 $2,841,047 $9,524,966
3. Denny Hamlin $4,389,222 $50,000 $2,168,710 $6,607,932
4. Kevin Harvick $6,201,578 $100,000 $1,929,828 $8,231,406
5. Dale Earnhardt Jr. $5,466,104 $1,645,635 $7,111,739
6. Jeff Gordon $5,975,873 $1,495,574 $7,471,447
7. Jeff Burton $5,008,882 $1,356,113 $6,364,995
8. Kasey Kahne $6,204,222 $201,000 $1,316,156 $7,721,378
9. Mark Martin $4,282,548 $1,286,200 $5,568,748
10. Kyle Busch $4,821,093 $1,256,244 $5,537,337
11. Tony Stewart $7,285,281 $310,000 $1,143,888 $8,739,169

Fast Facts

What: NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Awards Ceremony

Where: Grand Ballroom, The Waldorf=Astoria Hotel, New York City.

When: 7-10:30 p.m. (ET). Friday, Dec. 2.

TV: TNT, 9 p.m. (ET & PT); NBC, Sunday at 2 p.m. (ET)

Radio: MRN/XM Satellite.

Final NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Top 10: 1. Jimmie Johnson 6,475. 2. Matt Kenseth 6,419. 3. Denny Hamlin 6,407. 4. Kevin Harvick 6,397. 5. Dale Earnhardt Jr. 6,328. 6. Jeff Gordon 6,256. 7. Jeff Burton 6,228. 8. Kasey Kahne 6,183. 9. Mark Martin 6,168. 10. Kyle Busch 6,027.

11th-place driver: Tony Stewart.

Raybestos Rookie of the Year: Denny Hamlin.