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2006 Chase for the Nextel Cup
The 2006 Chase for the Nextel Cup was a ten-race series that commenced with the Sylvania 300 on September 17, 2006, at New Hampshire International Speedway and concluded with the Ford 400 on November 19 of that same year at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The first ten drivers in the championship standings (and any other drivers with teams within 400 points of the leader) qualified after the Chevy Rock and Roll 400 on September 9, 2006, at Richmond International Raceway. The 2006 Chase had a strong Chevrolet presence, with seven of the ten teams making the 2006 Chase for the Nextel Cup fielding Chevrolets. This was the final season for NBC to cover the Chase along with TNT. Starting in 2007, ABC carried the Chase in its entirety, while TNT televised mid-season races. RacesSylvania 300The Sylvania 300 was held on September 17, 2006, at New Hampshire International Speedway The 2005 winner was Ryan Newman, who failed to make the chase this year. The defending track champion was Kyle Busch. Kevin Harvick won the pole and the race. Finishing order of Chase drivers
Points changes after race
Dover 400The Dover 400 was held on September 24, 2006, at the Dover International Speedway. The 2005 winner was Jimmie Johnson who started the chase second in points. Matt Kenseth won the spring event. At this year's race, Jeff Gordon won the pole and Matt Kenseth led the most laps. But it was Jeff Burton, who hadn't won in over 175 races, that prevailed and took the lead in the standings. Finishing order of Chase drivers
Points changes after race
§ - Holds tiebreaker with more wins Banquet 400The Banquet 400 was held on October 1, 2006, at the Kansas Speedway. The 2005 winner was Mark Martin who started the chase seventh in points. Additionally, this race was held a week earlier than in 2005. Kasey Kahne won the pole. A fuel mileage gamble would have put Jimmie Johnson in great position for Talladega by winning, but he ran out of gas with four laps to go. Tony Stewart took the lead and won a wild one by running out of gas in Turn 2 but still making it all the way around the track to the finish line. Finishing order of Chase drivers
Points changes after race
UAW Ford 500The UAW-Ford 500 was held on October 8 at the newly repaved Talladega Superspeedway. Considered the wild card track in the Chase, all drivers fear that they will be caught in "The Big One". The 2005 winner was Dale Jarrett who missed the chase this year. The defending track champion was Jimmie Johnson. The race was held one week later than in 2005. At this year's event, David Gilliland won his first career Bud Pole Award, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. led the most laps. In a wild finish, Dale Earnhardt Jr. led going into turn 3 on the final lap, with Jimmie Johnson and Brian Vickers trailing. Johnson moved down low to pass Earnhardt, and his teammate Vickers followed, but accidentally caught the right rear quarter panel of Johnson's Chevrolet. Johnson spun up into Earnhardt's car, sending both of them down into the infield grass. Vickers moved past and took his first career victory, amid boos from Earnhardt's and Johnson's fans. Finishing order of Chase drivers
Points changes after race
Bank of America 500The Bank of America 500 was held on October 14 at the Lowe's Motor Speedway. The 2005 winner was Jimmie Johnson who won two of the three races in Charlotte that year. The defending track champion was Kasey Kahne, however Johnson was the defending champion for 500-mile races at the track. At this year's event, Scott Riggs won the pole and Kasey Kahne led the most laps. Championship contender Mark Martin was involved in a hard crash after being tagged by J. J. Yeley. Finishing order of Chase drivers
Points changes after race
Subway 500The Subway 500 was held on October 22 at the Martinsville Speedway. The 2005 winner was Jeff Gordon who started the chase ninth in points this year and also won both races at the track in 2003. The defending track champion was Tony Stewart. On lap 188, the entire complexity of the Chase was changed. The consistent Jeff Burton, who had been involved in a previous accident, had engine troubles which relegated him to a 42nd-place finish. Jimmie Johnson led the most laps and won the race. Finishing order of Chase drivers
Points changes after race
Bass Pro Shops 500The Bass Pro Shops 500 was held on October 29 at the Atlanta Motor Speedway. The 2005 winner was Carl Edwards who missed the chase this year. The defending track champion was Kasey Kahne. Matt Kenseth was awarded the pole after qualifying was washed out, but Tony Stewart spoiled the party winning the race. Finishing order of Chase drivers
Points changes after race
§ — Hold tiebreaker. Dickies 500The Dickies 500 was held on November 5 at the Texas Motor Speedway. The 2005 winner was Carl Edwards. The defending track champion was Kasey Kahne. The race was extended five laps due to the green-white-checkers rule, and for the second week in a row, Tony Stewart played spoiler and won the event. Finishing order of Chase drivers
Points changes after race
Checker Auto Parts 500The Checker Auto Parts 500 presented by Pennzoil Platinum was held on November 12 at the Phoenix International Raceway. Kevin Harvick swept the season's races (having won the Subway Fresh 500 back in April) with the win here, while Jeff Gordon won the pole for this race. At one point in this race, all ten drivers were in the top dozen, but Kyle Busch, who came in as the defending champion of this race and began the Chase in fifth place, was involved in a late race crash, becoming one of five drivers to be mathematically eliminated from the Chase before Homestead. Finishing order of Chase drivers
Points changes after race
~ - Mathematically eliminated from Chase as of this race. § - Holds tiebreaker with more wins. Ford 400The Ford 400 was held on November 19 at the Homestead-Miami Speedway. Greg Biffle, who missed the chase this year, defended his championship for the third time. The race was also the swan song (for at least the next eight years) for NBC's telecasts. Kasey Kahne won the pole for this race, while Jimmie Johnson took ninth place, enough to clinch his first Nextel Championship, and the first for Jeff Gordon as a car owner, winning four titles under the Winston Cup banner as a driver for Rick Hendrick. Finishing order among Chase drivers
Final standings
Trivia
References
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