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The NEXTEL Cup Series is NASCAR's top racing series. It was formerly known as the Strictly Stock Series (1949), Grand National Series (1950-1971) and the Winston Cup Series (1972-2003).

In 2003, RJR dropped its sponsorship of the top series, and NASCAR obtained a sponsorship from NEXTEL, a telecommunications company. In 2004, the series became known as the NEXTEL Cup Series. The 2005 merger between Sprint and NEXTEL will result in the cup series being renamed the Sprint Cup, beginning with the 2008 season.

Writers and fans often use "Cup" to refer to the NEXTEL Cup series, and although ambiguous, the use of "NASCAR" as a synonym for the Cup series is common.

The idea for the Truck Series dates back to 1993, when a group of off-road racers made a prototype for a NASCAR-style pickup truck. These were first shown off during the 1994 Daytona 500, and a number of demonstration races were held during the season. These trucks proved to be extremely popular, and it led to NASCAR creating the series, originally known as the "SuperTruck Series", in 1995.

While a new series, it garnered immediate support from many prominent Winston Cup team owners and drivers. Prominent Cup owners Richard Childress, Rick Hendrick, and Jack Roush owned truck teams, and top drivers such as Dale Earnhardt and Ernie Irvan also fielded SuperTrucks for others. The series became known as the Craftsman Truck Series in 1996.

The NASCAR Nationwide Series (formerly the NASCAR Busch Series) is a stock car racing series owned and operated by NASCAR. It is NASCAR's "minor league" circuit (often compared to Triple-A baseball), and is a proving ground for drivers who wish to step up to the organization's "big league" circuit, the Nextel Cup. Nationwide Series races are frequently held in the same venue as, and a day prior to, the NEXTEL Cup race scheduled for that weekend, encouraging fans to attend both events.