The 2006 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series began, as it always does, with the Daytona 500 on Sunday. Jimmie Johnson was the winner on Sunday, with Caey Mears taking second place. Ryan Newman, Elliot Sadler and defending Nextel Cup champion Tony Stewart coming in fifth.

The highest-finishing Missouri native was Ken Schrader, who is originally from Fenton—he came in ninth place. Fenton Missouri native Ken Schrader was 9th. Mike Wallace, who hails from St. Louis was 27th, Joplin’s Jamie McMurray was 36th and Carl Edwards finished in last place at 43rd. In his first full season in NASCAR’s biggest circuit, Edwards finished third in points last year.