NASCAR Report: Sprint to bump Nextel

Beginning with the 2008 season, Sprint will replace Nextel as title sponsor of NASCAR's premier racing series, multiple high-ranking industry sources told ESPN.com on condition of anonymity.

The series will be known as the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, sources said.

NASCAR declined comment.

Dean Kessel, Sprint's NASCAR marketing director, denied the claims and said Sprint/Nextel is still sorting out the proposition with NASCAR. Kessel said many details must be finalized before a decision can be made.

Sprint and Nextel agreed to a $36 billion merger in December 2004.

This would mark the third name since 2003 for NASCAR's Cup Series.

From 1972 to 2003, the Cup Series was sponsored by R.J. Reynolds tobacco through its Winston cigarette brand. Then, starting in 2004, Nextel assumed the naming rights to the most popular racing series in the United States.

Gordon's daughter

is born

NEW YORK — Jeff Gordon won't have to miss a race for the birth of his daughter.

NASCAR's four-time champion became a father Wednesday when his wife, model Ingrid Vandebosch, gave birth to a girl. Gordon announced on his Web site that Ella Sofia Gordon was born Wednesday morning.

"It's been an absolutely incredible experience," Gordon said. "Ingrid came through amazingly and we're both really happy and overjoyed. We can't wait to get home and start our lives together as a family."

Gordon asked Mark Martin to be on standby this weekend in case he had to leave the race in Sonoma, Calif., to return for the birth. Gordon said he'll travel to California later this week and participate in all on-track activities at Infineon Raceway.

Fire destroys motocross equipment

SALT LAKE CITY — Motocross racer Carey Hart lost about $300,000 in motorcycles and gear when the semitrailer transporting the equipment caught fire on Interstate 15.

The truck was headed toward Miller Motorsports Park, where Hart was scheduled to race this weekend, Salt Lake City Fire Department spokesman Dennis McKone said. Hart, who is married to Grammy-winning pop star Pink, was not in the truck.

"It's been a terrible thing." said Hart's manager, Steve Astephen. "He'll be at the track Friday and ready to race."

Astephen said other motorcycles have been lined up.

"The main thing is that no one was hurt," said Doni Wanat, manager for Hart's team.

Eight racing motorcycles, several gallons of gas, gear, parts and a four-wheeler were all destroyed in the fire, McKone said.

Investigators haven't been able to determine the cause of the fire but they think it originated inside the trailer, he said.