NOW YOU KNOW

Kurt Busch won the year-end Nextel Cup championship Sunday. A look at the previous NASCAR champions by year:

* 2003...Matt Kenseth

* 2002...Tony Stewart

* 2001...Jeff Gordon

* 2000...Bobby Labonte

* 1999...Dale Jarrett

* 1998...Jeff Gordon

* 1997...Jeff Gordon

* 1996...Terry Labonte

* 1995...Jeff Gordon

* 1994...Dale Earnhardt

* 1993...Dale Earnhardt

* 1992...Alan Kulwicki

* 1991...Dale Earnhardt

* 1990...Dale Earnhardt

* 1989...Rusty Wallace

* 1988...Bill Elliott

* 1987...Dale Earnhardt

* 1986...Dale Earnhardt

* 1985...Darrell Waltrip

* 1984...Terry Labonte

* 1983...Bobby Allison

* 1982...Darrell Waltrip

* 1981...Darrell Waltrip

* 1980...Dale Earnhardt

* 1979...Richard Petty

* 1978...Cale Yarborough

* 1977...Cale Yarborough

* 1976...Cale Yarborough

* 1975...Richard Petty

* 1974...Richard Petty

* 1973...Benny Parsons

* 1972...Richard Petty

* 1971...Richard Petty

* 1970...Bobby Isaac

* 1969...David Pearson

* 1968...David Pearson

* 1967...Richard Petty

* 1966...David Pearson

* 1965...Ned Jarrett

* 1964...Richard Petty

* 1963...Joe Weatherly

* 1962...Joe Weatherly

* 1961...Ned Jarrett

* 1960...Rex White

* 1959...Lee Petty

* 1958...Lee Petty

* 1957...Buck Baker

* 1956...Buck Baker

* 1955...Tim Flock

* 1954...Lee Petty

* 1953...Herb Thomas

* 1952...Tim Flock

* 1951...Herb Thomas

* 1950...Bill Rexford

* 1949...Red Byron