Toyota in NASCAR?

[Rob Thomas]

While watching Speed channel this morning, I coulda swore I heard that the Toyota Tundra was going to be involved in the Craftsman Truck Series? Not that I watch the trucks to often, but if this is true, I won't watch it at all.



How long before we see Corolla's in Winston Cup?











Rob

 

[Fireman Dave]

Gary Selczi was running a Toyota funny car body a couple of years ago in the NHRA. Not my cup of tea. He looks a lot better in the Dodge.

 

[crobertson1]

I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks this... err... is a negative development.

Craig

 

[jgillott]

Yea they are in and there are several teams that will be running the full schedule. I know that Bill Davis racing has two full time entries and old DW will have the 17 truck running full time with David Reutiman as the driver. DW will also run a minimum of 3 races in the 11. I think there is someone else going to be fielding a couple more but I don't remember who. There have also been some rumblings that there will be a Toyota in cup and Busch by 2007.



Justin

 

[Ram4Sam]

They are coming...Fast!

Here are some exerpts from a truck page:



"The 2004 Toyota Lineup: so far all has been confirmed, except for some sponsor news:

Alex Meshkin/Larry McReynolds - 2 teams; drivers: #42[not #3]-Mike Skinner and #24-Travis Kvapil

George deBidart/Innovative Motorsports - 2 teams; drivers, #21-Hank Parker Jr and #12-Robert Huffman

Bill Davis Racing - 2 teams; drivers #23-Shelby Howard and #22-Bill Lester

Darrell Waltrip - 1 team; driver = #17-David Reutimann, Waltrip will drive a few races in the #11. (9-10-2003/1-5-2004)"



and more



"Here comes Toyota: Toyota, making its debut in the Craftsman Truck Series in 2004, had its fleet of seven Tundras testing with drivers Shelby Howard and Bill Lester (Bill Davis Racing), Robert Huffman and Hank Parker Jr. (Innovative Motorsports), Travis Kvapil and Mike Skinner (Bang Racing) and David Reutimann (Darrell Waltrip Motorsports). Reutimann had the best Toyota lap of the test session at 176. 672. "It was a great day," Skinner said. "We get a tiny bit better every time we get on the race track with our new Tundra. Obviously on the average, I think we're a second slow. A second wouldn't make us the fastest by any means but it would at least make us competitive. Right now, I don't think we're competitive but Toyota is new coming into this. The Tundra is coming. It's just going to be a little bit of time. "(DIS PR)(1-10-2004)



First day of Daytona testing, fast time was:



#99-Carl Edwards, Ford, 49. 664 seconds, 181. 218mph



First three Toyotas were 16th, 17th, and 18th:





#17-David Reutimann, Toyota, 50. 942, 176. 672

#42-Mike Skinner, Toyota, 50. 968, 176. 581

#22-Bill Lester, Toyota, 50. 993, 176. 495





Going to be an interesting year!

Look here for more info;

http://jayski.thatsracin.com/cts/ctsnews.htm



Sam

 

[Hammer]

Rob. .

When they made the announcement earlier this year,if my memory serves me correctly,they made a comment about 3 years till Nascar Nextel Cup entries would be seen. One thing is for sure,Toy-Oh-Ta does not go into anything halfway and has the backing to create quite a stir in a very short time. Look how they dominated in other forms of racing so quickly,Cubic money=Fast results. They did not fare well in the NHRA and it will interesting to see how they improve and compete here.



Its a shame Bill Davis inserted his head into the darkest depths and cost him his Dodge deal and a driver. One only has to wonder why a foolish move like that was even considered and done... ... . Andy

 

[Will24]

As much as I am a Mopar fan, you guys need to open up a little bit. Some more competition just makes things exciting, plus I like little toyota pickups a little too...

 

[Bill Lins]

Originally posted by Hammer

One only has to wonder why a foolish move like that was even considered and done... ... . Andy

The answer- $$$$$$. As far as I'm concerned, the more brands involved, the better.

 

[nickleinonen]

i wonder how long until nissan will opt to run the titan ?

 

[Hammer]

Bill...

I agree it all had to do with money. BUT do you not think they should have thought thru the repercussions of a decision like that. He had to know that Ma Mopar wouldn't like it with him on the factory deal with them. Kinda a contradiction wouldnt you agree?. I also agree that more is better and other brands would be nice so whats next a H2 for competition???... ... . Andy

 

[Rob Thomas]

Originally posted by will24

As much as I am a Mopar fan, you guys need to open up a little bit. Some more competition just makes things exciting, plus I like little toyota pickups a little too...

There are 43 cars, there is plenty of competition.



My problem is this was about the only American race left. The indy cars already have the imports, and import drivers. NASCAR was a bunch of good 'ol boys driving fast, but like everything else, it's all down hill from here.



It won't be long before the "Winston" name will be out, and we'll see something like..... " The Uncle Ben's Cup", it won't be the same ever again.





Rob

 

[NVR FNSH]

Rob, afraid the Toyotas might win a race or two?



As long as they all have to meet the same rules I could care less what nationality a truck or driver is. Bring on the TATRAs!!!!



Brian

 

[Briar Hopper]

The viewpoints here don't surprise me. I daresay, the opinions expressed here would not be the same as the opinions expressed by the likes of Tiny Lund, Friday Hassler, Curtis Turner, Glenn (Fireball) Roberts, Lee Petty, Cotton Owens, Smokey Yunick, Hoss Ellington, Glenn Wood, Clifton Burton( CooCoo) Marlin, (Sterling's father) Buck Baker, Wendell Scott, J. D. McDuffie, and so many more I can't think of right now, if they were still with us.

All were drivers or car builders in the '50's, '60's, and '70's, some on into the '80's..... back when NASCAR was the pinnacle of Southern motorsports. Before it turned it's back on it's Southern heritage in the interest of BIG money.

From 1969 until 1979, I remember seeing just as many blacks as whites flying a confederate flag in the infield at these races, it was a matter of Southern pride and heritage. Now we're seeing it removed from our state capitols.....

Just as we're seeing the same nation that gave us Pearl Harbor, given free entry to one of our last heritages. Just as we're seeing Spanish becoming a second language in this country. Foreign competition is fine, but not when it causes us to ignore our history and heritage, and to lose our national identity, as they buy up everything here.

I'd guess a lot of you are too young to know what I'm talking about, no surprise there. There's far more to our nation, than what you see unfolding in the present.

My main point here is that I remember(and mourn the passing of) an era when stock car racing was pure AMERICAN iron, and men were men, and anyone with a couple thousand bucks could weld a roll cage in a sedan, and go racing. An era where anyone bringing a Japanese-built race car to the track would be lucky to leave with life and limb intact.

NASCAR is a joke now, has been for some time. Fortunately, we still have dirt tracks all across the nation carrying on the tradition.

 

[Rob Thomas]

Brian, afraid, no, that's not the point.

 

[Bill Lins]

Originally posted by Hammer

Bill...

I agree it all had to do with money. BUT do you not think they should have thought thru the repercussions of a decision like that. He had to know that Ma Mopar wouldn't like it with him on the factory deal with them.

I'm thinking that Toyota more than made up for the loss of Mopar factory support, which I'll bet wasn't as much as Evernham & Penske are getting.