There is an article in the WSJ this morning about Toyota entering the NASCAR Truck-Racing series in 2004, so it begs the question: When will they enter Winston Cup racing? They have shown in CART their willingness to spend obscene amounts of money to be dominant. Perhaps those who follow the series can offer some insight into the prevailing thoughts on this matter.
Poll: When will Toyota have a Winston Cup Team?
- Thread starter klah
- Start date
Mr.IncrediblyBored
Lifer
- Jun 18, 2000
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Dominance by American car manufacturers will probably keep Toyota out of the Winston Cup for the foreseeable future. If the popularity and ratings of NASCAR stay high, then I'll guess 2008, if ever.
Demon-Xanth
Lifer
- Feb 15, 2000
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guyver01
Lifer
- Sep 25, 2000
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Toyota eyes Winston Cup in 2005
Times they are a changing folks and this sport is likely to see one of the biggest changes in its history. It has been suggested that Toyota will come to Winston Cup racing in 2005. We know that in the past this sport has been rich with American history and has sung the praises of the big three auto makers.
Toyota has been mounting a charge for NASCAR and is making a decent showing in the NASCAR Goodys Dash series. It takes time to develop the hardware needed to achieve future goals but it is believed that the Japanese auto maker whom implies a 9.0 percent market share in American auto sales is on there way. Lee White is the guy that we have our eye on as he leads the attack for Toyota with the title of (wish I had a title)Vice President in charge of Racing Development in America.
Toyota is currently working hand in hand with NASCAR in an effort to expand into the Craftsman Truck series with the Toyota Tundra, the Japanese auto makers answer to the full size version of the American pickup. We also know that Toyota will introduce a new engine package for the IRL series next year which Penske racing tested in August of this year. Penske racing and Team Kelley are expected to run the new Toyota motor package for the IRL in 2003.
With the introduction of template cars and getting the fans to think about the drivers instead of the cars we believe that the time is right for Toyota. The fans will be told that the sport needs Toyota because the teams are becoming spread thin with budgetary concerns and NASCAR as well as the sport in general needs the Toyota money. North American operations (America,Canada,Mexico) directly provide more than 32,000 jobs. Toyota celebrated there ten millionth vehicle manufactured in North America on July 29th in Erlanger, Kentucky. Currently, more than 10 and one half million North American households own at least one Toyota or Lexus vehicle.
We firmly believe that Chip Ganassi and/or Roger Penske will be the men that lead the charge for Toyota in the Cup series. The duos involvement with Toyota in other series seem to speak volumes in regard to that possibility. We also look for the possible introduction of at least two foreign born drivers to hold a pretty wheel for this effort.
The bottom line here folks is that ?These are the good Ole Days?. In a few years this sport will fall victim to a global economy due to the fact that NASCAR is a money machine that must keep growing. The next time you watch the Daytona 500 listen closely to the words spoken about it being ?The Great American Race?. Those words won?t have the same meaning in a global economy that includes the likes of Toyota.
Times they are a changing folks and this sport is likely to see one of the biggest changes in its history. It has been suggested that Toyota will come to Winston Cup racing in 2005. We know that in the past this sport has been rich with American history and has sung the praises of the big three auto makers.
Toyota has been mounting a charge for NASCAR and is making a decent showing in the NASCAR Goodys Dash series. It takes time to develop the hardware needed to achieve future goals but it is believed that the Japanese auto maker whom implies a 9.0 percent market share in American auto sales is on there way. Lee White is the guy that we have our eye on as he leads the attack for Toyota with the title of (wish I had a title)Vice President in charge of Racing Development in America.
Toyota is currently working hand in hand with NASCAR in an effort to expand into the Craftsman Truck series with the Toyota Tundra, the Japanese auto makers answer to the full size version of the American pickup. We also know that Toyota will introduce a new engine package for the IRL series next year which Penske racing tested in August of this year. Penske racing and Team Kelley are expected to run the new Toyota motor package for the IRL in 2003.
With the introduction of template cars and getting the fans to think about the drivers instead of the cars we believe that the time is right for Toyota. The fans will be told that the sport needs Toyota because the teams are becoming spread thin with budgetary concerns and NASCAR as well as the sport in general needs the Toyota money. North American operations (America,Canada,Mexico) directly provide more than 32,000 jobs. Toyota celebrated there ten millionth vehicle manufactured in North America on July 29th in Erlanger, Kentucky. Currently, more than 10 and one half million North American households own at least one Toyota or Lexus vehicle.
We firmly believe that Chip Ganassi and/or Roger Penske will be the men that lead the charge for Toyota in the Cup series. The duos involvement with Toyota in other series seem to speak volumes in regard to that possibility. We also look for the possible introduction of at least two foreign born drivers to hold a pretty wheel for this effort.
The bottom line here folks is that ?These are the good Ole Days?. In a few years this sport will fall victim to a global economy due to the fact that NASCAR is a money machine that must keep growing. The next time you watch the Daytona 500 listen closely to the words spoken about it being ?The Great American Race?. Those words won?t have the same meaning in a global economy that includes the likes of Toyota.
That's right. They can't have overhead cams, no fuel injection, etc. They'd have to go back 30 years in technology to have a car that could qualify.
However, I don't see Nascar approving it because it's always been American cars. The France family alone would have to approve it since they rule that series with an iron fist.
However, I don't see Nascar approving it because it's always been American cars. The France family alone would have to approve it since they rule that series with an iron fist.
guyver01
Lifer
- Sep 25, 2000
- 22,135
- 5
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Currently, the Toyota Celica is competing in the NASCAR Goodys Dash Series. The Goodys Celica runs a race prepped Toyota four-cylinder engine. The Celica is now an entry in the NHRA. The power plant under the hood of the funny car is a Chrysler Hemi. Toyotas are running successfully in SCORE and CORR off road racing with the 4Runner. Last but not least, check out F1, CART and IRL.
Now they are ready to move their Tacoma into the CTS series. Their first problem will be the engine. The best they have in the Tacoma is a fuel-injected dohc V6. They do equip their full-sized Tundra with a V8 but it is also a dohc fuel-injected engine. Word is Chevrolet will be the supplier for carbureted push rod V8s. Isn?t this okay? I haven?t seen a V8 in a production Monte Carlo, a Taurus or an Intrepid. All they will have to do to make the engine look like a genuine Toyota is embellish their name on the valve covers (valve cover engineering). If they attempt to enter Winston Cup they might have a go at building their own V8.
A couple of generations ago, German cars were made in Germany and Japanese cars were made in Japan. Over the years since, this has become a gray area. Both Germany and Japan are building cars in the USA. The slogan, ?Buy American? has lost its punch. Autos and auto parts are crossing borders all over the world.
General Motors is linked with Fiat, Suzuki, Subaru, Saab and yes, Toyota. Buy a Chevrolet Prizm and you own a re-skinned Toyota Corolla. Buy a Chevrolet Tracker and you?ve acquired a Suzuki.
Ford too has gone international. They make Volvos, Jaguars, Land Rovers, and Aston Martins. Buy a Ford Escape and you own a Mazda Tribute twin.
Chrysler became Daimler Chrysler and moved its headquarters from Auburn Hills, Michigan to Stuttgart, Germany. Are Intrepids and Dakotas still American?
Based on all this, it is quite difficult to say that NASCAR is an American sport and should be restricted to American cars only. Yet there are those who are old enough to have served in the military during World War II and will never forget the atrocities committed against them by Germany and Japan. There aren?t too many of these heroes still living. Attrition has dwindled their numbers to just a few. As I said above, the slogan, ?Buy American? is slowly losing its punch.
Mark Amstock from Toyota says, ?We?ll be there (CTS) before you know it.? NASCAR?s Kevin Triplett says, ?Nobody has presented us anything yet.?
Now they are ready to move their Tacoma into the CTS series. Their first problem will be the engine. The best they have in the Tacoma is a fuel-injected dohc V6. They do equip their full-sized Tundra with a V8 but it is also a dohc fuel-injected engine. Word is Chevrolet will be the supplier for carbureted push rod V8s. Isn?t this okay? I haven?t seen a V8 in a production Monte Carlo, a Taurus or an Intrepid. All they will have to do to make the engine look like a genuine Toyota is embellish their name on the valve covers (valve cover engineering). If they attempt to enter Winston Cup they might have a go at building their own V8.
A couple of generations ago, German cars were made in Germany and Japanese cars were made in Japan. Over the years since, this has become a gray area. Both Germany and Japan are building cars in the USA. The slogan, ?Buy American? has lost its punch. Autos and auto parts are crossing borders all over the world.
General Motors is linked with Fiat, Suzuki, Subaru, Saab and yes, Toyota. Buy a Chevrolet Prizm and you own a re-skinned Toyota Corolla. Buy a Chevrolet Tracker and you?ve acquired a Suzuki.
Ford too has gone international. They make Volvos, Jaguars, Land Rovers, and Aston Martins. Buy a Ford Escape and you own a Mazda Tribute twin.
Chrysler became Daimler Chrysler and moved its headquarters from Auburn Hills, Michigan to Stuttgart, Germany. Are Intrepids and Dakotas still American?
Based on all this, it is quite difficult to say that NASCAR is an American sport and should be restricted to American cars only. Yet there are those who are old enough to have served in the military during World War II and will never forget the atrocities committed against them by Germany and Japan. There aren?t too many of these heroes still living. Attrition has dwindled their numbers to just a few. As I said above, the slogan, ?Buy American? is slowly losing its punch.
Mark Amstock from Toyota says, ?We?ll be there (CTS) before you know it.? NASCAR?s Kevin Triplett says, ?Nobody has presented us anything yet.?
I would say never, because they would have to dig up engine designs from like the fifties. Dunno what kind of suspension these Nascars use but judging from the technological prowess of NASCAR engines I would guess some 50s era live axle design haha maybe the already incorporated the technological marvel of a live axle with COIL springs, muahaha
Besides, why should they enter NASCAR. Normally Motorsportis an advertisment platform to show how badass advanced a company is, dunno why they should advertise being able to build automobile and technological dinosaurs
Besides, why should they enter NASCAR. Normally Motorsportis an advertisment platform to show how badass advanced a company is, dunno why they should advertise being able to build automobile and technological dinosaurs
Don Vito Corleone
Elite
- Feb 10, 2000
- 30,029
- 67
- 91
I doubt this will ever happen. The truck series is an opportunity to showcase their wares in a high-visibility setting, even if the racing trucks have little if any relationship to publicly-available trucks. I can't imagine they would feel the publicity generated by Winston Cup competition would justify the cost. At least their Champ car and F1 entries can be justified on the basis that they are testing grounds for new engine technologies - NASCAR is totally arcane, technologically, and I don't think it would endear them to their target audience.
Demon-Xanth
Lifer
- Feb 15, 2000
- 20,551
- 2
- 81
I'm not trying to knock Toyota or anything, but I can't see how NASCAR can help thier sales much. I'd think that many fans would shun thum since they would have to either make a power plant from scratch JUST FOR NASCAR or they would have to borrow one. Either way the rule books just aren't friendly regarding them.
As far as the Top Fuel Celica, the only reason it's a Celica instead of a Firebird or Mustang is because of the body. Force went from Pontiac to Ford quite easily.
As far as the Top Fuel Celica, the only reason it's a Celica instead of a Firebird or Mustang is because of the body. Force went from Pontiac to Ford quite easily.
Here is some of the article: (courtesy of google news)
Toyota Rides Racing Circuit To Lose Its Foreign Accent
By NORIHIKO SHIROUZU
Staff Reporter of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
Among the big events at the dirt-racing course here are truck races, and until recently, most of the trucks on the track were Fords, Chevys and Dodges.
But now there's a new name on the circuit: Toyota.
That Japan's Toyota Motor Corp. is fighting for acceptance this deep in the heartland shows just how badly the auto maker wants to be more "American" as it aims to raise its U.S. market share.
Across the U.S., Toyota is getting involved in an assortment of racing leagues, including Nascar, for stock cars, and the Indy Racing League and the Championship Auto Racing Teams series, two of America's premier leagues for "open-wheel," or fenderless, cars.
At a recent Nascar race, Yoshi Inaba, chief of Toyota's U.S. sales operations, says he "saw consumers from walks of life we have never seen before," referring to the racing world's blue-collar fans. "Nascar fans are the core of America's truck- and big-SUV-buying public, and we need to appeal to them," says the 56-year-old Northwestern University-educated executive.
.....
.....
As its critics complain, Toyota is quitting CART to race in the competing Indy Racing League and aims to gain a top-tier presence in Nascar, the major league of U.S. racing. Nascar is one of the biggest spectator sports in America. Each week some 200,000 people watch some Nascar races at the track, while five million to six million viewers tune in on television. Toyota already races in Nascar's minor leagues.
Brian France, executive vice president of Nascar and a grandson of Bill France Sr. who founded Nascar in 1948, says Nascar welcomes Toyota, which he says is "already very rooted in this country" given it employs roughly 30,000 Americans. "Competition in Nascar ... more of it is better," he says.
Toyota Rides Racing Circuit To Lose Its Foreign Accent
By NORIHIKO SHIROUZU
Staff Reporter of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
Among the big events at the dirt-racing course here are truck races, and until recently, most of the trucks on the track were Fords, Chevys and Dodges.
But now there's a new name on the circuit: Toyota.
That Japan's Toyota Motor Corp. is fighting for acceptance this deep in the heartland shows just how badly the auto maker wants to be more "American" as it aims to raise its U.S. market share.
Across the U.S., Toyota is getting involved in an assortment of racing leagues, including Nascar, for stock cars, and the Indy Racing League and the Championship Auto Racing Teams series, two of America's premier leagues for "open-wheel," or fenderless, cars.
At a recent Nascar race, Yoshi Inaba, chief of Toyota's U.S. sales operations, says he "saw consumers from walks of life we have never seen before," referring to the racing world's blue-collar fans. "Nascar fans are the core of America's truck- and big-SUV-buying public, and we need to appeal to them," says the 56-year-old Northwestern University-educated executive.
.....
.....
As its critics complain, Toyota is quitting CART to race in the competing Indy Racing League and aims to gain a top-tier presence in Nascar, the major league of U.S. racing. Nascar is one of the biggest spectator sports in America. Each week some 200,000 people watch some Nascar races at the track, while five million to six million viewers tune in on television. Toyota already races in Nascar's minor leagues.
Brian France, executive vice president of Nascar and a grandson of Bill France Sr. who founded Nascar in 1948, says Nascar welcomes Toyota, which he says is "already very rooted in this country" given it employs roughly 30,000 Americans. "Competition in Nascar ... more of it is better," he says.
All this is good, and true for the most part....................yes, I imagine Toyota could and would use the GM V8's or possibley the Chrysler V8's, but then they better stick to the tranny/rearend too or do a whole lot more testing than they have. I believe the problems will arise not from the team owners because everyone knows Toyota is willing to throw enormous amounts of cash their way, but, Toyota will have to come in with a new era of drivers! Interviews with nearly every Winston Cup driver ends with the same result..................NASCAR is an American institution and they would find another team before they "sell out". All the "names" agree with this and the first desenters will have a very rough road as was stated by Jarrett, Martin, Rusty Wallace, and Sterling Marlin.........................
I dought that, money talks. There are plenty of lowerend teams and drivers that would switch to Toyota if they got the cash and thought they would have any chance at being competative. Drivers would be the same way. The bigger names can do what they want but most of the guys will take what ever they can get.
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