Be afraid, Be Very afraid.

General Lee 01 · December 25, 2002

From Jayski's

Toyota in Cup - 2007? CTS in 2004: While it’s years from an official announcement, Autoweek has word that an agreement has been reached between Toyota and NASCAR for Toyota to race in Winston Cup in 2007. That’ll be three years after it starts in Craftsman Truck in 2004. Toyota engineers are working on the carbureted V8. It’s still on the computer at this point, but will soon come to three-dimensional form. One problem with the engine is casting it in iron. Most Toyota blocks are aluminum alloy, but engineers found a Toyota facility in Japan that still casts in iron. The Craftsman entry will feature a Tundra body and the Cup car will be a Camry, “whatever the Camry will look like then,” Toyota sources said.(Autoweek)(12-24-2002)

All I have to say is...

December 25, 2002

I'm with you, General. This just goes to show that NASCAR is more and more about the $$$$ than keeping up the wonderful traditions established by Big Bill.

I knew it was inevitable, Toyota Supras run in the Goody's Dash Series.

SilveradoWV · December 25, 2002

Toyota had a funny car entry this year in the NHRA also. Its no surprise to see it in NASCAR, I mean the body is the easy part because they are all pretty much the same, and personally that makes me pretty upset. IMO I think they should use templates that fit what come off the showroom perfectly, thats what makes people switch from one manufacturer to the other, because they think it is better. NASCAR shouldnt make any rule changes to give one manufacturer an even chance or not, they should develop something new at the factory and put it on the lots. If certain teams feel like their manufacturer is lacking, they should switch or get the manufactureres to produce a new car. I dont like the idea of racing vehicles that are front wheel drive, 4 door, V6 or 4cly, etc...... on the showroom and changing them to V8 rear wheel drive in NASCAR. I believe you need to race what you bring to the track so to speak, not just using a vehicle name on a totally fabricated car. Honestly you could have a cavalier out on the track, and thats just wrong. Well sorry to ramble but I guess I just liked NASCAR better back in the day. Also if they ran cars mostly similar to a showroom version there would be some awesome vehicles made for the consumer as well. Dont get me wrong, I dont wanna take away all the technology and horsepower and stuff away from NASCAR but the cars they run should be based on what is sold.

TROYROBO · December 26, 2002

NASCAR WILL NEVER BE THE SAME--AS I SEE IT THEY ARE ALREADY GETTING AWAY FROM THERE ROOTS

Firetiger(MN) · January 1, 2003

It'll be a sad day in NASCAR history when the first Toyota rolls across that finish line to take the checkered. I don't think there is a rehab clinic in the country that could cure me if that happens.

Dale is rolling over in his grave right now.

marksgms · January 1, 2003

I stopped watching NASCAR awhile ago. Many things about the sport upset me. The fact that the Monte Carlo only has a 200 HP 3.8 is probably what did it (although, for some reason, the Lumina didn't bother me...). Remember the first Impala SS to come back from the 60's? The RWD 5.7? That is what should be on the showroom floor AND on the NASCAR track... but it's not about that. In fact, it should be NASMCAR... replace the word 'stock' with 'severly modified'

MiSdIrEcTeD_1 · January 9, 2003

Not into NASCAR, but I am in fact upset to hear this. Kinda s*%tty. God forbid one ever takes the checkered flag... Even if it takes a Ford or Dodge to keep that from happening.

Shadowfax · January 13, 2003

As grandoise as Toyota's plans are for Cup, they may not be around long. Japan's economy is on the brink of complete destruction, and by the time Toyota's deadline comes to get a car into cup, it might not be able to keep itself afloat much less run a motorsports operation in NASCAR.

I forsee a severe fanbacklash against NASCAR and Toyota themselves for entering this arena. I also see few if any cup teams besides Travis Carter (hes the key to this deal btw, hes working with them to get them in) to take up Toyota on its offer to race their cars.

The only way I see drivers coming to them instead of the traditional makes is that if they ensnare the younger, more marketable generation. As in the kids who really don't care what they drive, because the roots of the sport don't mean anything to them.

As mentioned above, I feel with this move NASCAR is trying to throw away its roots, and I think in about 10 more years of this garbage its gonna flame out and take the tumble. No matter what Toyota does however, Im still gonna pull for the bowties on sunday and hope that they teach the boys from the rising sun, a lesson or two about stock car racing.