Why Toyota belongs in NASCAR
Because Americans love them some Camrys.
Look, I know Toyota is a Japanese company, not an American firm. But Toyota makes a bazillion cars in the States, they employ thousands of Americans to make them, and U.S. buyers can't seem to get enough of them.
Here's a mind-blowing stat: In October, Toyota sold nearly three-and-a-half Camrys for every Fusion that Ford moved off the lot.
Here's another: For October YTD, Toyota has sold more Camrys than Fusion and Taurus combined.
Between now and the 500, when Toyotas roll off the line for their first-ever Cup race, you're going to see a lot of stories and TV spots that raise the issue that, well, maybe, ah, there's something a little wrong with Toyota being in NASCAR because, well, you know ...
Rather than talking smack about Toyota, maybe racing fans should be asking Ford why the term most closely associated with its racing and domestic car programs is the word "struggling."
For fun, the October sales announcements from Ford and Toyota:
Ford's U.S. Sales Rise for the 2nd Straight Month
Toyota Reports 2006 Best-Ever October Sales
Comments (6)
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I'm taking the "wait and see how they do" attitude first before I moan and groan over the whole thing.
Hey, Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family. Take Care!
Posted on November 23, 2006 1:14 AM
Hey John! Sorry, I would have responded sooner but I just woke up from last Sundays race...Yawn! What a complete and total bore (and it hurts to say that) of a race.
Toyota, hmmmm, lets see. You bring up good points with proof. However, it don't mean a hill of beans until those Toyota's get the first lap under those new Goodyears in what, 87 days (from today). Sure, Toyota makes a great car for the family or business man...but lets see what they got under the hood come Feburary. Much like Montoya, who has tons of racing experience and championships in open wheel stuff, Toyota needs to, NO, MUST prove its stuff in NASCAR! So while Ford, Chevy, and Dodge may be lacking in sales to Toyota, all three makers sure as heck have nothing to prove when the Lady in Black comes a calling in Feburary.
Posted on November 23, 2006 2:30 AM
I think Toyota will follow the Dodge playbook, Chris - it won't win much at first, but it'll be fine in the long run. I'd much rather the argument be about Toyota's fitness (or lack thereof) to race well on the track, not whether they're American enough (or not) to be racing in the first place.
And happy Thanksgiving to you, too, Antonette. The turkey seems to have worked - the kids are in slow motion and are on the verge of going to sleep.
Posted on November 23, 2006 8:52 PM
I believe the Ford Fusion is manufactured in Mexico while the Camry is manufactured in the USA.
The Japanese as well as the South Koreans are opening up auto plants in the USA as quickly as the big three are closing their US plants.
Posted on November 23, 2006 9:41 PM
I truly beleive that Toyota has earned its racing stripes (in other forms) and the debate about where they come from should be short lived, if it has not died out yet. That being said, I don't think the Hard Core fans of NASCAR are going to make it easy! Did you hear some of the comments being made by some of the Drivers in the Craftsman Series a few weeks ago??? Those that got beat said they were at least glad to loose to an American Car! So even deep in the heart of the sport, SOME of the drivers are not going to make it easy either! It does not matter where one comes from, only where one is going, and in the words of Benny Parsons, Toyota is "Going Somewhere!" wheter some of us like it or not!
Posted on November 24, 2006 2:16 AM
I think you're right, Chris. There's going to be some resistance.
But the world's changing. Even NASCAR recognizes that. Folks can whine, or Ford and Chevy can get to work and build a race car that'll win.
I excluded Dodge - they're now German-owned. Funny how most people don't remember that.
Posted on November 27, 2006 10:31 AM