All About Toyota
Tuesday April 17, 2007
This year it seems like almost every NASCAR conversation eventually ends up being about Toyota. Should they be allowed in NASCAR? Are they more or less American that GM, Ford or Dodge? Is Michael Waltrip Racing doomed or just off to a slow start? Here is one central location for all things Toyota.
Personally I am happy that Toyota is in NASCAR, but I am also happy that my favorite drivers don't drive Camrys. I pay attention to the manufacturer battles and I am loyal to my chosen brand.
Having one more manufacturer to love or hate just makes the sport that much more interesting to watch. The more the merrier, where is Honda?
Comments
Yea.. Your right,,, But Mikey.. Is a cool guy… Question ????? Is MIKEY Having problems with BUFFY ???? She wasent home ?????? Where was she ???? I dont know,,,take a guess ??????
That didn’t take long, one comment and we are off of Steve’s topic of Toyota in Nascar.
Buffy drive a Nissan. Hmmm.
Toyota has as much right in NASCAR as anyone else. At the end of the day, I guess it really doesn’t matter as they really are not “stock” cars anymore. 90% of the metal and mechanical is fabricated, so really there is not that much OEM on the cars. Yawn.
May be a stupid question who is Buffy? mike’s wife? Don’t like toy in Nascar but then again they allow dodge to race. Both are overseas owned company.
Welcome Toyota and any one else who wants to have a shot at it. The problem is the Waltrip talent = ZERO. Wish Benny Parsons was still with us. Now there’s a NASCAR announcer. DW the mouth and stupid Michael. You must assume that MW has the best crew and most attended car for the Toyota big bucks named leadership, but he can’t drive. Two of the others qualify. Like the gentleman said, we are ahead of MW….we have -0- and he has -27.
To me Toyota should not be allowed to race in NASCAR. It has nothing to do with where the parts are made; it has to do with fair trade. The Japanese do not allow American Made products to freely compete in Japan and it is my opinion that Toyota should have been told to go fly a kite (or other similar words) and told that when Americans are allowed free trade in Japan, the scumbags will be allowed to compete in the USA.
By the way I read an interview with Lee Iacocca yesterday and he feels very strongly that the Japanese do not allow us to trade freely in Japan (just so you boys don’t get your panties in a twist).
Jeff, Mike may not be the best driver out there, however he’s good enough to win 2 daytona’s untill this year and maybe last year he was not on the bottom of the points either. He made a mistake that he should have learn from his brother as been a owner/driver. Then again I always laugh at people that they say mike or any other driver has zero talent, because that who says that can’t even drive the freeways, then talk about others.
i agree with john,its easy to sit and criticize a driver,..i use to drive on a 3/4 mile dirt track…it is a whole different ballgame if your in the game…i see montoya is starting to get his criticizem…yes..but remember, he his a rookie,and he is getting better all the time….i will be saying (i told you so)
I guess I’m a RACE FAN. NASCAR is great and I’ve been a fan since the sixties. I watch other stuff also. I raced road courses while overseas. I’m loyal to the sport because drivers and manufactures come and go. I had a ‘56 Packard 400 that could beat the fenders off most anything. Its just racin’ is a heart felt happening you can’t replace with a manufacture of iron or a popular driver. Don’t get me wrong, I cried when Dale and others died but for the human not the driver. Have a great day.
Toyota is going to do fine once they get things figured out…It’s just to early to rip them apart..Mikey was a poor choice for there leader…but the season is not over.
Toyota should have things figure out by now with the trucks behind them. If I said it once I say it again, Toyota not putting their full effort in the cars as they did the trucks. If they did, the cars would be a whole lot better than they are. AGAIN people mike is not the only team that has toyotas.
toyota AND michael SHOULD GET OUT
fred, nothing wrong with mike, he just got over his head. Until this year he’s better some of the drivers out there now.
its not toyota that i dislike ,its that stupid long haird big mouth and his big brother,the “legend in his own mind”daryl.
Hey guys,
Where do you think your Impalas,Fusions and Chargers are “Manufactured”?
Hey just change the decals on the COT car and Hyundai can race next week.
I agree with Rick. Fusions are made in Canada,Chargers and Impalas are made in Mexico. 90% of Toyotas are made in the USA!!!
Hey Rick, and you too tim, What companies makes the Impalas, Fusions and Chargers? What country company are they? The last I heard GM,FORD are still AMERICAN owned. Dodge, for the last 10 years and for at least for now is a GERMAN owned company Here is a clincher for the ones still have not figure it out TOYOTA is a JAPAN owned company. Once again look up what NASCAR letters stand for. I don’t think it says North American Japan Stock Car Racing Assoc.
the mixter, long hair big mouth? Hair touching his ears is long? Yes it’s looks thick but long? Big mouth, his brother, yes but mike I don’t ever seen him go and run around see him yelping.
Once again I am amazed by the limited thinking of some people. First of all NASCAR is heading toward becoming a ‘world sport’ as it is the design of the governing bodies of NASCAR (you’d know this if you’d been paying attention instead of passing judgement). So American made or foriegn made is not going to matter one iota in ten or fifteen years. Besides as someone else in here said these ’stock cars’ are about as far from what we drive on the road as the earth is from the sun so why does it matter so much? Free trade free schmade…it’s a sport not politics so get a grip!
I am continually amazed at how fearful people are of change yet not a single person can avoid change because it is going to happen whether or not one is comfortable with it…so why not spare oneself the aggravation of fighting it? I think some people just want to complain period!
Driving a stock car or any race car isn’t as easy as it appears to be so I find criticism of Michael Waltrip or any other driver here ludicrous. If so many people are so willing to say that a certain driver has no talent I’d like to see them get in the drivers seat and do better. But then again people just love to put others down in order to feel better about themselves so I don’t know what I’m expecting. Well maybe some maturity and common sense but maybe that’s asking too much.
I am a race fan…period. I love NASCAR and support it 100%. I am very proud to be a NASCAR fan, a member of the NASCAR family, however it is difficult to hold one’s head up in this regard when there are so many small minded people as fans who have to put others down in order to feel good about themselves.
Loosen up folks…it’s all about racing and it’s supposed to be fun!
Toyota might have a chance, but they made a horrible choice in Michael Waltrip! He is a horrible representative of auto racing. He opens his mouth way to much and sounds like a complete moron much of the time. He is a disgrace to all racecar drivers. He is the reason so many people look down on Nascar saying its a bunch of retarded loud mouth rednecks when it is anything but that.
Cheryl, Yea talking about making one feels good about themselves by putting others down by calling people small minded ha.
True things change. Sometimes things change for the good and at times for the bad. As stated things do change but do I sit, down and say “duh ok”?, or do I speak up and say what I believe in no matter if it is NASCAR, the color I like, the shoes I wear? I for one do not believe one should lay down say “duh ok” what ever you want it is ok. Being fearful of change? Sometimes change can be a fearful event. However, we are talking about NASCAR here, why does fear have to do with it? People as the one just commented, they go along with whatever others have said. Because they are, NASCAR fans a true catchall phrase. Using your words we, most of us are also NASCAR fans, and some of us just don’t want to see the cars no one knows what they are, or cookie cutters tracks, drivers (to fit NASCAR image), oh wait that has already happen. Now the cot crap coming.
Of course, they the true NASCAR thinkers have not considered some people may want to keep something AMERICAN instead of bow down to the rest of the world. If they would have noticed the rest of the world have their traditions, (if you want to call NASCAR a tradition) along with what they blended in.
I do agree about what you have said about the people that keep saying this or that driver cannot drive and no talent. Prime Example is Jim, talking out of his rear, now he says according to rumors.
So being in the NASCAR family where do you work at in NASCAR?
Well John…first of all I’m a human being (you know a resident of planet earth) before I’m American so if being American means thinking we are better than everyone else and doing everything we can to separate ourselves from the rest of the world then perhaps it would be a really good thing to lose that part of being American instead of fighting so hard to keep it. Fear has EVERYTHING to do with it all…fear that somebody else who isn’t a born American will get our stuff when there’s more than enough for everyone everywhere!
Oh yeah and I am a member of the NASCAR family…we all are. That is one of the things I love most about the sport…it’s one big family including the fans.
P.S. Referring to some others as small minded doesn’t make me feel good in the least but if you can come up with a different phrase that gets the point across that there are some people who prefer to remain limited in their thinking I’d be happy to use it.
Toyota should be allowed ! Its a midsize car and since Pontiac has dropped out why not . Its only a shell and the rest pure modified race car. As long as they follow the rules i think it may be good for the sport .
Cheryl, Well how about this one for a phrase, that everyone has their opinions, and just because you don’t agree with it, that does not mean people have small minds. It just make people that says that, make them to have small minds.
Where in the plant you get that Americans are better than the rest? I never read it here. Then again, if you would go to some other countries you would find those people that live there in those countries think they are better the rest of the world. So by your comment, again if you want to just lie down and say duh ok what ever you want, so be it. I, as an American, I’ am proud to be an American. America has its faults, but after being in several other countries, I’m right back here. Therefore, if you want America to be like other countries, as the OLD PHRASE that says maybe you need to live over there.
Once again I don’t have “fear” about NASCAR, that does not make sense to me! Why should I fear anything about NASCAR? What has NASCAR going to do make me fearful? Oh I’m scarred that I can’t sleep because they are making the cot crap? Or making all the tracks the same? Do I like the changes? Nope then again that is why I don’t watch NASCAR as much as I do anymore. I rather watch Winged Sprint cars, when they ever on, or to my local track to watch racing.
Atta girl Cheryl. JOHN get a grip, and please reread your e-mails before sending them. PEACE TO ALL
you know I read these messages and I have to laugh. The question was is toyota ok in Nascar and is Mikey doomed. I think Mikey is in over his head and should either go drive or retire and manage his affairs more carefully. As for Toyota the more the merrier for me. More money in the kitty and more opportunities for up and coming drivers.
murphy yep having a bad day in writing, however, I know you are smart enough to understand, along with cheryl.
I think some people need a nap its racing I got respect for anyone who can sit behind the wheel and do the speeds these guys do with 40 some other drivers out there right next to em.I think it was said best earlier ,its racing and supposed to be fun.
See all this commotion made me forget what i wanted to say I am not a fan of toyota but hey let em race and go mike
maybe the reason that toyota dosn’t do good is because they are not used to building antique motors for cars. If they could use their modern equiptment they could probably beat them with half the cubic inches.
Dee Dee, Well I may have a bad day in writing today- Bummer. Then thats life I guess some days are good and days are bad. Even with my off day I figured you may be smart enough to read. Then again maybe not. oh well.
John did make a good comment earlier. You cant beat sprint cars or local short tracks. Theres nothing better then 20 cars going at it for 30 laps for a win. 500 miles of cup racing cant ever compete with a night of short track racing to me.
Ok Nascar fans talk about this manufactor or that manufactor, but no manufactor makes these cars. The teams build them. Like people say “There is nothing stock about a stock car”. So if you think about it there are no Fords, Chevys, Dodges, or Toyotas in any of the races. They are all home builded at the race shops.
Two things to get straight!!! 1=NASCAR actually stands for “National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing” not North American Stock Car Auto Racing!! National doesnt always mean 1 particular NATION: It also means a common agreement between a group of persons. Therefore racing in Mexico and now Canada is just okie dokie as well as German and now Japanese cars is just fine. Like they said earlier these cars has only Hood, Roof, & Deck Lid as the only OEM parts. That is it. Everything else is NASCAR APPROVED MODIFICATIONS. Now 2=what about the World Series? What I mean is MLB calls it the WORLD SERIES but it is only 2 teams from USA that gets to play in the world series. So it is not truly the WORLD SERIES it should be the USA SERIES. Sorry for getting off of Nascar here but in a strange way I think it makes sense or at least it does sort of prove a point. I just think we are too busy complaining about senseless stuff that we cant see the big picture anymore (ABOUT ANY GIVEN SUBJECT) If NASCAR dies soon it will not be because of TOYOTA it will be because of NASCAR itself and them trying to control people.
Agree with you Paul, you can’t beat a good short dirt track for excitement and lots of banging and bumping. There is usually little money involved but these guys race for the fun of it which makes it much more enjoyable to watch.
BRAVO get it right (#34) LOVE the ‘big picture’ reference!!!! That’s what I was trying to get across…that some people choose to remain limited in their thinking and don’t want to or are unable see the big picture (that’s my opinion and I’m stickin’ to it). Big picture means BIG and not keeping things like they used to be because some people are simply unwilling to accept change. Whatever doesn’t change (grow) dies and I want to see NASCAR exist a long, long time so I’m really excited about all of the changes. Besides it’s going to change whether we want it to or not so why get all upset about it?
Toyota is going to do well regardless of their rocky beginning in Cup racing (Bill Davis racing seems to be getting quite a handle on that car). I’d like to see anyone else out there put a team together from scratch with a brand new manufacturer, a lot of new rules, no notes from previous races and all new people to boot and do half as well as some of the Toyota people have done in Cup.
I hear a fair amount of fans saying that they don’t watch NASCAR much anymore because it has changed so much. Well welcome to the year 2007 folks and if you don’t want to watch it anymore then please get off the bus and stop dissing it. Then the rest of us who appreciate the forward thinking attitude of NASCAR these days (thanks to Brian France and Mike Helton as well as others) will enjoy not hearing all of the whining about the good ol’ days.
I bet a lot of those fans who are opposed to all of these changes (Toyota & COT for example) might be really surprised about how the drivers, teams and owners feel about where NASCAR is taking this whole stock car racing deal. Sure there are a few who have been vocal about it (Jack Roush for instance) but they feel they have something to lose and they are simply trying to protect their own interests.
I say anyone who thinks they can do better than Michael Waltrip or Toyota should just step up and do it instead of all the back seat driving (whining).
Very good Cheryl
Now seriously did the craftmans series lose poularity when they let the tundra in. NO so I really dont get what the big deal is. I also dont think that MIkey got in over his head nessacarily I just think that he has had a very bad series of unfortunate events. I think that if he hangs in there he can pull himself his team his company and toyota through this.He is not out of the game by any means. Just my opinion.
Way to go Cheryl. I have benn a fan since LABOR DAY 1952. The only thing wrong with NASCAR is they are trying to get rid of the CHICKEN BONES and REDNECKS. The FOUNDING FATHERS of NASCAR.
It’s always nice to have some competition. And for those of you who still hold a grudge on Japan for what they did at Pearl Harbor need to move on! It’s not like we didn’t get them back! Beasides, we are all the same no matter how we look or where we’re from.