It is no secret that Toyota is going to move into Busch in 2006 and Cup in 2007. Some people think that any time we get new manufacturers into the sport it��s a good thing. Others think no foreign automaker should be allowed in the sport.

First, there has been a foreign-made car in NASCAR since 2001. Dodge is owned by Daimler-Chrysler is German-owned. The Dodge Intrepid was built in Canada. So having a foreign-made car is nothing new. Bill France once said ��They make Hondas in Ohio, don��t they?�� Exactly. The Toyota Camry is more American than the Intrepid was. At least Americans build the Camry. The Intrepid was built by Canadians (I��m a Canadian, by the way).

I don��t have any problem at all with Toyota, Honda or even Volkswagen coming into NASCAR. I think it��s good for the sport as long as it��s done right.

Jack Roush said that when Toyota goes racing, its like they��re going to war. That is what��s really scary as far as I��m concerned. Stories abound that Toyota has a hundred million dollars to spend on their NASCAR effort. If that��s true, and since they spend about $98million on their Indy Racing League there is no reason to think it isn��t, then they will almost certainly be looking to change the very face of the sport we love.

I have a friend who is a die-hard Ford and Roush fan. I have been bugging him for years, saying Jack Roush was going to Toyota. I think my friend is considering hiring a hit man to get me. I��m just joking about Roush/Toyota�� or am I?

As far as Toyota goes, there are some things we know and some things we can safely assume.....con't below

http://insidethepitbox.com/staffarticle.asp?id=050427&who=rd

Sam

It will basically come down to the money. For enough of it, anything could happen. A few years ago, I would have never imagined Bill Elliott driving anything but a Ford. But then alaong comes Ray Evernham, Dodge and the chance to have a competitive team (and it got him back in number 9 as it should be).

quote:

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Originally posted by ccode67:
My question is, does the Toyota truck use a Toyota engine or one of the "generic Nascar" American engines?

I do think Toyota going Nascar racing is a good thing, opens up some new thinking in the sport.

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Toyota developed their own generic NASCAR engine. An iron-block/alloy-headed, single-cam, pushrod engine of 355-358 C.I. It has a chebby bellhousing flange and the distributor is in front.

They have nothing like it in "stock" production.... (just like chebby, dirge, and; I hate to say it, Ford)

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"I only drink to steady my nerves. Sometimes I'm so steady I don't move for months." - W.C. Fields -

"I don't care where I sit, as long as I get fed." - Calvin Trillin -

Dwayne

I'd really like to see a STOCK CAR racing series like NASCAR was circa 1952. Only modifications are for safety and tune what's there! Buy the car, gut the interior, weld in roll bars, bolt in a fire extinguisher, and race that puppy.

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"I only drink to steady my nerves. Sometimes I'm so steady I don't move for months." - W.C. Fields -

"I don't care where I sit, as long as I get fed." - Calvin Trillin -

Dwayne

M&M Member #18
Son of Smurf
'94 Lightning #942 of 4007
'67 Mustang Coupe
'70 Mach1
'75 Cougar
'65 Galaxie 500 + parts car

quote:

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Originally posted by Thud:
I'd really like to see a STOCK CAR racing series like NASCAR was circa 1952. Only modifications are for safety and tune what's there! Buy the car, gut the interior, weld in roll bars, bolt in a fire extinguisher, and race that puppy.

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I can see it now: The 24 Hours of the Daytona 500.

quote:

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Originally posted by SteveLaRiviere:
I can see it now: The 24 Hours of the Daytona 500.

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A '50 Plymouth could run 500 miles... Are today's cars such crap that they can't do it?

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"I only drink to steady my nerves. Sometimes I'm so steady I don't move for months." - W.C. Fields -

"I don't care where I sit, as long as I get fed." - Calvin Trillin -

Dwayne

quote:

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I'd really like to see a STOCK CAR racing series like NASCAR was circa 1952. Only modifications are for safety and tune what's there! Buy the car, gut the interior, weld in roll bars, bolt in a fire extinguisher, and race that puppy.

[/B]

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I agree with you completely. I'm tired of seeing an Intrepid/Monte Carlo/Charger/Grand Prix made by changing the decals on the body of what NASCAR calls a Taurus. The only problem is would you want to be going 200mph in a Taurus?

If Ford wants to put a Taurus on the track, fine, make sure the racing Taurus is an exact mirror of the Taurus I can go down to the dealer and buy. Same with the Charger, Same with the Monte Carlo. This way if the Dodge drivers, or the Chevy drivers or the Ford drivers don't like the way the car is, make them go back to their respective manufacturers to correct it, not have NASCAR change what the cars are.

quote:

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Originally posted by SteveLaRiviere:
They can do it, but who cares?

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.... and watching Tom Cruise wannabees riding around in large, rules-designed, clone (clown?) cars is interesting?

(an old joke: Why did NASCAR need Jeffy Gordon? Because Tom Cruise wasn't available to play "Cole Trickle" again.)

------------------
"I only drink to steady my nerves. Sometimes I'm so steady I don't move for months." - W.C. Fields -

"I don't care where I sit, as long as I get fed." - Calvin Trillin -

Dwayne

M&M Member #18
Son of Smurf
'94 Lightning #942 of 4007
'67 Mustang Coupe
'70 Mach1
'75 Cougar
'65 Galaxie 500 + parts car

quote:

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Originally posted by hwyman3:
If Ford wants to put a Taurus on the track, fine, make sure the racing Taurus is an exact mirror of the Taurus I can go down to the dealer and buy. Same with the Charger, Same with the Monte Carlo. This way if the Dodge drivers, or the Chevy drivers or the Ford drivers don't like the way the car is, make them go back to their respective manufacturers to correct it, not have NASCAR change what the cars are.

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My thoughts exactly! (you said it better than I usually do.)

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"I only drink to steady my nerves. Sometimes I'm so steady I don't move for months." - W.C. Fields -

"I don't care where I sit, as long as I get fed." - Calvin Trillin -

Dwayne

quote:

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Originally posted by Thud:
.... and watching Tom Cruise wannabees riding around in large, rules-designed, clone (clown?) cars is interesting?

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No, that's another reason to find something else to do on a Sunday afternoon.

quote:

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Originally posted by SteveLaRiviere:
No, that's another reason to find something else to do on a Sunday afternoon.

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That's what I did.

Sorry to rant on like I do, but stock car racing was the only sport that ever mattered to me. I used to love the brand against brand, driver against driver, "real men driving real cars" racing. Now it's just "pretty little things of indeterminate gender" driving homogenous vehicles in circles. It mattered to me that I could go to the local Ford store and buy a car "just like Fred Lorentzen drives!" NASCAR is equivalent to professional wrestling without pro wrestling's integrity.

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"I only drink to steady my nerves. Sometimes I'm so steady I don't move for months." - W.C. Fields -

"I don't care where I sit, as long as I get fed." - Calvin Trillin -

Dwayne

quote:

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Originally posted by SteveLaRiviere:
Like all sports, once the big money comes in, the soul goes out.

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All too true.

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"I only drink to steady my nerves. Sometimes I'm so steady I don't move for months." - W.C. Fields -

"I don't care where I sit, as long as I get fed." - Calvin Trillin -

Dwayne

quote:

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Originally posted by SteveLaRiviere:
Like all sports, once the big money comes in, the soul goes out.

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COuld expand this to politics but that's another "tragedy".

Many years ago we took a 72 Chevy M.C. ,Stripped out the insides,added a roll bar,fire ect and went racing for two years with the Son driving.
Ok we didn't get on the news,set a record but had a blast.

NASCAR isn't NEXTEL CUP but Late Model Sportmans,Legdend Car,Grand Stock and more.

Locally we have a division called "U-Cars" which is basic strip down and saftey equiment..a blast to watch

Here's two Race team I have been helping with websites.

http://www.geocities.com/brianmayracing/index.html
This one is under development and not complete