The Toyota Factor

Articles

The Toyota Factor

By Kaycee Nilson
May 25, 2006

Many fans that have contacted me for my opinion on Toyota decided to enter the NASCAR series have all expressed their displeasure. How dare a foreign car enter an American sport? Well folks, guess what, Toyota will have to follow the same templates and specifications that Ford, Dodge and Chevrolet has to follow.

The only difference in these cars is the nosepiece (And they are minute changes at that) and the name on the front. Other than that, the height, the tail fin and everything have to fit a template that is regulated by NASCAR. And as for the engines, NASCAR too regulates them. The builders have to follow the specifications and regulations that are set by NASCAR and there is no deviance from that.

Just because it has a Toyota name, doesn’t make it any less of a good car. And we will see if it makes a good NASCAR. The 2007 season will open with Michael Waltrip’s Team, Dale Jarrett and Michael Waltrip driving the new Toyota car.

Many speculated that Toyota went into the garages of NASCAR and threw money at NASCAR in order for them to enter the NASCAR circuit and to obtain some of the top drivers in the sport. NASCAR President, Mike Hinton, has denied these rumors in several interviews that have been posted at NASCAR.com and other websites plus television interviews.

Now I don’t the WHOLE story of how Toyota has become a manufacturer of a NASCAR, but I think it’s a wonderful thing. Toyota isn’t a foreign company anymore with a plant in Dallas, TX that builds their cars. So if Toyota has a plant in Texas, then what is the big deal adding the Toyota Camry to the lineup of the Ford Fusion, the Dodge Charger, The Dodge Intrepid and the Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS?

This is just my opinion of course, and we all know what they say about opinions. But I don’t see what the big fuss is. It’s not like Japan is wanting to add sushi bars and saki to the grandstand concessions. They just want to enter a sport that is fast growing in fan base numbers.

What could be wrong with that? What could be wrong with phasing in Toyota when they can at the same time phase in “The Car Of Tomorrow?” No one really knows for sure what “The Car Of Tomorrow” is, but speculations abound.

And in this sport, speculations are always flying about something. From cars to driver’s actions to Hinton’s plans for the future of the sport itself.

What will bring to the table of the future of NASCAR? No one really knows.

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About the author: Kaycee Nilson has completed her first novel, "Night Falls on Chicago." The first two chapters can be viewed at http://www.KayceeNilson.com.

Besides writing columns for Useless-Knowledge and Speedway Media, Kaycee is currently working on two more novels, "From the Mind of a Vampire", and "I'll Love You Til You Die."

If you have enjoyed what you read, or would like to leave Kaycee a message, please visit her message board at http://www.KayceeNilson.com/Board

Email: Kaycee@kayceenilson.com

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