Print Español

NASCAR - Toyota Racing

History of NASCAR

The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) is the largest sanctioning body of motorsports in the United States. The three largest racing series sanctioned by NASCAR are the Sprint Cup, the Nationwide Series and the Craftsman Truck Series. It also oversees NASCAR Local Racing, the Whelen Modified Tour, and the Whelen All-American Series. NASCAR sanctions over 1,500 races at over 100 tracks in 39 states, Canada, and Mexico. From 1996 to 1998, NASCAR held exhibition races in Japan and an exhibition race in Australia in 1988.

With roots as regional entertainment in the Southeastern U.S., NASCAR has grown to become the second-most popular professional sport in terms of television ratings inside the U.S., ranking behind only the National Football League.[1] Internationally, NASCAR races are broadcast in over 150 countries. It holds 17 of the top 20 attended sporting events in the U.S.,1 and has 75 million fans[1] who purchase over $3 billion in annual licensed product sales. These fans are considered the most brand-loyal in all of sports and as a result, Fortune 500 companies sponsor NASCAR more than any other governing body. In 2007 NASCAR made a profit of just under $3 billion, and was the second richest motorsport (Formula One was first).

NASCAR's headquarters are located in Daytona Beach, Florida, although it also maintains offices in four North Carolina cities: Charlotte, Mooresville, Concord, and Conover. Regional offices are also located in New York City, Los Angeles, Arkansas, and international offices in Mexico City and Toronto. Additionally, owing to its southern roots, all but a handful of NASCAR teams are still based in North Carolina, especially near Charlotte. Cities in North Carolina that are home to NASCAR teams include: Charlotte, Mooresville, Concord, Statesville, Huntersville, Cornelius, Welcome, Wilkesboro, Kernersville, Randleman, Greensboro, High Point, Harrisburg, and Kannapolis.



Toyota Racing in NASCAR

NASCAR and Toyota announced Monday the manufacturer's plans to expand its racing program by competing in the Nextel Cup and Busch series starting in 2007, fielding the Camry model.

The expansion will follow three years of Toyota competing in the Craftsman Truck Series, and will result in all three of NASCAR's national series having four manufacturers competing, as Toyota will join Chevrolet, Dodge and Ford.

NASCAR welcomes Toyota to the greatest auto racing in the world,' said NASCAR chairman and CEO Brian France, who made the announcement at NASCAR's Research and Development Center in Concord, N.C.

Toyota's entry into the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series and the NASCAR Busch Series is good for drivers, teams and the fans. This move provides for even more intense competition on the track between drivers and manufacturers, which will provide more excitement and fan interest. Toyota's entry also provides more options for drivers and teams, which will increase the competition between manufacturers.'

It's a great pleasure to announce Toyota's entry into the NASCAR Nextel Cup and NASCAR Busch Series with the Toyota Camry,' said Dave Illingworth, senior vice president and chief planning and administrative officer for Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.

Next year, 2007, will be a special year for Toyota in more ways than one. Toyota will be celebrating its 50th anniversary in the United States, and we will be joining the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series, America's premier racing series.

Toyota has been an important part of the U.S. motorsports community for almost 25 years. We've competed and won in different series and on tracks across America. Toyota drivers and teams have won championships in a variety of different series. But, if you want to compete against the best in America, that means NASCAR.

We look forward to February of 2007 when the green flag waves to start the Daytona 500 and the starting lineup features the Toyota Camry.'

Ellingworth, who joined France in making the announcement, said more information -- regarding possible sponsor and driver lineups -- will be released Tuesday night, during a media gathering at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Concord.

This year, Toyota is celebrating its 24th year of participation in American professional auto racing. Toyota drivers and teams have won championships in IMSA, CART, IRL and off-road racing. They have won such historic events as the Rolex 24 at Daytona, the 12 Hours of Sebring, the Baja 1000 and the Indianapolis 500.

Toyota moved into NASCAR in 2000, fielding the Celica model in the Goody's Dash Series. The following season, Robert Huffman gave Toyota its first NASCAR victory, at Kentucky Speedway. In 2003, Huffman gave Toyota its first NASCAR championship by capturing the Goody's Dash title.

In 2004, Toyota entered the Truck Series with the Tundra -- in the process becoming the first new manufacturer in one of NASCAR's top series in more than 50 years. In two seasons of Truck competition, Tundra drivers have recorded 13 victories and 18 poles.

Toyota Wins NASCAR Race - First foreign car to win a race since 1954

It has been a while, quite a while actually, but it seems that the Big 3 domination of the NASCAR Series has finally been broken. For the first time in 54 years, a non-American car has won an official NASCAR race. Not surprisingly, the honor goes to Toyota.

Car number 18 piloted by 22 year-old Kyle Busch, competing for the Siemens PLM Software sponsored Joe Gibbs Racing team, came in second place on the Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 2. On March 9 he managed to capture the coveted first place finish at the Kobalt Tools 500 in Atlanta, writing history as both the youngest driver to win in Atlanta and giving Toyota their first NASCAR win.

The win has also put Kyle Busch in the leading position after four races with 665 points, 73 points clear of Greg Biffle, thanks to one pole position, one win and three top 5 finishes. Could it really be that Toyota Motor Sales VP of Motorsports Jim Aust's prediction will come true?

"Siemens PLM Software congratulates the race teams for their dominant performance and Toyota for its historic first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race win," said Dave Shirk, executive vice president of Global Marketing for Siemens PLM Software.