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Motorsports Toyota joins NASCAR!
75 messages, Last post on Jun 09, 2009 at 6:47 AM
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Replying to: lemko (Jan 27, 2006 7:19 am) The truth in NASCAR is that the fan base is more loyal to the driver than anything else. Jeff Gordon is not going to lose any fans if he goes with Toyota. Some may be shocked, even disappointed, but in the end, NASCAR is more about driver ability than it is about the cars. The cars are "set up" the way they are with the same aerodynamics, restrictor plates, engines (none of which are totally Ford, Chevy, Dodge, or Toyota), etc, to "even the playing field." The saying "There's nothing 'stock' about a stock car" is very true. And the truth is as someone pointed out earlier that the main differences in each model is the paint job and stickers. Driving skills and a fast pit crew are what win races in NASCAR. Additionally, sales of Monte Carlos are not going up if Jimmy Johnson wins at Daytona in a few weeks. People don't buy certain brands because they win races. People do, however, root for certain brands because they already drive them or they prefer that certain brand of car. I think somehow they feel validated in buying a Tundra if it wins the Craftsman Truck series. OTOH, as I said earlier, real NASCAR fans are loyal to their drivers. Why else do you see #8 stickers (Dale, Jr.) in the back window of Ford pickups?  I would also encourage any of you who really want the inside scoop on NASCAR and how it began to visit Daytona. I had an opportunity last year to visit the NASCAR Experience there and to take a tour of the track and to be introduced to some of the history of NASCAR, which is quite interesting. In the very early days (prior to super speedways, high banks, and corporate sponsors), most anyone could drive the family sedan out to the race, run the race in that same car, and perhaps go home a winner. Toyota coming into the "sport" is in keeping with NASCAR's roots, because (and I type this with clenched teeth) no other car nowadays epitomizes "family sedan" more than a Toyota Camry. --I can't believe I just admitted that. 
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...Richard Petty went from Plymouths to Pontiacs and this is when NASCAR racers were closer to actual production models. His father Lee Petty raced Oldsmobiles. Bobby Allison used to race AMC Matadors then went to Buick in the '80s. A real shock would probably be Dale Earnhardt Jr. driving a Toyota. I'd have loved to seen a NASCAR race when it was closer to its good 'ole boy moonshine runner days. I could imagine what it would be like seeing Olds Rocket 88s racing Twin H-Power Hudson Hornets! |
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Do you think a REAL stock car series would fly? Where the only restriction would be that the car in the race had to be available as a production model so that there really might be bragging rights to be had? 
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Replying to: pf_flyer (Jan 27, 2006 10:42 am) |
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Replying to: pf_flyer (Jan 27, 2006 10:42 am) That describes "autocross", which doesn't have much of a fan base. (Regular street cars with better belts and roll cages.) Seems a bit like soccer in the US -- people like to play it, but not watch pro's doing it. But why that is, I don't really know, maybe it could be marketed and promoted. Group B racing used to be somewhat like this -- it's what led to the Porsche 959 and Cosworth Fords in the UK, among others, because 200 cars had to be sold. I'm not a big racing fan, so I don't know why this was scrapped, but I would have thought that it could be a great test bed for new technology. What was originally in the 959 ended up in later 911's, for one.
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Replying to: socala4 (Jan 27, 2006 11:33 am) Nope, autocross won't ever fly as a spectator sport in this country for one of the main reasons rallying doesn't have a huge following: Americans want to see competition (head to head competition) between drivers. Not competition against a stop watch. For the most part, it ISN'T about advancing technology so the cars go faster and faster; fans want to see close racing. There are two ways one can view autoracing: It's either a competition to see which machine can go fastest (in which case fans like to see individual vehicles on the raw edge, racing against the clock, or with the lead vehicle 10-15-20 seconds ahead of their rivals). Fans of this type of racing are excited by huge numbers (mph, leads, quickest time, etc.) This type of racing is essentially man/machine vs. the race course. OR they want to see very close head to head racing where guys are fighting each other all over the track and that extremely minor miscues result in PASSES. Fans of this type of racing are excited by numbers of passes, number of drivers who can win, how very minor changes in track condition/car setup can make an early frontrunner struggle late in a race or allow a team which struggled early to be strong at the end. This type of racing is man/machine vs. OTHER man/machine. Are the speeds lower in NASCAR? Sure. Is the technology archaic? Absolutely. But, because the cars are so evenly matched, it makes the races much more exciting for the spectators. |
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Replying to: pf_flyer (Jan 27, 2006 10:42 am) I don't know about a series, but if you had a race that, as you said, had no restrictions so that any Tom, Dick, or Harry could race, then I think you'd see a great interest in it. They could start with qualifying races leading up to the big one. As a Mississippian who has lived in the Deep South all my life, I can tell you for a fact that there are plenty of people who would jump at the chance to run their brand spanking new car (regardless of model) at Talladega if they had the chance - and they're not all toothless rednecks that go by two names like JimBob or BennyEarl. Many of them have more money than sense and they'd enter just to see if they have the right stuff. Like I said, I don't know about a series, but I believe millions would tune in to see a bunch of average Joes run at Daytona or Talladega. It's one of those opportunities for the working man (or woman) to live vicariously through their neighbor. And for all those who drive whatever car wins to have bragging rights. And besides all that, just think of how much money it would generate. The bodywork alone from all those amateurs who wreck their cars would no doubt reach the millions of dollars. You know the more I write about this the more I like the idea. Anybody want to sponsor my VW? 
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Replying to: jefferyg (Jan 27, 2006 8:56 am) IMO NASCAR expands its fan base a lot by bringing Toyota on board. When Honda, Nissan and Hyundai follow Toyota, NASCAR will gain even more fans. |
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Replying to: pf_flyer (Jan 27, 2006 10:42 am) (In rallying, Group N - I think that's the designation - is stock plus skid plates and a couple of minor other mods. The STi and Evo exist to satisfy that homologation.) I can see the use of NASCAR advertising, but I don't think it's worth the money they put into it.
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Replying to: 1racefan (Jan 27, 2006 6:15 am) i was more thinking about the dollars put up as a sponsor. |
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