Tony "Toy" Stewart

[scottycards]

Gibbs Racing will run Toyotas next year.

Wow. :eek:

[CSP]

Kyle Busch will also drive for JGR in 2008, which I find interesting. I've always thought that there's nobody that Tony would like to put in the wall more than Kyle Busch. Should be interesting to see what kind of team dynamics there are with Kyle on board.

[scottycards]

Same goes for Gordon and Dale Jr. While there is no hatred between the two, it's always been good, tough competition.

I don't think Stewart ever really holds a grudge against anyone, but if he doesn't win, he's all pi$$ed off at someone who did him wrong, it seems. He's a wicked tough competitor, and quite a whiner when he doesn't get his way. Basically, he works every angle to his max advantage..........so I gotta hand it to him, although I can't stand the guy.

But Toyota? Their committment to racing is amazing. What a genius marketing move. All those rednecks who swear by the big 3?

I worked for a time with a company who did a Busch series sponsorship, and I got to manage it. The numbers for fan brand loyalty with NASCAR are nothing short of unbelieveable.

Things like: all other things equal- if you're a NASCAR fan, and you're going to buy dish soap, for instance- you are at least 80% more likely to buy a NASCAR associated brand (even if it's NOT your driver!) over one that is non-NASCAR affiliated.

The marketing pull and fan loyalty to NASCAR sponsors within the fan base is mind-boggling.

Toyota will sell a bunch of cars as a result of this. As they say- win on Sunday, sell on Monday.

[BurbLover]

Chevy, Dodge, Ford, Toyota....All it is is an emblem on th ecar. With the Car of Tomorrow, they are virtually the same no matter what brand.

I do enjoy NASCAR, but this is just more more reason I really like the grass roots dirt track racing.

[starbreaker666]

Chevy, Dodge, Ford, Toyota....All it is is an emblem on th ecar. With the Car of Tomorrow, they are virtually the same no matter what brand.

I do enjoy NASCAR, but this is just more more reason I really like the grass roots dirt track racing.


Agree.



That being said though Toyaota with this move to Gibbs(which I heard about over 6 months ago) puts them as serious chase contenders for next year. Gibbs is a top flight team with top flight resources that poor Mikey does not have over at MWR. And as far marketing, sadly, i'm a ad exec wet dream. Most everything I buy is based on who is the drive on the cover.../sigh Drives poor wifey nuts. "oh hun we need to get this cereal because it has <insert driver> on the front and I can order his hotwheels car."

[CLYDE]

It will just give tony something else to be a crybaby about.:shrug:
I still dont feel that toyota should be in nascar, I dont care where they are built. And I have lost any respect I had for the drivers that have switched to them.:mad:

[BurbLover]

And I have lost any respect I had for the drivers that have switched to them.:mad:

Not sure this is fair. SOme drivers (including Tony) didn't have much say. They are under contract and the team chose to go that way. This may not be the case for Mikey who chose to go over, as did Jarrett when he switched.

[Jeffro600]

It will just give tony something else to be a crybaby about.:shrug:
I still dont feel that toyota should be in nascar, I dont care where they are built. And I have lost any respect I had for the drivers that have switched to them.:mad:

Why so? Toyotas are more american made than most of the "American" brands are nowdays!!

[CLYDE]

Not sure this is fair. SOme drivers (including Tony) didn't have much say. They are under contract and the team chose to go that way. This may not be the case for Mikey who chose to go over, as did Jarrett when he switched.
I did mean those that made the choice to go, but I still dont like tony stewart no matter what he drives:flipoff2:

As for the American made thing,, I dont care how ya justify it, toyota is not an american company and the profits are still going to Japan, and still draining money out of our economy. I have nothing against the japanese as a people, but I have a huge aversion to japanese corporations, I was brought up by a generation that fought to keep the Japanese out, and I still see them taking by commercial means, what they couldnt do by force 60 years ago. I am not going to play the holier than thou thing, I own some japanese products, but when I have a choice, which isnt as often anymore as it once was, I will choose the American made product, over a japanese made product everytime. As for toyota in Nascar,, well thats just wrong no matter how ya slice it. :thumbsdown:

[oleblue]

wonder if Toyota will have better luck in NASCAR than Nissan did in IRL.

[Jeffro600]

Probably only a matter of time till Nissan trys their hand at Nascar too. I think toyotas there to stay.