12/21/24
May 13, 2006
Jarrett Driving a Toyota next year - Official: Dale Jarrett is officially Driving a Toyota in 2007 which means 2006 will be his last year with Robert Yates.
posted by houston2006 to auto racing at 08:02 PM - 22 comments
NASACR will have a common template for all brands including Toyota. The only difference will be the emblem on the front of the car and the front end itself. Basically, NASCAR has turned into a follow the leader sport. Is there real racing going on anymore? If you want to see real racing, head to your local track.
posted by usroute17 at 09:02 PM on May 13, 2006
Steven Leicht - UPS or CitiFinancial ? Elliott Sadler - M&M's 2006 Drivers for Yates ?
posted by houston2006 at 10:20 PM on May 13, 2006
TORA,TORA,TORA
posted by bruinboy at 10:48 PM on May 13, 2006
It's sad to see such good drivers desert such good fans. It's sad to see a great sport resort to all equal. Nascar was built on "Let's build the best, fastest, slickest car in the country." Too bad we got away from that. Nascar needs to run Stock Body configurations, lots of weight, lots of spoiler and all the horsepower an engine builder can make.
posted by rbabs3 at 10:59 PM on May 13, 2006
NASCAR needs to run stock cars like they did in the 50's and 60's. Put a roll cage in 'em and run stock motors with OEM parts available to everyone, and only the engine that comes in the car available to the public.
posted by bkennamer at 08:26 AM on May 14, 2006
yall are full of it
posted by kckurtbusch at 11:47 AM on May 14, 2006
"NASCAR needs to run stock cars like they did in the 50's and 60's. Put a roll cage in 'em and run stock motors with OEM parts available to everyone, and only the engine that comes in the car available to the public." Seconded.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 12:05 PM on May 14, 2006
The drivers didn't abandon their fans. Believe it or not, they have to do what is in their best interest. This is their job. I think that they are still building the slickest fastest cars in the country. just like everything else, it has evolved. I race a late model dirt car. I have seen these things take wholesale changes from what they were when they first started out. I can tell you from personal experience that this is a good thing. I don't always agree with some of the changes that are made to Nascar, but I still feel that it is still the best sport on the planet.
posted by latemodelrocket at 12:10 PM on May 14, 2006
Why don't we just call it the NASCAR Nextel IROC series because that's what it has turned into with the common template. What happened to run what you brung?
posted by usroute17 at 12:17 PM on May 14, 2006
How do you say "sellout" in Japanese? I'm not a big fan of bringing in any foreign-made vehicle to NASCAR. Maybe that's because I work for one of the Big Three, and things suck right now.
posted by wingnut4life at 02:47 PM on May 14, 2006
how does a post get deleted for saying that toyota will do well next year?????? whoever controls whether a post stays or goes is a little trigger happy and egocentric. my post was on point and had something to add. GO TOYOTA!
posted by tommybiden at 04:01 PM on May 14, 2006
As I write this, Dale Jarrett is standing in the room with me. At least a life-sized cutout of Dale Jarrett is standing here with me while I write and consider a bonfire. We have been big fans if his since long before he picked up the Yates ride. No more! Yet, when you consider the amount of money Toyota offered him to switch, I can't say that anyone of us would not do exactly as he has done. I can be corrected maybe, but I think he is getting $12 million. Would you drive for Osama Bin Laden? Having been involved with NASCAR and others over the years as driver, builder, owner, gas man, etc., I have seen all the changes, but allowing foreign cars to compete is not new. Jaguar raced in the fifties and won, and that was long before Ford took ownership. I do, however, understand the concern for Toyota coming into NASCAR. They come with money and that speaks louder than 43 high-compression V8s firing in unison. I predict NASCARs demise equal to IRLs (the forthcoming merger with Kalkhoven, et al is the effect) since you and I are fickle as fans. Daimler-Chrysler is a foreign company. The money that they threw toward several teams (Penske, for example, at $20 million to switch from Ford to Dodge) is chicken feed compared to what Toyota is capable of putting on various tables. Furthermore, since all the cars are 1996 Ford Thunderbirds with a different front facia and sticker kit, all that is needed for Toyota to develop is the motor, and that is done ... by Toyota engineers in Toyota facilities. Ford and GM have had to rely upon an advanced version of the shade-tree mechanic to modify their street engines to be worthy of competition. No, I don't think NASCAR should disallow foreign vehicles. Instead, I think Ford and GM should pull out their total involvement, inasmuch as the playing field is not an even playing field. Ford and GM made NASCAR and I believe they can unmake it. And, they should!
posted by Bud Lang at 04:04 PM on May 14, 2006
I think there are only three teams running Fords ( Yates, Roush, & the Wood Brothers). It amounts to only 7 drivers running Fords. Ford might as well pull out with only 7 drivers running, so in any race with only 7 drivers running Fords, 36 drivers are running Chevy or Dodge.
posted by usroute17 at 04:16 PM on May 14, 2006
I think that Toyota will bring a ton of excitement to NASCAR. I will still be a Chevy fan, but will definately embrace any new competition (foreign or domestic). Funny how these guys calling Dale Jarret and Michael Waltrip sellouts, are the same guys who probably populate their homes with tons of Chinese and Japanese housewares. I am sure they wouldn't turn down a free beer just because it was foreign... come to think of it, they probably wouldn't turn down ANY beer.. under ANY circumstance.
posted by jmarkc4 at 05:29 PM on May 14, 2006
How is a Ford built in Canada or a Chevy built in Mexico more of an American car than a Toyota built in Kentucky? Because the CEO and the CFO who draw the big pay are from the U.S. or because the workers making $3.75 an hour work for an American Co.. As far as Toyota working out of there factory and Ford and Chevy having to "rely upon an advanced version of of the shade tree mechanic" whos fault is that. No one is stopping Ford or GM from starting a factory team, or ten of em if they want to. When the comppetition gets tough ya step up or go away. Stop the crying, dry your eyes and get to work so ya can beat em.
posted by CB900 at 06:36 PM on May 14, 2006
don't worry you won't see any of those guys in victory lane anytime soon.i love dale and mikey,but toyota should have went with some young guns.
posted by kckurtbusch at 08:30 PM on May 14, 2006
First of all, let me start by saying that I am, and always have been, a Ford fan. That being said, when Toyota started in the truck series, they made the other makes step up there game. the way that toyota runs their program is very smart. All of the Toyota teams share information with each other. Not just the crew chiefs from the same owner. Somewhere along the line, you have to put faith in your driver. It turns out that there are quite a few that have some talent. When you put that many crew chiefs in the same room giving Toyota their input, great things seem to come out of that room. Look what they did in the truck series. If that means that all the other teams are going to have to step up their games, then so be it. I'm all about buying American manufactured goods. I turns out Toyota builds quite a few cars here too.
posted by latemodelrocket at 08:40 PM on May 14, 2006
Toyota took Jarrett because of his Champions provisionals. Just as Dodge did with Bill Elliott. They are guaranteed to make the race no matter what he runs during qualifying. Hopefully, they will be in the top 35 in points after the first 5 races and will be guaranteed a spot in the race.
posted by dbt302 at 10:01 PM on May 14, 2006
I sounds to me like NASCAR is a pretty good reflection of the auto industry in general. Ford and Chevy fans complaining about competition from the Japanese?? Here's an idea for the big three, how about meeting them head-on and showing them we can compete, rather than whine and throw in the towel. In case you've been living on another planet, Toyota is ALSO an American manufacturer, building most of their cars here with American workers and a high percentage of American-made parts. Because the company is based in Japan they don't get to play too??? Stupid. Let 'em race and beat them on the track, and it might go a long way toward building brand loyality at the dealer. Give up and complain about competition and expect to get run over by it. And in case you think it will be "years" before Toyota is winning races, remember how little time it took Honda to win CART races and Toyota to win IRL and NCTS races. I guarantee teams like DEI, Gibbs, Penske and Roush are not going to shy away from competition, lets hope their manufacturers don't either.
posted by eccsport78 at 12:45 AM on May 15, 2006
Being a NASCAR fan for longer than I care to admit, there are sooo many things that are driving me away from NASCAR. Foreign makes do not bother me. COT(cars of tomorrow), speed limits on pit road, too aggressive driving by young drivers from dirt tracks where speeds are slower, racing on Mother's Day and Easter weekends, taking the races away from the tracks that built the sport, and many more. I still check the standings and will attend the Brickyard some but no more glued to the radio on Sunday afternoon, listening through all the static, to hear if Roberts, Yarbrough, Lund, Jarrett, Petty, Pearson, or Allison won. The Frances are looking for more and more MONEY. Maybe time to check out ARCA.
posted by coach at 07:49 AM on May 15, 2006
There is no such thing as a national product anymore. GM, Ford, Toyota, Hyundai, etc. - the majority of cars have parts manufacturered in over 40 different countries. It's a myth propogated by the big three to promote sales. It just doesn't exist anymore. I'm not much of a NASCAR fan, but my brother in law is - have to say that some of you guys make some really interesting points on the finer subtleties that this sport offers. I don't know much, but I'm game for learning more.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 08:52 AM on May 15, 2006
No different than any other "main" sport...free agency...I've always liked both Jarrett & "Mikey"...it's going to be hard next season with a brand new operation...but Toyota is not going to cut any corners...I doubt they can make the chase next year...