JGR + Toyota = Turmoil?

It is now official that Joe Gibbs Racing and Toyota will be joining forces in 2008. What does it all mean? Your guess is as good as mine. I have received numberous comments, both positive and negative, about this merger and all I can say is, it is what it is. Toyota will definitely be the big gainer in this merger due to the fact they will get guaranteed starting spots next year in the Top 35. JGR is the one that will give Toyota that added boost they have been looking for in Nextel.

I know alot of you fans out there really really hate the idea of Toyota coming into the Cup series. We all have our roots in America and back the makes of Chevy, Ford, and Dodge but remember that all those cars are made outside of the US while Toyota is stationed here in the US, giving much needed jobs to people out there. NASCAR has always been tied in with the major US auto makers but lets face it, Toyota is here to stay.

You all can bash me or curse at me or do whatever, I am just stating my opinion. Heck, I even own a 2006 Nissan Altima 3.5 SE but I will say this, I have not had ONE problem with this car except for the routine maintenance. I have owned 2 GM cars and I will not even go into how many times they were in the shop. Makers like Nissan, Toyota, and Lexus have it figured out, it is all about quality and not quantity. It is about pride and professionalism that goes into making their cars.

I really don't care what manufacturer is out there racing, all the cars look pretty much the same, it is just the sheer excitement of watching the race that I will always enjoy. Isn't that what it is all about, enjoying the sport but there will always be people out there that still have ill feelings about Toyota and threaten to stop watching the races. Reading back, I saw column after column about how high ticket prices are for the races but you know what, people still pay the prices, I know I have, I will be the first one to admit it.

Let's just enjoy the sport. That is my opinion and I am sticking to it.

I am sure I will hear a bunch of flack over this but if you are going to comment negative on it, please try not to use the harsh language, it really is not necessary.

Should NASCAR take lessons from the DMV?

I have recently read numerous articles about the inspection process that the teams have to go through before they can put their cars on the track and I must say that NASCAR needs to re-evaluate their program. The biggest issue is how the inspections are conducted by order of point standings. Is this fair? Does it mean that the drivers sitting 19th, 34th, or even 45th in points should have equal time on the track as the driver sitting 1st in points? Heck yes!!! As much as NASCAR says it is fair with their rules, this is one rule that needs to be put through the House of NASCAR and revamped. Come on, if the DMV can move vehicles like clockwork through their inspections, don’t you think NASCAR could do the same? Heck, at least NASCAR doesn’t have to worry about the alignment of the headlights.

All cars should be inspected first before anyone gets out on the track for practice. The teams sitting lower in the points are losing valuable practice time while the top teams are taking advantage of the situation. If a car does not make it through inspection the first time, well that is the teams fault and so they should wait but that should not be the case if you make it the first time. Does this mean that NASCAR would have to start earlier in the day for the inspections? Oh my gosh, it may cut into their sleep time. Give me a break, these inspectors are more then likely making big bucks for what they are doing so who cares if they have to start early. The teams that are really hurting are the ones that are just starting out like the Toyota teams. Okay, we all know that the teams get to come to certain tracks and test well that is what it is, testing. They take back to their shops what they learned from their testing to apply for the upcoming race. Well things can change with track conditions and things need to be looked at but if these teams are not getting the time required, i.e. because of the inspection process, is that really fair?

This is an issue that fans really don’t care about but come on now, lets be fair to all the teams. Being a diehard fan of the sport, it is just my opinion that NASCAR really needs to take a hard look into this problem and yes I call it a problem. NASCAR would probably come back and say it is an inconvenience. Typical answer from the office.

Can Toyota Make It?

Well it has been two races now for Toyota and it is still really too early to tell if they will make it in the Cup Series. They are still compiling data and taking lessons learned from the races back to the shops. It has been difficult for them due to all the teams with the exception of Bill Davis do not have any owner points and are sitting on the outside looking in. Two teams really hit hard is that of A.J. Allmendinger of Team Red Bull and Jeremy Mayfield of the #36 which have failed to make the first two races putting them in a really deep hole which will be almost impossible to climb out of.

We all knew this would be a very steep learning curve but give these teams time to find their stroke. Look at Brian Vickers with his 10th place finish at the Auto Club 500. Dave Blaney was on his way to a great finish when his oil pump belt fell off. All the teams are feeling the hardship, it was to be expected. Of course, everyone wants to finish the race and even bring home the checker flag but I believe it will take a lot more time before Toyota brings that flag home in the Cup Series.

Now, if you take a look in the Busch series, well Toyota is doing rather well. Dave Blaney is showing that the Camry has the horsepower to drive to the front and the #99 Aaron's Dream machine is doing much of the same.

There are plenty of fans out there that despise Toyota being in the Cup series. Heck even people in the garage do not like the idea. Jack Roush was even stated as saying he can not wait to hand Toyota their head on the track. This comes from a man with a 5-car team that had to reach out to a baseball team for co-ownership. I just feel bad for the drivers when they have to thank the sponsors of the car...Like Matt Kenseth..."Yes, the Roush-Fenway-Red Sox-Dewalt Ford Fusion ran really well tonight."

Give Toyota a break. You don't see fans bashing the truck series but of course we are not talking about the top level of racing.

Just my opinion.