Why is Toyota in NASACAR ?

Question

I thought that it was the great American sport

Answer 1

If you're a traditionalist who thinks American stock-car racing should be solely the realm of Detroit manufacturers, then you're precisely the type person Toyota has come courting.

By racing in the most American of motor sports, Toyota wants to demonstrate it really is more American, in some respects, than the traditional brands in Cup.

Toyota's Camry model, 'of the current cars that are racing, is the only one that's assembled [in its street version] here in the United States,' says Jim Aust, president of Toyota Racing Development/USA, 'the competitor brands [Ford Fusion, Chevrolet Monte Carlo and Dodge Charger] being [assembled] in Mexico and Canada.'

Toyota employs more than 33,000 Americans at its 11 U.S. assembly plants, and another 115,000 at its dealerships. It claims to generate, directly or indirectly, more than 300,000 U.S. jobs, with an annual U.S. investment of more than $52 billion.

Answer 2

Well, you can say NASCAR sold out, and you're right, the money ultimately does go back to Japan....however, the "American" car manufacturers currently in NASCAR Nextel, soon to be Sprint, Cup have taken thousands of jobs and millions of dollars from the the national and local economies. Here where I live they just opened a new Toyota plant that is doing wonders for the local economy - so I say THANK YOU to Toyota for investing in the USA instead of Mexico or Canada. Go ahead and buy your Mexican Ford or Canadian Chevy - it's still a free country.

Answer 3

I know, I asked the same question a couple of months ago and got the same moronic answers. Wake up, people, just because Toyota's are made here and they sell more cars here doesn't make it an American company or car. The fact of the matter is, when it's all said and done the big money goes back to JAPAN! It's a travesty, another selling out of America and tradition. I never thought I'd live to see the good ol' boys of NASCAR buckle to foreign money.

Answer 4

Well first off Toyota has been in Nascar for a few year now in the Craftsman Truck Series. They are just making the jump to the next level. I see no reason why Toyota does not belong. Yes Toyota is a Foreign automobile company, But most of that parts on the so called "big 3" are not made in the USA. Is it really that big of deal, I don't think it is.

GO COLTS!!!!!!

Answer 5

First of all it's not NASACAR.....it's NASCAR, second they were invited by the France family. The idea of the great American race is still true. More Toyotas are sold in America than any other company.

Answer 6

Because NASCAR is just another advertising vehicle. A way for advertisers to extract money from a certain segment of the population that their marketing people tell them that they need to connect with.
NASCAR has lost it's soul and it's very reason for existence
At one time you could walk into your local Big Three dealer and buy a slightly de-tuned version of the car that you saw racing.
The dealers knew that racing on Sunday means sales on Monday. No more
Do those cars out there look STOCK!!! to you.?
Toyota is in NASCAR because they were allowed in and somebody placed money before country .Sad indeed
Karl Marx once said that when the East hangs the West it will be because a Western banker sold them the rope.

Answer 7

Toyota is one of the elite automobile companies in the United States along with GM, Ford and Diamler Chrysler.

GM, Ford and Diamler Chrysler are in NASCAR which gives them a leg up on Toyota as far as marketing goes, so Toyota decided it was time to get into the greatest marketing sport for automobile companies ever and the rest as they say is history.

Answer 8

cause ford chevy and dodge arent doing there job in selling cars or making them better thats what the imports are doing and the imports are becoming more of americas car than our three. so toyota is in this year and i figure honda will be in a few and nissian right after. i think its great to have many more companys cause it will make the compition level rise.

Answer 9

Well be glad it's not Honda. We all know how fast they get just by putting stickers on them.With all the stickers they put on a NASCAR car the damn things would be untouchable. Just think special rules for Honda limiting the amount of stickers they could use so that the other cars could just be able to compete with them.

Answer 10

Ultimately, the same reason that Dodge, GM, and Ford are in NASCAR: Product Marketing. Toyota would like to increase marketshare in many of the demographic groups and regions where NASCAR has proven to be a very effective marketing tool.