Do you think the COT will help the Toyota's qualify at Bristol?

Question

It's a whole new car for everybody and on a short track too.
So do you think it will atleast level the field or is Toyota too short on horsepower? .......Think They have a shot?
I'm a Chevy fan with an open mind.

Answer 1

yes it possibly could i heard that the toyota teams only really worked on the COT program so they would not waste technology on a car that would not be around after this year so i think the toyotas will show the real hand they are playing with this weekend and i gotta admit they may be better than what we have seen all year i hope not but they could do really well with the COT cars

Answer 2

Everyone seems to think the playing field will level out with the COT. (nascar.com)

But the Toyotas do not have any speed, even at Bristol, horsepower helps.

The next 2 races are the best chance Toyota has to field all teams, after that going to get worse, DJ almost out of champ provisionals and some good teams behind that will move into the top 35.

Strongly feel this was a rushed effort by Toyota, with engineers, drivers, crew chiefs that have underachieved.

Answer 3

That's a really great question. I thnk Toyota has done a good job getting in the races, but there not getting good qualifiying times. Toyota has alot of work to do in my opinion before they will be right up there. What was interesting is that Dale Jerret got the pole with a toyota in the bud shootout. But fell to the back. So will the COT help toyota? I think to a degree it will. But again, I also think toyota has still alot of work to do before they can really run with the big boys. And I'm a Chevy fan too. Jeff Gordon fan here.

Answer 4

It couldn't really hurt them by the start of their season. It will help. All off the cars are new to the COT and this could help level out the playing field. But the Toyotas still have no chance. It will take a while before they become competitive at all. But we do get to see how they will do on a short track.

Answer 5

Toyota has had a power problem all year. Dale Jarrett has had to use 4 champion provisionals to qualify for the 4 races. Waltrip has run in only one race. The COT is more of a body design and Toyota has a problem with power. Plus, their drivers aren't among the Top 25 in NASCAR.

Answer 6

It may help them. Toyota's biggest problem is that they are going up against all well funded teams. It is not the Chad Chaffin/Kevin Lepage type drivers that are beating them (nothing against the drivers, just their equipment is subpar). They are going up against Marlin, Nemechek, Menard, etc... All of those come from established teams with a lot of money (Ginn recently has money, which has improved them tremendously). The competition for the 8 spots is just too tough. After next week, the only Toyota driver likely to be in the top-35 is Dale Jarrett, and he will not stay there. They have their work cut out for them. It will, however, get easier as the season goes on. Got to remember that only one of these teams are not brand-new!

Answer 7

Interesting points of view on why Toyota sucks so much, too bad its for the most part wrong. Toyota hasnt been in races this season because of not being in the top 35 in points, not because they arent in the top 43 in qualifying speed. I think if Nascar didnt let the top 35 in points into races automatically we would be talking about how good Toyota has done, instead of how they cant qualify. This weekend is going to see at least 5 Toyotas in the show.

Vickers
Jarrett
Blaney
Reutimann
Allmendinger

I think they finally get some cars in the show, and are allowed to show what they can do. Unless a Roush car wrecks them all out like has happened this year at almost every race.

Answer 8

At Bristol it will be much more up to the driver and a lot less about the equipment. That is true there whether it's with the COT or not. When you get to the downforce tracks with the COT (in the future) equipment will be just as important as it is now. The larger teams with more money for research and development will be the same ones dominating as they do now.

Answer 9

i honestly think that there are more problems with the whole toyota cup racing program than they admit. just look at who they have as drivers and look at who has been in the races. blaney and jarrett are the only toyotas to make every race. allmendinger and mayfield have yet to make it in, waltrip only made the 500, reutimann has missed one or two. also look at where toyotas ar efinishing. for the most part back of the pack. also look at the big wreck blaney caused at daytona. if i was to start a team i would go with chevy, ford, or dodge. all three are way more organized than toyota. also look at who toyota has as drivers. for the most part washed up or very inexperienced. jarrett is the only toyota in the top 35 right now. that could change after bristol. it could very well end up being one or no toyotas in some races. jarrett has used for of his total of 6 provisionals. he has two more to go. so either he needs to qualify on speed or he will go home. my guess is after qualifying for bristol he will only have one provisional left. also look at a couple of other facts: almost every time a red bull car is in a race it gets totaled. the red bull team right now has at least two cars from dayton wrecked, atlanta, and has missed the show at vegas. waltrip's cars have been wreckeed in the following races: daytona, california, and had only jarrett in the field at vegas and atlanta

Answer 10

If Michael Waltrip can't make the field at Bristol, he may as well shrink the operation to a one-car operation with David as the only driver.