Joe Gibbs Racing to Partner with Toyota for the 2008 NASCAR Season
Toyota is taking a lot of new ground this summer, even in the entrenched American world of NASCAR.
Joe Gibbs Racing has just announced that its three-team lineup will be switching from Chevrolet to Toyota, starting with the 2008 Sprint Cup season. The move is seen as an expected one by NASCAR insiders, who claim that JGR has been spoiling for a larger leadership role with its manufacturing partner; a role that General Motors was reluctant to give.
Though Toyota is no longer an unknown in the world of stock cars, JGR and their roster of Tony Stewart, Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin bring much needed star power and championship potential to the team. JGR president J.D. Gibbs (pictured) believes that Toyota has the metal to match his drivers, saying, “We feel like Toyotas will be very good, good enough to win races and championships.
Comments
Steve
It's not just good, it's great.
... and... here come the hicks!
M. Dillon
No. I don't see a problem with JGR hooking up with Toyota. As far as I am concern,I look at this,as a way for the Big 3 to wake up,and stop acting like,"welfare queens",in regards to coming up with excuses,on why imports are coming into the U.S.;and,after a short period of time,do better better than them.
If these guys don't change direction soon;and,come out with better cars for people to buy;not to mentioned,be able to defend their own turf,in NASCAR,then,the Big 3 really need to look at the option of rolling over,and die.
Rip
change is a good thing!!
Don
Bah! NASCAR's becoming more irrelevant by the minute.
Ducati Minor
I'm with Don. There's nothing "stock" about American stock car racing. JGR's defection to Toyota is sure to arouse the anger of NASCAR diehards. And, as we have seen, Toyota's entry into motorsports has not been a smooth one.
David
I am so tired of bashing of US manufactures. Now here is it happening because Toyota wants to go racing with the big boys. They need JGR more than JGR needed them. In fact, this will put the JGR program back about 3 years and as a result they will lose their top drivers when they can't win the next two years. I guess JGR wants to be just like the Redskins. A very dumb move by JGR, a very smart move by Toyota.
smokyburnout
Honestly, as a fan of the current Gibbs drivers, I think it's a damn good move. Considering how Toyota has managed to score top 10s in Cup this year with, let's face it, garbage teams, it should be easy for them to win with an elite team. Especially when you consider the only major difference between Gibbs' current Impala SS race cars and their new Camrys will be the engine, and TRD has been quick to fix reliability issues with their new motor.
As for losing their drivers, Stewart and Hamlin were both talking about contract extensions during the press conference, so I think they're in it for the long haul.
Toyota has found sucess very quickly in the Craftsman Truck and Busch divisions, so don't doubt that they will be championship contenders in a few years.
But am I going to buy any Toyota NASCAR gear?
Hell no. I'll keep my GM stuff.
Toyota is for Idiots
JGR has just F@#$% Up. I use to think that Joe Gibbs was a class act and he had the drivers to prove it. The first mistake was hiring that Bush Brat, now going to Toyota. What is he thinking. Just typical for NASCRAP.
He has just sold his soul to the DEVIL HIMSELF. I have no respect for anybody that cannot support the good old USA. If you can't support America and her products, Get the Hell out!
Toyota, so easy even an Idiot can own one. Millions do! Including Tony Stewart!
Steve
... case in point!
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