Posted on 06/04/2003 9:45:23 AM PDT by Provost-Marshal
It's Time To Tell NASCAR How We Feel About Toyota
By Denise Thompson
June 4, 2003
I cannot believe what I have been hearing, and reading.
Much to the dismay of some fans, it looks like Toyota is going to get the chance to compete in the American sport of NASCAR.
I belong to several NASCAR fans private groups online and can honestly say that the majority of these fans are not just in shock at this news, but are as mad as Tony Stewart and his crew chief, Greg Zippadeli, were when NASCAR confiscated Stewart's Home Depot Chevrolet at Texas Motor Speedway earlier in April. Now it's come to light that NASCAR has given that car to the Japanese to help them produce a Toyota race car.
However, NASCAR has denied that Stewart's car was ever given to anyone and stated that the car is still in the R & D shop. If what NASCAR says is true, then why is Stewart and Zippadeli upset with NASCAR?
There are two reasons why most of the fans don't want to see Toyota in NASCAR.
The first reason: During World War II, not only did some of these fans lose a grandfather, husband, dad, uncle, brother, cousin and or a dear friend, while other fans may have a loved one that is or was permanently injured, as losing their eye sight or even a limb if not two, during the sneak attack on our American troops, that fateful day on December 7, 1941 known as "The Attack at Pearl Harbor." The Japanese brutally killed our boys on the march to Bataan, on Mount Suribachi in Iwo Jima, as well as the P.O.W. camps, our American soldiers were brutally murdered and dismembered. It's not that we Americans hold a grudge, it's just the Japanese have never apologized to the United States for any of these cowardly acts.
Don't get me wrong, we realize that the Dodge's are now a German vehicle (Daimler owns 51% while Chrysler owns 49%), and we don't mind having foreign cars in NASCAR such as the Dodge, but it was first an American manufactured vehicle. The fans just don't want to see any foreign made cars in NASCAR.
Secondly: Traditionally this sport was based in the south and has traveled throughout the United States. Drivers like Ned Jarrett, Lee Petty, Ralph Earnhardt and Curtis Turner, just to mention a few, began this sport on the beaches of Florida and North Carolina, as well as dirt tracks in North Carolina. This sport has been passed from generation to generations of American families. What happened to the tradition of this sport? This is what the fans are asking. Why does Mike Helton or even Bill France have the right to change that? Looking at the whole picture, if Toyota is allowed to race in NASCAR, what's next? Are we going to open the door to Italy, France, Russia, China, or the rest of the world. Where does it end? Does this sport go International? Will we be actively looking for foreign drivers? Will NASCAR be building tracks in other countries?
No longer will NASCAR be an American sport. Like so many other things we have lost, it's time for the fans to stand up and fight for this by letting NASCAR know how we feel about it.
I am speaking on behalf of the majority of the NASCAR fans, We do not want Toyota or any other foreign made car in the sport of NASCAR. We want to keep the tradition and we want to keep NASCAR the way it is right now, today.
Many fans have fallen in love with the sport. Don't let NASCAR or anyone else take it away from us. You can contact NASCAR at the following address:
NASCAR 1801 W. International Speedway Blvd. Daytona Beach, Florida 32114
O'what a feeling!
As far as "American" cars, it's impossible for me to track just what part of them are American anymore. Between plants being outsourced to Mexico and Canada or some other forsaken country, who knows where it's really from. Most are garbage anyway, Ford sticking out in my mind recently. Many Japanese brands are assembled here in the states now, most likely to evade further expense and taxes.
I don't know what the story is behind NASCAR, but if it's a "private party" they should permit who they want and no one else should have a say.
Welcome to Talledega guys! May the best car win!
That said, having Toyota in NASCAR would give me another car to root against beside Chevy. Kinda like rooting against a villain in the movies or the "masked" wrestler in the WWE.
BTW. Recently looked at buying a Toyota Sequoia, full-size SUV.
It is made in Indiana.
I am looking for SUV's that have a GVW over 6000 lbs. The new tax law says it can be written off entirely in the first 12 months?
And that is why I rarely watch NASCAR anymore. It's almost become a poser sport what with the flashy jacjets and such. Remember Maria Carey in that (insulting and gawdawful to me) poser driver's suit at Daytona this year?
I hate to see Toyota enter but like you said, they ain't stock cars anymore.
Or moonrunner's cars to be more precise.
prisoner6
When Toyota had a potentially similar problem (engine oil "sludge"), they actually sent me a letter explaining it in English, not lawyerspeak.
If American auto companies want to play the lying game, they can bark at the moon.
LOL.
Nice to hear that ---- we're looking a a truck for our son, and are wavering between a Ford Ranger and a Toyota...
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