Jack Roush declares war on Toyota in NASCAR
It's not a secret that Jack Roush thinks you should be buying American cars. Likewise, he's not a fan of NASCAR's decision to allow Toyota to race in the Nextel Cup series this season. The motorsports legend and tuner of all things Ford has recently gone on record with some fiery wartime rhetoric saying, "I expect to hand Toyota their head over the short term." He went on to say, "Toyota will not find that the established teams and manufacturers will wither in their path, as has been the case where they have tried to engage elsewhere." Them sounds like fightin' words!The general concern is that Toyota will shore up its three teams with a bankroll that can't be matched by other manufacturers and teams participating in the series. However, as has been pointed out in the past, Toyota is believed to have the biggest budget in F1, yet you don't hear its name on the podium very often with Renault and Ferrari. For Roush's part, he's gone to great lengths to secure additional funding for his NASCAR team, even from Ford which is obviously strapped for cash.
Roush makes a good point, however, that NASCAR's strict limitations on technology means that Toyota's money won't allow it to buy better cars or technology. The real investment in NASCAR is with people and having the bucks to hire the best. But Toyota also knows success in NASCAR is not all about winning, it's about how many billboards, commercials and sponsorships you can slap your logo on. There's little doubt in our minds that Toyota will be successful in that arena.
[Source: Associated Press via Winding Road]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
Sleigh 10:03AM (2/17/2008)
Che & Alain - Both idiots
Jake read your history. Restrictions in place for many reasons - to stop Ford from winning is not one of them
Jack Roush....he is just afraid. Okay lets keep this country peaceful and stop all these pathetic hate rage towards someone/something that is different than us
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DAN 4:06PM (3/29/2008)
I was never a big fan of Jack Roush but he is right, keep Toyota out of Nascar. I was a loyal fan of Joe Gibbs Racing always bought alot of their items, But I will not spend another cent on them, my money is made in America and I will spend it on American items. I do not want any Toyota items in my collection. Now I am a big fan of Jack Roush Racing I respect him for believing in America and keeping Nascar AMERICAN. I have sold my Tony Stewart diecast and threw out all of his shirts, jackets and hats. I had my Tony Stewart special edition Chevy Silverado redone. and I shop at Lowes for all my hardware and tools.
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george 9:58AM (5/11/2008)
Well, I guess Mr. Rousch is eating his words about now, and even some crow. Let's see...it is now May 20, 2008. So far in NASCAR this year....Truck series, 5 races, 3 Toyota wins. Nationwide series, 12 races, 8 Toyota wins (6 in a row), Sprint Cup, 11 races, 4 Toyota wins. That seems to be, out of a total of 28 races, Toyota 15 wins, all the other guys combined, 13. Didn't exactly hand Toyota their head, did they.
george 9:57AM (5/11/2008)
Dan, you poor naive fool. You spend your money on only American made products do you? Better toss out all your clothes then, because likely they were made in China, or some other Asian country using child labor. What kind of TV do you have Dan? Bet you didn't buy a Zenith, the last remaining American manufacturer of TV's until they had to give it up. Your stereo? Try buying McIntosh, totally made in the U.S. and the best there is, but you'd never pay the price. You no doubt have either Japanese or Chinese or Korean made. The dishes you eat off, likely made in China. Your bed sheets, same. You shop at Walmart? Not a thing there made in the U.S.
Give up the routine Dan. It's foolish.
And to all of you who object to Toyota having plants in the U.S. and employing American workers.....and selling to Americans.....bet you have no problem with American companies doing exactly the same thing in foreign countries. Yeah, good old Yankee arrogance. We can do what we want, sell where we want, build where we want, pay slave labor wages...but don't you dare think you can sell here....especially when what you make is better than ours.
alschmidt1943 1:11PM (3/26/2009)
After reading some of these blogs, it's amazing to see how ingnorant so many people are.. Michael writes about the made in america toyotas, hmmmm don't know of one that is MADE IN AMERICA, assembled, yes but none are made in america.. as far as the parts he talks about, 97% of the parts are made in Japan, shipped to warehouses in the us and then shipped to the toyota plants... If he would bother to read the labels on the toyotas he would see it says ASSEMBELED IN AMERICA, not made...as far as the employess... just think, if we bought ameican cars those same employees would be building ameican cars, not japanees...true we do build a lot of vehilces outside the us but all the profit stays here... if you don't like american cars,,, move to japan and make a living there..
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Michael 1:14PM (1/25/2007)
Please do not buy imports:
Ford Fusion made in Mexico
Ford Freestar made in Canada
Ford Crown Vic made in Canada
Ford Edge made in Canada
Please buy american designed and sourced and made:
Toyota Camry made in USA
Toyota Cienna made in USA
Toyota Tundra made in USA
Toyota Tacoma made in USA
Toyota Corolla made in USA
Toyota Sequoia made in USA
Toyota Avalon made in USA
Toyota Solara made in USA
when a car sells for 40,000, 2,000 is profit. that goes to Japan but 38,000 stays in america for wages and parts and production.
When you buy Ford that is imported, you support people in other countries. And since Ford loses money, not even the profit comes to USA.
Support the company that supports U!
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alschmidt1943 1:18PM (3/26/2009)
hope you get a chance to read my little note to you,,
James44 1:16PM (1/25/2007)
Its unethical to support people that dont help themselves. I work very very hard. Never had an easy job in my life. I buy whats made here. When someone invests in this nation, I invest in them.
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porker 1:18PM (1/25/2007)
I have never liked Jack Roush---- until now! NASCAR should never have allowed toyota into the sport.
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Ario 1:22PM (1/25/2007)
"Toyota will not find that the established teams and manufacturers will wither in their path, as has been the case where they have tried to engage elsewhere."
That's wrong. Toyota had been PISS POOR in EVERY category of racing they have ever tried to enter. They're just bad at racing, which should be no surprise, because the only cars they can make are bland appliances made to take you from Point A to Point B...
Toyota, just like in F1, will invest millions in NASCAR, being the most expensive team on the track, but won't win a single race. I don't even follow NASCAR (never seen a race. am a HUGE F1 fan), but i'll guarantee you that Toyota and it's dishwasher-like appliance cars won't win squat.
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garf 1:22PM (1/25/2007)
Troll cue!
Rally behind your Roush leader, oh ye haters of Japanese people! Wave that confederate flag!
He done declared war, so load up that fiery ammo in your keyboard (made in China), and rise up (on the AB forums)! AFter that, hop in your Buick Renault and ride into the sunset!
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ruggels 1:23PM (1/25/2007)
"Toyota will not find that the established teams and manufacturers will wither in their path, as has been the case where they have tried to engage elsewhere."
Yeah, all of F1 totally withered when Toyota showed up, and never won. What the hell is this guy talking about.
Ditto to Michael, my brand new hybrid camry was built here in the states, I'm not a fan of buying crap cars, built in mexico, to enrich stock holders.
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King 1:27PM (1/25/2007)
I just lost all respect for Jack Roush. I wonder if his own employees are all Americans. I'll bet the headphones he has on are not built by a US company.
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che culattone 1:26PM (1/25/2007)
1:22 poster is spot on
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Joseph 1:29PM (1/25/2007)
#1 you are correct.
Building a product gives more impact to the economy than building in a foreign country and bringing profits here.
Thats why there is a cry about outsourcing.
The economy benefits greatly when American Express has call centers here. But when they ship call centers to India and just bring a bit of profit back, only wall street types benefit. Everybody from workers to restaurants to even income tax for government loses. You want to support your standard of living, support products designed and manufactured here.
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dan spalinger 1:40PM (1/25/2007)
Yeah...Toyota has NEVER been successful in motorsports...thats why they just won the NASCAR Craftsman Truck series this past year and ever heard of a guy by the name of Robby Gordon?? Oh, yeah, he dominated offroad racing in the late 80's and early 90's---IN A TOYOTA!! It will not happen right away...hell, they may not get a single win this year...but like in the Craftsman series they will get incrementally better with each race and at the very least they bring a consistant, successfull manufacturer to the sport at a time when Dodge is likely to leave the sport (again...) in the near future...
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Shawn 1:57PM (1/25/2007)
There's a huge difference between
American OWNED and American made. Sure you can turn USA into a colony of workers for foreign companies, but the issue is fairness. Why is it that "Fair trade" a one way deal into USA when EVERY country on Earth has restrictive import policies to protect their domestic industries?
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Alec 2:10PM (1/25/2007)
#12 Shawn
You seem to be drinking from some helucinegenic koolaid.
You will not find a single CEO from Detroit saying they cannot export to japan.
Its a lie.
Since 1996 when Clinton signed the last hurdle in USA/Japan trade, every USA product can be imported to Japan no problem tariff free.
Its just that they dont want our ford Trucks and Buick Lucerrene.
Now China and Korea are different. They have restrictions. Not Japan. You can ship your Ford Freestar tomorrow see if anyone will buy it.
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TRDrulez 2:24PM (1/25/2007)
who is this old fart? whats NASCAR? who cares what a redneck thinks?
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mastr p 2:12PM (1/25/2007)
Response to "Please dont buy imports" I guess you Didn't have enough room for the vehicles Ford makes in the U.S. This is most likely because of your ignorent way of thinking towards Ford.
Jack is going to kick Toyotas butt all the way back to Japan, where they belong.
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