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]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
Michael @ Jan 25th 2007 1:14PM
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!
James44 @ Jan 25th 2007 1:16PM
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.
porker @ Jan 25th 2007 1:18PM
I have never liked Jack Roush---- until now! NASCAR should never have allowed toyota into the sport.
Ario @ Jan 25th 2007 1:22PM
"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.
garf @ Jan 25th 2007 1:22PM
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!
ruggels @ Jan 25th 2007 1:23PM
"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.
che culattone @ Jan 25th 2007 1:26PM
1:22 poster is spot on
King @ Jan 25th 2007 1:27PM
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.
Joseph @ Jan 25th 2007 1:29PM
#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.
dan spalinger @ Jan 25th 2007 1:40PM
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...
Shawn @ Jan 25th 2007 1:57PM
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?
Alec @ Jan 25th 2007 2:10PM
#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.
mastr p @ Jan 25th 2007 2:12PM
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.
Simon @ Jan 25th 2007 2:21PM
Japan has no restriction on American export of cars.
Alain @ Jan 25th 2007 2:21PM
Toyota can't build a car (or truck) worth a damn, so racing one will be next to impossible. No way in hell will Toyota be an American company, no matter how much the traitors shill it so.
Jack_Brack @ Jan 25th 2007 2:24PM
So...you guys know you can actually buy Toyota stock on the Nikkei index right? You also know that many of the AMERICAN funds and banks have Toyota stock right? ...meaning a portion of the profits that Toyota rakes in goes to where again...yes...the US.
Nationalism is dead. Grow up and understand it's a global economy. Blind patriotism does nothing to help America. Educate yourself and don't be so ignorant....that's the only way our Ford and GM will change their ways and produce competitive cars.
TRDrulez @ Jan 25th 2007 2:24PM
who is this old fart? whats NASCAR? who cares what a redneck thinks?
dan spalinger @ Jan 25th 2007 2:27PM
che (guevara) culattone:
Sorry but we are talking about the U.S. here since NASCAR is in the U.S. and the article is ABOUT JACK ROUSH AND NASCAR...or can't you read English?!?! And Toyota HAS had success in American racing as I just detailed...You ignoring their success in NASCAR and offroad racing is just as ignorant as an Americn NASCAR fan ignoring your beloved F1....So please...take a shower you Euro-weenie and get back to us when you get a girlfriend...
roadside observer @ Jan 25th 2007 2:37PM
#1,
FYI:
- Tacoma is also assembled in Mexico, and all Tacoma truck beds are made in Mexico
- Corolla is also assembled in Canada
- Matrix is assembled in Canada
- Lexus RX350 is assembled in Canada
The fact that a vehicle undergoes final assembly in Mexico, Canada, etc. does not mean that it is "made" in that country. Parts are sourced from all over the world. Do let us know when you figure out the difference between "made in" and "assembled in," OK?
Oh, and if you think that $38k of a $40k car stays in the US, you're sorely mistaken ...
LaughingTooHard @ Jan 25th 2007 2:58PM
Well NASCAR has already said they will not allow Toyota to BUY a win. They will have to earn it, and it will only take a season or two before they pull their money out, um just like IRL, WRC and they are threatening to do it with the oh, so successful Craftsmen Truck series. The Tundra might prolong that mercy killing but they know there is no money to be made there. Funny how Toyota had to "buy" DCx motors on account then reverse engineer them as they couldn't make one themselves strong enough to move the truck. And I know I know, 381BHP! 10,800LBS! Wow, big whoop. GM will stuff the 6.2 into their trucks that only makes 402bhp with the six speed. When Toyota makes 720bhp crate motor let me know, OK kiddies...?
Back to Toyota in racing, how about the "mishap" during F1 where Toyota got hold of 10,000 pages of technical data that belonged to Ferrari. When asked to return it they said - "No, our data is mixed in and we don't want to give secrets to Ferrari"
I used to love China for the cheap stuff, Kung Fu and egg rolls. Now I love them for the brutal payback they are planning for the Japanese. Just remember GeeDoubleYa, "Stay out of foreign affairs!"