Click above for high-res gallery from Kobalt Tools 500
When the clocks ticked over to 2008, Toyota Motorsports VP Jim Aust declared that the Camry would not go winless this season in the NASCAR Sprint Cup like it did during its inaugural season last year. Things got off to a good start during qualifying for the Daytona 500 when Toyota went 1-2 in the second Gatorade Duel qualifying race. This past weekend, history repeated itself when Joe Gibbs Racing had a pair of Camry cars go 1-2 again, but this time on race day at the Kobalt Tools 500. Kyle Busch in the No. 18 Camry won last weekend's race at Atlanta Motor Speedway with teammate Tony Stewart taking silver, both driving Cup cars festooned with Camry stickers. Not only did Kyle Busch win the race, but he remains atop the points standing after previous points leader Carl Edwards got penalized for something to do with his oil tank lid at last week's race in Las Vegas. Many of the drivers also complained after the race about their tires that were supplied by Goodyear, with Tony Stewart, always ready to give a good quote, saying, "If I were Goodyear, I'd be really embarrassed about this weekend and what they brought us here." Nevertheless, he and teammate Busch pulled out the win for Joe Gibbs Racing and Toyota. Looks like it's gonna be a good year for the imports in NASCAR.
[Source: MSN.foxsports.com, Photos by John Harrelson, Chris McGrath, Chris Gaythen, Chris Trotman/Getty]]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Taylor @ Mar 10th 2008 10:37AM
A little late on this one aren't we? I was hoping this would go up right after the race.
I would have preffered Michael Waltrip to have the first Toyota win, but, of coarse. The kid that can't drive a straight line wins. Dang you Carl Edwards!
falloutagain @ Mar 10th 2008 10:38AM
ahhhh still not impressed
falloutagain @ Mar 10th 2008 10:43AM
i too would have liked to see MW or someone else with a little more "racing cred" get the checkers for toyota. but the bush kid seems to be out to prove himself this year.
i'm still not a fan of toyota in the series, but it does seem to have added a new element to the competition.
Andrew @ Mar 10th 2008 10:44AM
This is really sad. If Americans can't win Nascar, wtf can they win?! We have nothing to be proud of in the sense of motor sport.
Taylor @ Mar 10th 2008 10:46AM
The Camry is the only car actually built in the US.
Rick @ Mar 10th 2008 10:49AM
The redneck contingent must be up in arms, with a cookie-cutter car with Toyota decals winning and all.
smartmlp @ Mar 10th 2008 8:08PM
@Taylor
That is not true, the Dodge Avenger is built in Michigan
Taylor @ Mar 10th 2008 10:46AM
I've grown to like the COT, it's proved to be faster in some areas, and most likely saved Jeff Gordon's life last week. Atlanta's race just wasn't that great, Kasey Kahne had no way to redeem himself after getting one lap down.
DarkKnight67 @ Mar 10th 2008 10:48AM
Anybody notice that after the race there were no cheers? Says something about the interest of the fans in the first Toyota win - even though the press made a big deal of it.
Rick @ Mar 10th 2008 11:07AM
That's because the car with the wrong decals won.
racer01 @ Mar 10th 2008 11:27AM
Nobody was cheering b/c of the driver - not the car.
Joshua @ Mar 10th 2008 11:29AM
What you really mean to say is that it says how bias NASCAR fans are just because of some foreign logo decals and are unwilling to enjoy some good ol' competition.
Tagg @ Mar 10th 2008 2:04PM
It has nothing to do with the car, no one like Kyle Busch and his smartass attitiude. They booed him when he won in a Chevy and he would be booed in Ford or Dodge. If a driver like Dale Jarrett would have won there would have been cheers and if Tony Stewart would have won there would have been at least a mix of cheers and boos.
Don't try and make it into a "they hate Toyota" thing because nobody really cares. People cheer for the drivers, not the cars.
Joe @ Mar 10th 2008 10:51AM
I took interest in NASCAR when it was only with the domestics. Now the Japanese will take credit for American ingenuity. I wouldn't mind it if the teams were Japanese. Now the way it stands, Japan again will take credit where credit is not due. They really want to suck up all what we have and stand for. If only they could do it on their own without the expense of we Americans. Let them be and they'll rule the world.
info @ Mar 10th 2008 10:56AM
NASCAR and the word ingenuity should not be used in the same sentence.
racer @ Mar 10th 2008 11:33AM
Your post made no sense. You are obviously ignorant on the world market - or just stupid. Get with the times - it is 2008 you racist pig.
Brett @ Mar 10th 2008 6:28PM
Racer you are an idiot. Toyota and any import freakin company should not be in American motorsports. Thats what he is saying. As it is, every motorsport that Toyota has entered ends up being screwed up by them and then they leave.
Taylor @ Mar 10th 2008 10:54AM
Although each template is the same, I'm suprised Chevy hasn't switched to the new Malibu scheme, and tried to shove Pontiac back into the mix. But then again, I just wanna see the pony cars run.
Fatman @ Mar 10th 2008 11:02AM
Toyota is actually not the first foreign marque to win a cup race. Jaguar did it in 1954.
PAT @ Mar 10th 2008 11:02AM
Ahhhh, who cares, they will never gain the respect of the fans. Sure they will be competitive, and win some races, but their wins will never be celebrated like when JR. or others who have some true respect for the sports heritage take the checker.