TOYOTA'S HISTORY IN AMERICA MOTORSPORTS
Over the past 25 years, Toyota's motorsports programs have taken on some of the biggest challenges in motorsports - winning prestigious events such as the Indianapolis 500, the Rolex 24 at Daytona, the Pikes Peak Hill Climb and the Baja 1000. Yet, the manufacturer may have been presented with its biggest challenge to date in 2007 as it entered into NASCAR NEXTEL Cup and Busch Series competition.
As was to be expected, results were tough to come by in the program's first year in "Cup" competition, but significant progress was made throughout the year and the manufacturer became a consistent top-10 contender by season's end, culminating with Dave Blaney's third-place finish at Talladega in October. In addition, two Camry drivers each won one pole position with Blaney earning the first at New Hampshire in June and Michael Waltrip capturing the second pole at Talladega in October.
Another noteworthy milestone occurred in September when three-time NASCAR champion Joe Gibbs Racing partnered with Toyota to campaign Camrys in the NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series beginning in 2008, with drivers Tony Stewart, Denny Hamlin and Kyle Busch.
While its Cup program may not have reached victory lane in 2007, Toyota power did carry competitors to victory in six different forms of professional racing this past season on tracks across America from Florida to California, including in Grand-Am, USAC, NHRA and off road, as well as the NASCAR Busch Series and the Craftsman Truck Series.
Jason Leffler made history in August when he became the first Toyota Camry driver to win a NASCAR Busch Series event at O'Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis. Later in the season, David Reutimann also found his way to victory lane in Memphis to conclude highly successful seasons for each. Reutimann finished as the series' runner-up, while Leffler was third overall. Leffler also won two pole positions during the season, alongside one pole each from Reutimann and Blaney.
Toyota also successfully defended its NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Manufacturer's Championship in 2007. Overall, Tundra drivers scored 13 wins and 17 pole positions in 25 races. Mike Skinner enjoyed a dominating season with a series-high five victories and a series' record 11 poles on his way to finish second overall in the driver point standings. The Toyota Tundra also made its way to victory lane in 2007 with drivers Johnny Benson, Todd Bodine, Ted Musgrave and Jack Sprague.
In Grand-Am competition, Lexus-powered team Chip Ganassi Racing earned a second consecutive Rolex 24 at Daytona victory in America's most prestigious sports car racing event. Drivers Scott Pruett, Juan Montoya and Salvador Duran dominated the event like few others have over the course of its long history. The win was a record-setting seventh Rolex 24 victory for long-time Lexus and Toyota driver Pruett, who would become the Rolex Series' all-time wins leader later that season.
The Scion division made its way to the winner's circle in the NHRA (National Hot Rod Association) Sport Compact Racing Series - one of the fastest growing forms of motorsports in the United States today. Scion tC driver Brad Personett won seven events on the way to scoring his third consecutive Pro RWD world championship title. Personett's Titan Motorsports teammate Gary White finished the season second in the championship. The two teammates won eight of 10 "RWD" class events of the season. Other Sport Compact class winners included Scion's Kenny Tran (Hot Rod) and Scott Kelley in his All-Motor Toyota Corolla.
While the sports cars were winning on road courses and the sport compacts on quarter-mile drag strips, Toyota also showed that its long history of off road racing was still going strong through the bumps and jumps, with the manufacturer's incurable mastery on dirt. Johnny Greaves won the World Series of Off Road Racing (WSORR) PRO 4x4 championship in his Toyota Tundra. For Greaves and Toyota, it marked a third consecutive championship winning season. Greaves not only won the WSORR title, but also combined with fellow Tundra driver Rick Huseman to win three of the nine Championship Off Road Racing (CORR) short-track events in 2007.
The 2007 season marked Toyota's second year of involvement in the USAC National Midget Series. After winning four races in its 2006 debut season, Toyota drivers registered five wins in 2007, including victories at the prestigious Copper World Classic with Dave Steele, as well as the Turkey Night Grand Prix with Dave Darland. The Toyota USAC program culminated with its first-ever entry into Sprint Car competition as Bobby Santos won in Toyota's debut Sprint Car race as a part of the Turkey Night festivities.
Last year's achievements were just a small portion of the triumphs that Toyota-powered entries have amassed over the past 25 years in American professional auto racing. Winning the 2003 Indianapolis 500 with Gil de Ferran was the crown jewel of a run that has witnessed Toyota IMSA victories at the Daytona 24 Hours and the 12 Hours of Sebring, the Pikes Peak Hill Climb, the Baja 500 and the Baja 1000, in addition to manufacturer's and driver's championships in the Indy Racing League (IRL), NASCAR, Grand-Am, NHRA, CART, IMSA, SCORE, MTEG, WSORR and CORR.
Dating back to 1983, Toyota's first-ever factory-backed professional program was developed when the manufacturer joined forces with racing legend Dan Gurney and All American Racers (AAR) to run Celicas in IMSA road racing competition. Toyota earned 24 victories in IMSA GTU and GTO competition from 1983 to 1998, and became the first Japanese nameplate to win the GTO Manufacturer's and Driver's Championships in 1987.
Toyota and AAR moved up the IMSA ladder once again in 1989 to the GTP class, the elite level of American road racing. The factory-backed team captured seven wins over the 1990 and 1991 seasons, serving notice to the competition that Toyota and its American-built Eagle GTP cars were strong contenders.
At the same time, the competition included Chevrolet, Jaguar, Nissan, Porsche and Mazda. The team's success continued in the early 1990s with victories at the 12 Hours of Sebring (twice), the 24 Hours of Daytona and manufacturer titles in 1992 and 1993. The team holds the all-time record for consecutive GTP victories with 17, and it won 19 of its last 21 races.
In 1983, the same year the relationship with Gurney began, Toyota also joined efforts with Precision Preparation, Inc. (PPI) and team owner Cal Wells III to build Toyota trucks for off road and stadium competition. From 1983 to 1994, the Toyota/PPI team dominated the Mickey Thompson Off Road Stadium Series, earning 11 manufacturer's championships and nine driver's championships with Ivan "Ironman" Stewart and Rod Millen accounting for three each, brother Steve Millen for two and Robby Gordon for one. Stewart also navigated the team through the desert to garner 27 wins and seven championships in the SCORE Desert Racing Series.
Toyota's motorsports involvement grew to new heights in 1996, when Toyota entered CART (Champ Car) competition. The manufacturer earned its first victory in 2000 at Milwaukee with Juan Montoya and went on to win five races that season, followed by six wins in 2001. The program peaked in 2002 as Toyota drivers dominated the series, finishing one-two in the championship and leading the series in every major category. Overall, Toyota-powered Champ Cars won a series-high 21 races over their final three seasons of competition.
In 2003, Toyota moved its open-wheel racing operation to the IRL where Scott Dixon won Toyota's inaugural IRL race at Homestead-Miami Speedway, as well as the series Driver's Championship that same year. The victory was one of 11 for Toyota as it captured the IRL Manufacturer's Championship. Over three seasons, Toyota-powered entries won 17 IndyCar Series races and 22 pole positions.
Overall, Toyota-powered cars won 38 races and 44 pole positions in open-wheel racing from 1999 to 2005. The drivers who campaigned with Toyota power in open-wheel competition included past champions such as Montoya, Dixon, Cristiano da Matta, Pruett, Helio Castroneves, Sam Hornish Jr., de Ferran and Jimmy Vasser.
Toyota made its first move into the NASCAR ranks with the introduction of its V-6 Celica Goody's Dash program in 2000. Robert Huffman helped make Toyota a legitimate contender for the series title by its second season, while placing second in the championship in both 2001 and 2002. In 2003, Huffman broke through to win the series title and become Toyota's first-ever NASCAR champion.
Toyota made history once again in 2002 when the manufacturer entered National Hot Rod Associations (NHRA) competition with the first Funny Car Celica. Two years later, Jerry Tolliver earned Toyota's first-ever Funny Car victory when he took home top honors at the Winternationals in Pomona, February 2004.
In 2004, Toyota became the first new engine manufacturer to compete full-time in one of NASCAR's top three levels of competition in more than 50 years when it entered the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.
That same season, Travis Kvapil put his name in the record books by winning Toyota's first NCTS event at Michigan. The win was one of four Tundra victories in its maiden season. In addition to the four trips to victory lane, the season was highlighted when David Reutimann earned 2004 "Rookie of the Year" honors. Toyota Tundra drivers registered nine victories in 2005 as Todd Bodine and Mike Skinner finished third and fifth, respectively, in driver's points. Toyota made history in 2006 when it secured its first NASCAR Manufacturer's Championship in truck competition, with Todd Bodine becoming the first Tundra driver to earn the Driver's Championship. Since joining the series at the beginning of the 2004 season, Tundra drivers have posted 38 wins and captured 49 poles in 100 races, with 10 teams and 39 drivers combining to make 846 starts for Toyota.
Another chapter in Toyota's rich motorsports history ended with the 2005 season, when Toyota concluded its participation as the title sponsor and sole engine supplier for the Toyota Atlantic Championship. Beginning with the inception of the program in 1989, TRD, U.S.A. (Toyota Racing Development) designed the 1.6L, 4-cylinder, 16-valve, twin-cam engine for the premier open-wheel training ground for some of auto racing's most promising young drivers. Toyota Atlantic graduates have won three Indianapolis 500s, one Formula One world championship, four IRL series championships and two Champ Car crowns. Overall, no less than 17 Toyota Atlantic drivers have gone on to win in either Champ Car or IRL competition.
Although Toyota race cars and trucks compete in several major series, Toyota's commitment to motorsports extends to the grassroots level. Through contingency sponsorship of amateur racing, Toyota embraces the competitive spirit that drives racers from entry levels to professional ranks. To add to the list of racing accomplishments, over the past 20+ years, Toyota amateur racers have garnered 45 SCCA National Championships.
SPONSORSHIPS
With a burgeoning NASCAR program, most Toyota fans are watching attentively to see what's happening on the race track. Yet, on-track participation is just one route by which Toyota's motorsports programs reach the public eye. The manufacturer also has sponsorships that extend from coast-to-coast and reach a wide variety of fans from the Midwestern short-tracks to the high-speed NASCAR ovals to the streets of Southern California, and the scenic road courses across America.
"By sponsoring racing events and facilities, we're able to enhance our performance image and our connection with enthusiasts throughout the country," said Les Unger, Toyota national motorsports manager. "In addition, these initiatives provide the opportunity to make a positive impact in a number of communities. We're thrilled that our relationships with circuits across the United States allow us to reach not only die-hard NASCAR fans, but those in Champ Car, USAC and sports car racing, as well."
Much like its wide-spread manufacturing expansion throughout the United States, Toyota's growth in motorsports sponsorship has grown to include events in Long Beach, Calif.; Charlotte, N.C.; Watkins Glen, N.Y.; Nashville, Tenn.; Indianapolis, Ind.; Elkhart Lake, Wis.; and beginning this past year, Toyota's first-ever NASCAR Cup event sponsorship in Sonoma, Calif., with the Toyota/Savemart 300.
Toyota is the title sponsor for Champ Car's signature event in Long Beach, Calif., (the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach), the NASCAR event in Sonoma, the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race in Nashville, Tenn., (Toyota Tundra 200), the NASCAR All-Star Showdown in Irwindale, Calif., and the USAC Toyota Challenge. The challenge is a three-race "championship within a championship" that rewards points based on three Toyota-sponsored events on the USAC National Midget Series schedule. This year, each of the races will be held at O'Reilly Raceway Park in Indianapolis, Ind., preceding three of the biggest motorsport events in the nation - the Indianapolis 500, the Brickyard 400 and the International MotoGP.
The manufacturer also serves as the Official Vehicle of Lowe's Motor Speedway in Charlotte, N.C.; Road America, in Elkhart Lake, Wis.; Watkins Glen International Raceway in Watkins Glen, N.Y.; the Nashville Superspeedway in Nashville, Tenn.; Willow Spring Raceway in Rosamond, Calif.; Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif.; and the United States Auto Club.
Of course, it all starts right in Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A.'s own backyard with "The Roar On The Shore" - the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, where the company will celebrate its 34th year of involvement in 2008.
Dating back to the event's inaugural running in 1975, where Toyota served as the pace car at the first event, the automaker's presence in Long Beach has grown to include the event's title sponsorship since 1980, the popular 32nd annual Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race, as well as hosting more than 2,000 guests during the race weekend.
Also referred to as "the American Monaco," the Toyota Grand Prix has something for everyone - from the hard-core race enthusiast to the casual fan or people-watcher. Unique, though, is the glitz and glamour of Hollywood with the signature Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race that regularly attracts some of the biggest names in Hollywood - and this past year was no different as filmmaker extraordinaire George Lucas headlined the event, along with tennis legend Martina Navratilova.
In 2005, Toyota and the Grand Prix Association of Long Beach reached an agreement to further extend the title sponsorship through 2010.
While many think of sponsorships solely as an avenue to reach customers, Toyota has also taken the opportunity to use its sponsorships internally.
There's no greater example than the company's sponsorship of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Toyota Tundra 200 at the Nashville Superpeedway. Located within driving distance of several Toyota manufacturing facilities, the event played host to over 6,500 Toyota team members in 2007.
NASCAR events at Watkins Glen and Sonoma also saw tremendous participation from Toyota's New York and San Francisco area dealerships. Toyota also continues a successful tradition of its annual "Motorsports Day," featuring driver appearances both at
Toyota headquarters in Torrance, Calif., as well as providing similar opportunities at its manufacturing facilities throughout the country.
"Racing is a great way to further business and bolster associate morale and teamwork," said Unger. "We never want to forget that it's our 32,000 employees across the nation and more than 110,000 employees at our Toyota and Lexus dealerships that contribute to our success."
SPONSORSHIP HISTORY
Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach 1975-2008
Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race 1977-2008
Toyota U.S. Grand Prix (N.Y.) 1978-1982
Toyota Grand Prix of Monterey 1989-1997
Toyota Atlantic Championship (Series) 1989-2005
Toyota Grand Prix of Miami 1992-1995
IMSA (INTERNATIONAL MOTOR SPORTS ASSOCIATION)
GTU (2.0L silhouette sedan) 1982-1985
GTO (2.1L turbo, silhouette sedan) 1986-1988
GTP (2.1L turbo prototype class) 1989-1993
OFF ROAD RACING
MTEG (Stadium Racing) 1983-1994
SCORE Desert Racing 1983-2000
CORR (Championship Off Road Racing) 1997-2008
WSORR (World Series of Off Road Racing) 2007
PIKES PEAK INTERNATIONAL HILL CLIMB
Pikes Peak (2.1L turbo unlimited class) 1994-2000
CART (CHAMPIONSHIP AUTO RACING TEAMS)
Champ Car (2.65L turbo, open wheel) 1996-2002
Homestead-Miami Speedway Presenting Sponsorship 1996-2000
Nazareth Speedway Presenting Sponsorship 1997-2001
Michigan International Speedway Presenting Sponsorship 1997-2001
California Speedway Presenting Sponsorship 1997-2002
INDY RACING LEAGUE (IRL) INDYCAR SERIES
Toyota Indy 300 (Homestead-Miami Speedway) 2003-2006
Toyota Indy 400 (California Speedway) 2003-2005
NASCAR GOODY'S DASH SERIES
Celica (4.1L) 2000-2004
NASCAR
Toyota All-Star Showdown (Irwindale Speedway) 2003-2008
Toyota Tundra 200 (NCT - Nashville Superspeedway) 2004-2008
Toyota Tundra 200 (NCTS - Milwaukee Mile) 2006-2007
Toyota/Save Mart 350 (NNC - Infineon Raceway) 2007-2008
SPORT COMPACT (IMPORT) DRAG RACING
Celica/Solara (Pro FWD) 2002-2005
Celica (All Motor, Pro FWD) 2002-2005
Corolla (All Motor) 2005-2008
Scion (All Motor, Pro FWD, Pro RWD, Hot Rod) 2006-2007
GRAND AMERICAN ROLEX SPORTS CAR
Lexus Daytona Prototype (4.35L) 2003-2008
USAC
National Midget Series 2006-2008
Toyota Challenge 2006-2008
National Sprint Car Series 2008
OFFICIAL VEHICLE
Willow Springs 1982-2008
SCORE (International) 1983-1994
Road America 1996-2008
Nashville Superspeedway 2004-2008
Watkins Glen 2005-2008
Lowe's Motor Speedway 2006-2008
Infineon Raceway 2007-2008
2008 EXECUTIVE BIOS
J. DAVIS (DAVE) ILLINGWORTH JR.
Senior vice president-chief planning and administrative officer for Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc. Illingworth commenced supervision of TMS motorsports programs on Jan. 3, 1996. Also oversees Finance, Corporate Services, Business Planning, Human Resources, Information Systems, eBusiness, Strategic and Product Planning, Advanced Product Strategy, Legal and the University of Toyota.
JAMES L. AUST
Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc. vice president-motorsports and TRD, U.S.A., president and chief executive officer. With Toyota since 1987, Aust began in motorsports in July 1998. Responsible for establishing the direction of Toyota's U.S. motorsports activities, which include the company's NASCAR, Grand-Am, off road, drag racing, USAC National Midget Silver Crown and Sprint Car race programs. Also responsible for TRD's overall company business activities including financial, technical and racing support.
EIJI NAGANO
Group vice president and coordinating officer for Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. Returned to TMS in 2004 (previously worked in Product Planning as Senior Executive Coordinator from 1989-1993) and currently serves on the board of TRD, U.S.A. (Toyota Racing Development). Nagano is also responsible for motorsports activities and corporate accessory parts management.
LEE WHITE
Senior vice president and general manager of TRD, U.S.A. Oversees all day-to-day operations for TRD's engine and chassis related responsibilities for Grand-Am, USAC National Midget Silver Crown and Sprint Car Series, off road and the NASCAR Sprint Cup, NASCAR Nationwide and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series programs.
DAVID WILSON
Group vice president of finance, operations and planning for TRD, U.S.A. Wilson has been with TRD since 1989 and is responsible for TRD's operations activities, including manufacturing, planning, procurement, facilities and inventory control. Also oversees TRD's finance operations and Special Racing Projects group. Additionally, Wilson is responsible for the development of TRD's strategic business plans.
PETE SPENCE
Group vice president and technical director for TRD, U.S.A. Returned to TRD in 2007 (previously with TRD from 1996-2004). Spence is responsible for establishing the technical direction for all of TRD's engine and chassis development activities. Also oversees strategic support of TRD-sponsored race teams, as well as coordination of TRD interface with Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC).
ANDY GRAVES
Toyota NASCAR Sprint Cup Series program manager, who joined TRD, U.S.A., in September 2006. Graves is responsible for all on-track engine support relating to the Cup program including technical support, engine and chassis supply, and testing.
RICK LANTZ
Joined TRD, U.S.A., in 1995 and in 2007 was appointed as Toyota's NASCAR Busch Series program manager. In 2008, Lantz was named the Engine Track Support Manager and currently oversees technical support for at-track engine-related activities and performance.
LAERTE ZATTA
Toyota's NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and Nationwide Series program manager, Zatta joined TRD, U.S.A., in 2001 and is the primary contact for TRD-supported teams involved in both series. Zatta is responsible for on-track engine and technical support, as well as testing and chassis coordination relating to both programs.
GARY REED
Vice president of Special Racing Projects group for TRD, U.S.A. With Toyota since 1986, Reed began at TRD in 1995 and currently oversees all non-NASCAR racing programs including CORR, Sport Compact, Grand-Am Daytona Prototypes, SCCA, USAC Midget, Sprint Car and Silver Crown series, in addition to various special project assignments.
KEVIN KUCHTA
Joined TRD, U.S.A., in 1997 and is the current program and track support manager of Special Racing Projects group. Oversees various Toyota racing programs including Grand American Rolex Sports Car, CORR and USAC National Midget, Silver Crown and Sprint Car Series.
ED LAUKES
Corporate motorsports marketing manager for Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc., since 2007, Laukes began his career with Toyota in 1989. Currently responsible for managing the motorsports marketing operations for the Toyota Division, including motorsports strategy, research and advertising. Laukes also oversees regional and at-track activation, mobile marketing programs, sponsorships, licensed merchandise and the NASCAR racing Web site.
LES UNGER
National motorsports marketing manager at Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc., and an integral part of the motorsports department since 1984. Unger is responsible for all U.S. motorsports public relations and select sponsorship activities, including oversight of the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race, the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Nashville Superspeedway and all USAC National Midget, Silver Crown and Sprint Car marketing programs.
DONALD W. BROWN
National motorsports competition manager, Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc. Brown oversees overall logistics and budgeting elements of various Toyota Motorsports programs including off road and Grand-Am programs. Also serves as a liaison with Toyota-powered race teams and TRD, U.S.A.
TRD, U.S.A. (TOYOTA RACING DEVELOPMENT) HISTORY
Whether competing on road courses, dirt tracks, superspeedways or short-track ovals, TRD, U.S.A. (Toyota Racing Development) has risen to the occasion and earned an exceptional reputation as one of the premiere racing performance engineering companies in the United States. Since its inception in 1979, TRD has developed new cutting-edge race engine technology for a wide range of motorsports activities. The unique in-house operation includes complete engine design, development and assembly, as well as the engineering of high-performance aftermarket components.
Established as a subsidiary of Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., TRD earned its place in motorsports history when Juan Montoya registered Toyota's first Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART) victory behind the wheel of a TRD-powered Indy car at the Milwaukee Mile in June 2000. This significant win was the first by an American-designed and built engine in 20 years, which has contributed to the growth and reputation of TRD as a first-class race engine development facility.
Within its state-of-the-art facility based in Costa Mesa, Calif., TRD engineers and builds the V8-powered Toyota Tundra engines for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (NCTS) and the V8-powered Toyota Camry engines for the 2008 NASCAR SPRINT Cup and Nationwide Series. TRD also provides engines for most Toyota factory-backed U.S. racing efforts including Championship Off Road Racing (CORR), National Hot Rod Association (NHRA), and most recently, the United States Auto Club (USAC) Sprint Car and National Midget Car Racing Series. Additionally, TRD prepares the Lexus engines used in the Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series, including the engines that have earned four Daytona Prototype championships since entering the series in 2004.
In partnership, TMS and TRD have earned many illustrious accomplishments in American racing history, including a monumental victory at the 2003 Indianapolis 500, three Rolex 24 at Daytona victories, numerous Baja 500 and 1000 wins and manufacturer's championships in NCTS, IRL, CART, IMSA, MTEG, SCORE, Grand-Am, CORR and WSORR competition.
This past season, TRD-built engines helped make history as Toyota entered the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series with seven full-time Camrys and three teams. Dave Blaney earned a Toyota season-best third at Talladega in October. Both Blaney (at New Hampshire) and Michael Waltrip (at Talladega) won Cup pole positions. In the Busch Series, Jason Leffler became the first Toyota Camry driver to score a victory in the series at O'Reilly Raceway Park, with David Reutimann also driving his way to victory lane during the 2007 campaign. Reutimann finished second overall, while Leffler finished third in the point standings.
TRD engines also helped Toyota successfully defend its NCTS manufacturer's championship in 2007. Tundra drivers scored 13 wins and 17 poles in 25 races this past season, including 58 top-five finishes. Since joining the series at the beginning of the 2004 season, TRD engines have posted 38 wins and captured 49 poles in 100 races.
A TRD-built Lexus engine also made history by winning its second consecutive Rolex 24 at Daytona with Chip Ganassi Racing. Scott Pruett, Juan Montoya and Salvador Duran piloted the Daytona Prototype to victory. The win follows a one-two Ganassi finish in the 2006 Rolex 24.
In its debut race this past November, the brand new Toyota 360 Sprint Car engine registered a victory with driver Bobby Santos III at the famed Turkey Night Grand Prix. TRD-developed engines were also victorious in the featured USAC Midget Series Turkey Night Grand Prix event, as well as at the prestigious 2007 Copper World Classic.
Additional historical achievements include five Pikes Peak International Hill Climb championships, import drag racing class championships in 2004, 2006 and 2007, plus multiple wins at the 12 Hours of Sebring, the Baja 500 and 1000, and a landmark victory at the 2006 Copper World Classic, Toyota's first race in the USAC National Midget Car Series.
After being established in the U.S. to serve as an aftermarket performance parts distributor for TRD Japan, TRD, U.S.A., has since developed into a world-class race engine and performance organization employing more than 200 highly skilled designers, engineers, engine builders, technicians, executives and administrative professionals.
TRD, U.S.A. - COSTA MESA, CALIF.
Facility Opening 1995 (Baker); 2001 (Fischer)
Capacity 47,000 sq. ft. (Baker); 32,000 sq. ft. (Fischer)
Associates 179
Functions:
TOYOTA MOTORSPORTS IN AMERICA - TIMELINE
1967TOYOTA IN NASCAR TIMELINE 2002 - PRESENT
JANUARY 2002
NASCAR welcomes Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc., to compete in the Craftsman Truck Series.
MARCH 2002
Design begins on the Toyota Tundra body for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.
MAY 2002
Design begins on the Toyota Tundra NASCAR V8 engine.
FEBRUARY 12, 2003
Toyota formally announces participation in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series beginning in 2004.
NOVEMBER 14, 2003
Toyota announces partnerships with four teams - Bang Racing, Bill Davis Racing, Innovative Motorsports and
Darrell Waltrip Motorsports - to race Toyota Tundras in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in 2004.
FEBRUARY 13, 2004
The Toyota Tundra makes its NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race debut at Daytona International Speedway. Travis Kvapil finishes second.
MARCH 12, 2004
Toyota earns its first NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series pole position with rookie David Reutimann at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
JULY 31, 2004
Toyota earns its first NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series victory when Travis Kvapil captures the checkered flag at Michigan International Speedway.
OCTOBER 16, 2004
Toyota earns its fourth NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series win of its inaugural season with Todd Bodine at Texas Motor Speedway.
2005 SEASON
Toyota Tundras registers 9 wins and 13 pole positions in the 2005 Season.
JANUARY 24, 2006
Toyota announces its three 2007 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Teams: Bill Davis Racing (BDR), Team Red Bull (TRD) and Michael Waltrip Racing (MWR).
NOVEMBER 3, 2006
Toyota clinches its first NCTS manufacturer's title at Texas Motor Speedway with Mike Skinner's third-place finish.
NOVEMBER 4, 2006
Toyota announces its 2007 NASCAR Busch Series Teams: Braun Racing (BR) and Michael Waltrip Racing (MWR).
NOVEMBER 17, 2006
Toyota clinches its first NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driver's championship with Todd Bodine of Germain Racing. Toyota finishes the season with 12 wins and 14 pole positions.
FEBRUARY 16, 2007
Toyota wins its first NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Daytona International Speedway when Jack Sprague crosses the finish line first after starting from the pole.
FEBRUARY 18, 2007
The Toyota Camry makes its NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race debut at Daytona International Speedway. Four Camry drivers - Dave Blaney, Dale Jarrett, David Reutimann and Michael Waltrip - take the green flag in the Daytona 500.
FEBRUARY 24, 2007
Toyota driver Dave Blaney starts from the pole position in the NASCAR Busch Series race at California Speedway. It marks the inaugural pole position for the Camry in NASCAR competition.
MARCH 31, 2007
Tundra driver Mike Skinner wins his third consecutive NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Virginia's Martinsville Speedway, following wins in the two previous events at Atlanta Motor Speedway and California Speedway.
MAY 27, 2007
Camry driver Brian Vickers finishes fifth in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race at Lowe's Motor Speedway - the first top-five finish for a Toyota.
JUNE 29, 2007
Toyota earns its first NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series pole position with Dave Blaney at New Hampshire International Speedway.
JULY 28, 2007
Toyota earns its first NASCAR Busch Series victory when Jason Leffler captures the checkered flag at O'Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis.
SEPTEMBER 3, 2007
Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc., and Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) announce that the three-time championship-winning team will campaign Camrys for drivers Tony Stewart, Denny Hamlin and Kyle Busch in the 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. JGR's NASCAR Nationwide Series teams will also utilize Camrys.
OCTOBER 5, 2007
Michael Waltrip earns the second pole position for a Toyota Camry in NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series competition at Talladega Superspeedway. Camry drivers earn four of the top-five starting positions for the race, including both spots on the front row.
OCTOBER 7, 2007
Dave Blaney records the best result for a Camry in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series with a third-place finish at Talladega Superspeedway.
OCTOBER 20, 2007
Toyota clinches its second consecutive NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series manufacturer's title at Virginia's Martinsville Speedway.
OCTOBER 27, 2007
Toyota earns its second NASCAR Busch Series win when David Reutimann captures the checkered flag at Memphis Motorsports Park.
NOVEMBER 9, 2007
Hall of Fame Racing announces they will field a Toyota Camry full-time in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series for driver J.J. Yeley.
NOVEMBER 16, 2007
The Toyota Tundra makes its 100th start in the Craftsman Truck Series season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Mike Skinner is the only Tundra driver to start all 100 races since Toyota entered the NCTS in 2004.
2007 SEASON
Tundras register 13 wins and 17 pole positions in the 2007 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season. Camrys record two poles, two top-five finishes and 11 top-10 finishes in the 2007 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series, as well as two wins and four pole positions in the 2007 NASCAR Busch Series season.
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