Maybe 55-65 years ago, but 25 years ago(1983) many Americans already owned Honda's and Toyota's. Chrysler did have the "K" car though. That was something a proud American could get behind.

How come there wasn't this much backlash when Mark Gehrke ran a Toyota midget and Louis Senter(SEC Wheels) had wheels made over seas?

I surely don't remember this much anger when the VW midget motor was the most dominant engine.

Hell, there were Chinese built Midget,Sprint and Silver Crown racecars from the late 60's until the mid 80's. People like Parnelli Jones,Sonny Knepper, and Galen Fox owned them. My family even owned one of the midgets.

They were built by a chinese man named Grant King.

Personally, I feel this sport needs all of the help it can get and if Toyota is willing to give back, then good for them and good for USAC for putting the deal together.