What's so bad about that? It might be more interesting then what they do now.

I work for Toyota and for my position my wages and benifets are higher then those of the Big Three

The way the Big Three are going is will soon become the big Two
This is not because of Japan companies it is because the American Compaines self destructed and did not have a firm busness plan

When was the last time Toyota laid off an employee and when was the last time the Big Three laid off employees?

The Toyota plant in Princeton Indiana just layed off around 300 workers this past year.:action-smiley-049:

Well get ready to see them at your local tracks, like um or not.
Won at Turkey night!
How about Daron Clayton or Chad Boat with Toyota Power ?????

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If anyone actually believes that Toyota's increased involvement won't substantially increase engine and overall costs, I have some prime realestate in AZ that I would be willing to sell you, some drainage required.

Xenophobia aside, I can't see how Toyota will make any sort of dent into sprint/midget motors. Why hasn't anyone pointed out that the toyota stuff costs MORE than the good old American motors? I'll go out on a limb here and venture that this condition will exist as long as Toyota goes through Mr Pink. Midget racers do all kinds of silly things like spend more money than they should for smaller purses so I can't really speak to their motivations. The only people that will spend extra to buy a Toyota sprint car motor are the same type of people that paid extra to run Fords. Certainly everyone is running Fords in sprint cars, aren't they? Toyota would have to give away motors for 2 years before they could make a dent in the number of sprint car motors in existence. And in speaking with TRD people, any sprint car motors that would become available in the next 2 years are steel block NASCAR 355 truck motors. If they have an aluminum block in the works, it's a secret. Maybe if they started 2 years ago, 10 years from now they might make some sort of significant impact in sprint car racing if the planets aligned correctly.

Rich, You have some valid points but when i started the thread I was thinking of Toyotas involvement in "360" racing . Actually I think the timeline for available parts will decrease if intrest grows........It seems that the recent past shows Toyota utilizing a lot of its resources to succeed in the various divisions it has raced in. It will be intresting to see.

Toyota first entered the US market in 1958 as the worlds 16th largest automaker. By the end of 2008 Toyota will have achieved the #1 position on their 50th Anniversary here. Like it or not , the US population has embraced the Toyota brand ( along w/ Lexus,Scion ) and in the process become , like Walmart , a major factor to the US economy. The troubled domestic industry ( GM,FORD,CHRYSLER) has only to blame itself , not Toyota , Honda , etc.

There is no evidence to suggest that Toyota has had a direct impact to the escalating costs seen in the domestic industry. Nor is there evidence that Toyota has contributed to the rising costs seen in auto racing. Look back to CART , CHAMPCAR , the IRL , even in FORMULA ONE , you won't find it. Upon entering these series Toyota has only invested that necessary to compete and find success.

By the end of 2005 Toyota had departed the IRL and announced their entry into USAC Midgets for 2006. They partnered with Ed Pink in engine development and first rate Western Speed ; have since picked up 9 Racing and Pedregon.

Long before 2006 the costs of Midget engines had gone into the stratisphere. In most cases the engine value is two to three times that of the rest of the car.

Toyota will not increase the costs of Midget racing ... not unless you buy a Toyota engine as a non-factory team. Western Speed , 9 Racing and Pedregon are not paying $50,000. for an engine.

The near $50,000. quote only reflects the development costs of the engine plus a Ed Pink profit margin if you want one. The reality is that Ed Pink and Toyota do not expect to sell many engines - outside , ... least not at this time. Ed Pink's customer is Toyota and nothing more is required to fund the program.

With the Toyota involvement primarily centered within three teams and the National / Western Series , little will trickle-down to the local and regional racer.

The real question to ask yourself is , "Are we better off with or without Toyota in Midget Racing ? Toyota has put their money into race title sponsorships , driver of the year funding , additional purses , points funds and more. Corporate sponsors are not beating down the Open Wheel doors. Should we turn away the little interest we are attracting while the multitudes are flocking to NASCAR ?

Thanks for reading ...

Paul Gray
Paul Gray Motorsports
USAC Regional Series - Hawk/Gaerte Midget #28
www.paulgray28.com

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Thanks for the insight.:thumb:

The average sprint guy runs about 50 races a year. There might be 2-3 times that horsepower is an issue, with track prep, wide tires, daylight savings time, ect... There is seldom the need for high dollar horsepower. Most track are rubber down and the good crew guys have to tune there stuff down as to not spin the tires.