NASCAR continues to have contact with foreign-based carmakers who are not yet involved in stock car racing but have manufacturing plants in the United States and may want to market through NASCAR, sanctioning body chairman Brian France said Sunday.
“Clearly there are some companies that are going to look at opportunities that may not have been there in the past,” France said.
Of NASCAR’s four current manufacturers, Chrysler and General Motors are in bankruptcy and Ford has reduced its expenditures on racing.
In Detroit’s backyard, at Michigan International Speedway, GM announced on Friday it was cutting support throughout all three of NASCAR’s major divisions — Cup, Nationwide and Trucks.
Toyota, though its worldwide passenger car sales have been lagging, stands now as the strongest supporter of NASCAR among manufacturers.
But other brands could help fill the void if the traditional American carmakers should weaken further and reduce if not eliminate their NASCAR participation.
“We have companies that are interested in particular in developing the North American market as robustly as they can,” France said. “And we’re all aware that there are lots of foreign manufacturers producing cars here in America. That was part of the rationale that Toyota used” to get involved in NASCAR.
Other such companies with U.S. plants include Honda, Hyundai, Nissan, BMW and Mercedes-Benz.
But, “I’m not going to name names,” France said. “We have been talking to people off and on for a long time. These are decisions, in terms of new manufacturers joining the sport, that will take a long time to evaluate and actually enter.
“So this isn’t something that if we turn the light switch on tomorrow morning it would happen.
“But of course, we’re the preeminent place in America for car manufacturers to build their businesses with an auto racing group. We remain that.”
I don’t know what ever happened with it, but last year Honda did have a Ridgeline nose at the R&D center for NASCAR to approve.
Hey, What the hell all the cars are using all the same parts and bodies, the only difference is the motors, Ford cars have Roush engines , and chevies have Hendricks motors only Dodge and Toyota are different.
But as far as I’am concerned if it’s not built in this country keep it out. I can see it now a Honda that looks like a Checker Cab.
The automobile industry in America has crumbled and there is a lot of fault but one thing I know when Toyota, Nissan, Honda started bringing all of their imports here about 30 years ago the decline of GM and Chrysler was sealed. Ford was smart. They started going to more fuel efficient vehicles sooner and stayed out of bankruptcy. We will see these other makes in NASCAR. BMW and Mercedes probably could prove to be quite stout.
[quote comment="53378"]But as far as I’am concerned if it’s not built in this country keep it out.[/quote]
I always have to laugh when idiots like you say stuff like that. Look at the facts first.
Chevy Monte Carlo SS = Canada
Chevy Impala SS = Canada
Dodge Charger = Canada
Ford Fusion = Mexico
Toyota Camry = Georgetown Kentucky & Layette Indiana
Honda Accord = Marysville Ohio & Lincoln Alabama
Hyundai Sonata = Montgomery Alabama
Nissan Maxima = Smyrna Tennessee
Nissan Altima = Smyrna Tennessee & Canton Mississippi
[quote comment="53380"][quote comment="53378"]But as far as I’am concerned if it’s not built in this country keep it out.[/quote]
I always have to laugh when idiots like you say stuff like that. Look at the facts first.
Chevy Monte Carlo SS = Canada
Chevy Impala SS = Canada
Dodge Charger = Canada
Ford Fusion = Mexico
Toyota Camry = Georgetown Kentucky & Layette Indiana
Honda Accord = Marysville Ohio & Lincoln Alabama
Hyundai Sonata = Montgomery Alabama
Nissan Maxima = Smyrna Tennessee
Nissan Altima = Smyrna Tennessee & Canton Mississippi[/quote]Kinda like I live in Louisville,Ky that has 2 ford truck plants and people say those ford trucks are built in america…No they assemble them here but 90% of the parts come from mexico or canada and have since the mid 90′s because I drove a yarddog at both plants back then and just about every trailer I pulled to the docks had canada or mexico plates.as for the camry as far as Kentucky goes its built here and a lot of the parts for it are also made in Ky so fisha is right.
all I’m saying is that it don’t need to happen. they need to go back to race what you brung
[quote comment="53384"]all I’m saying is that it don’t need to happen. they need to go back to race what you brung[/quote]
I hope you realize that NASCAR was never “run what you brung” and that in fact the winner of the very first race of what is now the Cup series was DQ’d for his car not fitting the rules.
Here is an idea I just thought of, why not get rid of the manufactures all together? Kinda like EA did with their NASCAR games, all generic cars. Maybe update the engine technology to some Fuel Injected crate engine (like the ASA National series before it was killed), and just a generic set of Light/Grille decals (to keep it looking somewhat like a car).
Now I know a lot of people are going to read that and kinda flip out at it being a bad idea and whatnot, but really think about it. If that were to happen there still could be Chevy teams, and whatnot, just it’d be as a sponsorship not as a manufacture. Yeah it’d take a bit to get used to, but I honestly think it would be best for the sport, and it appears to be the next logical step in evolution to the series.
Now as of now I’m talking about the cup series, however the idea could be applied to all 3 national series, as well as the feeder series.
Honda will probably be the next foreign nameplate to the sport. Then there’s Roger and Saturn. Hmmm.
[quote comment="53395"]Honda will probably be the next foreign nameplate to the sport. Then there’s Roger and Saturn. Hmmm.[/quote]
Hmmm GM pulling out, Honda coming in…. A certain team owner has a strong history with Honda/Acura, and well last year on this site I said something about how said owner would go to Honda/Acura by 2012. No-one believed me, everybody said it’d never happen. Now I sit here and laugh as it comes closer to being a reality.
Heres an idea
lets use real model bodies we could have
Camaro
Challenger
mustang
genesis coupe
toyta needs a real RWD car
honda I guess would come in with the acura TL
I think the only rule should be the model has to be rear wheel drive in production
[quote comment="53398"]Heres an idea
lets use real model bodies we could have
Camaro
Challenger
mustang
[/quote]
Camaro = Won’t last 4 more model years
Mustang = Ugly
Challenger = Done after the 2012 model year when Fiat starts importing their cars from Europe.
I dont know, I think the camaro will be around for a little while. The waiting list to have one ordered is until may next year ( i know.. i did it on saturday)
mustang – i agree
challenger – I hope your wrong but feel yuour right
my point remains even minus the lineup I gave, Enough of the COT style crap, at least let the bodies look like they should
heh not 30 seconds after my last post
http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/15/breaking-ford-mustang-dodge-challenger-reportedly-headed-to-nascar-in-2010/
The new designs are due to be submitted for approval on June 26, and the 2010 NASCAR competitors are reportedly going to be visually closer to stock than anything we’ve seen since the new “aero-matched” cars began rolling out earlier this decade. Unfortunately, the new Mustang and Challenger cars will still be far removed from their stock siblings, and General Motors has apparently decided not to join its domestic rivals and produce a Camaro shell. Both GM and Toyota will reportedly run their current Malibu and Camry bodies, respectively.
[quote comment="53402"]heh not 30 seconds after my last post
http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/15/breaking-ford-mustang-dodge-challenger-reportedly-headed-to-nascar-in-2010/
The new designs are due to be submitted for approval on June 26, and the 2010 NASCAR competitors are reportedly going to be visually closer to stock than anything we’ve seen since the new “aero-matched” cars began rolling out earlier this decade. Unfortunately, the new Mustang and Challenger cars will still be far removed from their stock siblings, and General Motors has apparently decided not to join its domestic rivals and produce a Camaro shell. Both GM and Toyota will reportedly run their current Malibu and Camry bodies, respectively.[/quote]
Thats the same story that Lee Spencer posted yesterday on Foxsports (actually that article gives her credit too). And as Lee is the one reporting it I wouldn’t put too much stock into it, especially since NASCAR has halted development on the Nationwide COT and told the teams not to expect it for 2010.
ahh… lee spencer Enough said. Howies seems to be more accurate than lee is
Acura would be logical compared to the other stuff we’ve been hearing. Didn’t Slick Rick bribe the Honda/Acura guys when he was supposed to go to prison before he”got sick”? Just don’t underestimate the man with the Penske name.
[quote comment="53412"]Acura would be logical compared to the other stuff we’ve been hearing. Didn’t Slick Rick bribe the Honda/Acura guys when he was supposed to go to prison before he”got sick”? Just don’t underestimate the man with the Penske name.[/quote]
Yup in 1997 he got busted for mail fraud and then got “sick”, and then “Big Willy” gave him a pardon
lol