Stewart doesn’t care if it’s a Toyota or a Kia
Quote selected text Published January 16th, 2008 in NASCAR News
Tony Stewart said he’s only officially been driving Toyotas for two days now, so it’s awfully early for him to start making judgments. “I wouldn’t know the difference so far,” Stewart said.
“You’re on a two-and-a-half-mile track and you’re holding it wide open. You’re not going to really feel it until you get around other cars. Any driver who says he can is a heck of a lot better driver than me because I can’t tell the difference.
“If we went ahead and made this change a year ago, it would have been a lot more dramatic than it is this year with the car that’s the same for everybody. It’s just, literally, a decal package and a motor package for the most part.”
“We all want to go out and win races and that’s what it boils down to at the end of the day. Like I told you guys last year, I don’t care if it’s Kia decals or Toyota decals, I just want to win races.”
Bookmark to:
- Stewart calls Goodyear’s tires ‘crap’, calls for Hoosier
- Tony Stewart doesn’t like ‘Chase’ changes
- Stewart injured in hard crash in Las Vegas
- Stewart in no rush to sign contract extension
- Could Stewart leave Gibbs if they move to Toyota?
He brings up a good point. With the COT should NASCAR open up to more Manufactures? Think about it, Pontiac could return as a GM decal package, Ford could have a Lincoln model, Dodge with Chrysler, Toyota with Lexus, maybe have Volvo & BMW get involved the only thing they would have to do is create a NASCAR legal engine.
NASCAR fans buy all kinds of cars, so why no open it up to every body with the COT as long as they can make a NASCAR legal engine.
Fisha, whatever car the sticker package would be for would have to be built in the USA. Don’t know that Volvo and BMW build any NASCAR-type cars in the USA, but then again, I wouldn’t have thought the Camry would fit in that category either!
Either way, I agree… Might as well try and relate to as many folks as you can by having a ton of different car types out there. I can see the manufacturers not wanting to because it would dilute their brand presence on the track or some lame garbage like that.
I am surprised that Honda hasn’t followed Toyota over. The Honda-Toyota rivalry in Japan is as big as the Ford-Chevy rivalry in the US. They usually follow each other into just about any racing series…
Why do people make such a big deal about toyota being in nascar I mean the camry is a american built car in georgetown Ky where as alot of the so called american cars are built in mexico or canada,im not a toyota fan but at least they give americans good jobs while ford and GM are shutting down plants here taking away jobs go figure.
The way I see it the cot is just a spec. built car and soon enough NASCAR will mandate a spec. engine to go with it. Everyone will drive the same car just different decals and sponsors. Oh what fun that will be to see the ratings drop further due to lack of intrest in a one mold fits all car race…
I’m actually in favor of a Spec car, because that way we will see who the best driver is. Look at a lot of the Spec series out there, they have some better racing then 99% of the open series, because everybody’s car is competetive.
I’m not.
I think that they should continue to run tube-frame cars, but stick with stock bodies, spec wings and tight front splitter rules (a simple shadow rule like various Touring car series around the world would work).
a) more road cars would be aerodynamic so they would succeed more in racing, a plus for the environment.
b) consumers would get to see a race car that looks very similar to their road car on the track (not “oh wow, those stickers kind of look like the front grille and headlights of my car… I think”).
c) the term “Stock Car” would at least apply to most of the body, overall dimensions, etc.
All the same engine, driveline and suspension rules could stay the same, and chassis rules could be similar but obviously accounting for the differences in track, wheelbase, etc from car to car.
We have already had a Spec series ( IROC ) and that didn’t really satisfy the masses, did it.
I guess you are on your own on this one Fishy…
It’s the total package that makes auto racing fun to watch or booring as the case may be.
Driver, car, crew and the leadership of a good crew chief thats what makes someone stand out not just the driver in a spec. car going round and round waiting for the end of the race to pass for the lead IF he gets help…
To hell with help make a faster car and get the job done yourself “Thats Racing”.
We all know Smoke could drive a cardboard box and win! It doesn’t matter and yes Toyota Camry’s are made in Kentucky who the heck knows where their Ford or Chevy are built anymore? I think they outsourced to India as all the computer companies have done. Hehehe GO SMOKE GO!!!!
Honda will be the next foreign nameplate in the series. Just watch and see.
Bob wrote:
IROC didn’t satisfy the masses because it was 12 drivers racing 4 times a year for what 70 laps a race.
A good example of how a Spec series should work is the Spec Miata series. Every car is competitive, and because of the close racing it produces it has really started to gain popularity.
Where are all the know it alls that a year ago on here sadi , “Tony is too loyal to Chevrolete to ever swap to Toyota. I guess you can file their comments with the other “smart” opinions , like Chad dont cheat , Shrub cant drive and Bud would never let Jr. get away.
Where are all the “know it alls” on here , that a year ago said , “Tony is too loyal to Chevrolet to swap to Toyota”? I guess you can file their comments with the other “smart” opinions , like Chad dont cheat , Shrub cant drive and Bud would never let Jr. get away. Thats better.