EXCLUSIVE! Toyota launches its NASCAR Craftsman Series Tundra.(Competition)

At the Chicago Auto Show (page 4), Toyota Motor Sales confirmed its participation in the 2004 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (AW, Dec. 20, 2002), and showed its Tundra race truck. The Tundra will run its first race in Daytona in February 2004.

``Toyota is pleased to be making this step into the professional ranks of NASCAR,'' said Dave Illingworth, senior vice president at Toyota Motor Sales USA. ``We look forward to the Tundra's first race at Daytona. It will be a great opportunity to showcase our American-assembled full-size truck to the stock car racing world.''

NASCAR president Mike Helton said the sanctioning body is looking forward to Toyota coming into the series.

Toyota said it is still working on which teams will run Tundras, but said it could have as many as six on the track next year. Toyota Racing Development will design, develop and build the trucks in its Costa Mesa, California, facility.

TRD developed the 3400-pound truck's 358-cubic-inch, 650-hp pushrod V8 in-house, and will do its own chassis and bodies as well.

Over the last 20 years Toyota has won championships in CART, IMSA, SCORE, CORR, Pikes Peak, as well as NHRA import drag racing and various SCCA classes. Additionally, Toyota has competed in the NASCAR Goody's Dash Series with V6-powered Celicas since 2000, and a win at Kentucky in 2001 was the first by an overhead-cam, multi-valve engine in NASCAR history.

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