The coming Japanese invasion.(NASCAR)

A reader wanted the SPORTING NEWS to set up a poll questioning stock car fans about their NASCAR allegiances given Toyota's entrance into Nextel Cup next season. Will fans stick with NASCAR when Toyota goes racing?

I firmly believe NASCAR doesn't give a damn what fans think as long as the check is in the mail. And to add salt to the non-American-based-automakers-invasion-of-NASCAR wound, don't be surprised if Honda is the next manufacturer to join the party.

Let's face it. General Motors cut 30,000 jobs and lost $10 billion last year. Toyota posted a 39 percent gain in fourth quarter profit. Honda vehicle sales are up 6.6 percent compared to the same time last year. NASCAR is not going to turn down the opportunity to benefit financially from two stable auto giants when GM is contemplating how many employees to ax next week.

Give Ford credit. At least its racing program had enough sense to merge its engine programs to create a stronger product before Toyota's arrival. Dodge has three independent entities building engines when all of DaimlerChrysler's research and development funding could be consolidated into one program. GM has four.

Consolidation of technology is the only solution for the Big Three American automakers to compete at a financial level anywhere close to what Toyota will bring.

Since 1998, every Formula 1 champion has been on a factory-owned team. The time will soon come in NASCAR when only factory-backed teams will survive. Currently, 41 teams compete full time in Nextel Cup. Once Toyota and Honda come on hoard, it would be easy to cut that to 40, or seven or eight teams per manufacturer.

My view of how the teams will line up: