Fearsome foursome: Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford and newcomer Toyota each has talent capable of winning a championship.(NASCAR)

For the first time since Dodge became serious about the Craftsman Truck Series, there s a renewed interest among manufacturers and fans because of Toyota's arrival on the circuit. Having witnessed Toyota's success in other racing series, the big three out of Detroit have stepped up the support for the factory-backed teams with technology and star power.

Last season, Chevrolet, Dodge and Ford teams battled to the wire for the championship. This season, defending champion Travis Kvapil and teammate and former series champion Mike Skinner have jumped on the Toyota bandwagon, so the talent is evenly dispersed among the manufacturers. Each of them has a standout performer who should sparkle this season:

Toyota: Travis Kvapil. In his three years in the series, Kvapil never has witnessed the level of manufacturer support he now has with Toyota. With the backing of Toyota Racing Development and a seasoned racer in Skinner as his teammate, Kvapil should have a rapidly accelerated learning curve.

He was pleasantly surprised by the performance of the Toyotas, especially his second-place finish, in the season opener at Daytona. "We were searching for speed during testing," Kvapil says. "But that wasn't an issue during the race. The Tundras proved to be durable and reliable"

Eric Phillips is Kvapil's third crew chief in three years, but turnover hasn't seemed to affect him.

Chevrolet: Jack Sprague. Kvapil became the second consecutive driver to win a title in the No. 16 Chevy Silverado, and he knows that truck will be tough to beat again because three-time CTS champion Jack Sprague is driving it.

"Winning two consecutive championships in the truck series is a powerful statement about the team's dedication to every detail that translates to consistent performance," Sprague says. "As a driver, it gives me tremendous confidence."