Biffle: Toyota will need time

The Japanese manufacturer yesterday confirmed that they will become the first foreign manufacturer to enter the sport since Jaguar in the 1950s.

However, Biffle never expected a foreign carmaker to race in the series during his career, and although he admits Toyota will eventually be competitive, he believes it will take time before they do.

"I don't personally know how long it's going to take them, but it's probably going to take them a little longer than they expected," the Roush Racing driver said. "It was the same thing with Dodge when they came in, but I guess it's good for competition.

"I don't have anything against foreign automakers, but I didn't think that I would see them in our sport as long as I was racing. I really didn't. I was shocked when they came into the truck series, but I think NASCAR is doing what they need to do to build our series.

"I would say they're definitely a force to be reckoned with. They've been successful wherever they've been racing, so there's no doubt that at some point they will be successful in Nextel Cup.

"It will broaden our fan base and that gives us an opportunity for all of those other people to see our Ford Fusion. Instead of the Toyota Camry, those long-time people can see what we have to offer as well, so you might be bringing people from the other side. Everything they do like that to make our sport bigger is positive."