Chief Unsure about Toyota Switch
NASCAR CEO Brian France has said he remains unsure about how soon Toyota will commit to the Busch Series, despite the Japanese car manufacturers' decision to withdraw from the Indy Racing League at the end of 2006

Toyota's announcement that it is pulling out of the IRL is believed to pave the way for the company to enter the Busch Series in 2007, prior to a full-on assault on the premier Nextel Cup - but France has said he has had no guarantees that Toyota will follow that path.
"Well, we've had ongoing conversations, in particular, because they are in the Truck Series and have done a really great job of coming in, competing hard and all the rest," he said.
"What their plans are beyond that, I don't know and I don't know what the IRL's departure means or doesn't mean. It's really their call. We are the biggest opportunity in the US by a wide margin in motorsports, and I know they have noted that and we'll just have to see what they decide."
NASCAR has a July 1 deadline for entries to next year's Busch Series, and France has said he has had no indications yet that Toyota are planning to make an early switch from their current racing activities in the Craftsman Truck Series.
"I just know that they are in NASCAR now," he said. "They really like what they have told us, how things are going in the truck series, and they are going to review the possible participation beyond that. It's complicated for them and they are going to take a look at it and I don't know any more than that or a timetable of when they are going to let us know."
When asked whether it was possible for Toyota to be given a deadline extension if they did choose to go Busch Racing in 2006, France said the ultimate decision rested with the carmaker.
"I don't know if they would go into the Busch Series, and they are very aware and they have done it," he explained. "They have already been through the system and through the path to get into NASCAR, they have already taken that path.
"They know what has to happen, and it's really they have got to make their own choices. It's complicated, team owners, they want to go in it the right way. I know they are studying it and they just have to come up with their plans, when they are ready to have an announcement."
About this article
Series | NASCAR |
Chief Unsure about Toyota Switch
Trending
Why a British prospect is trying to make it in NASCAR
There has never been a full-time British driver in the NASCAR Cup. But Alex Sedgwick, who is rising through the stock car ranks, wants that to change and could be a trailblazer for European talents to reach the top echelons of the NASCAR ladder
How Earnhardt’s death changed American motorsport
It's 20 years since legendary driver Dale Earnhardt Sr died at the Daytona 500, but the legacy of his crash continues today through the pioneering safety work done by NASCAR
The NASCAR subplots to keep an eye on in 2021
This weekend's Daytona 500 kickstarts a NASCAR Cup season that promises plenty of intrigue courtesy of new owners and a refreshed calendar. Here's what you need to know ahead of the new season
How a second-chance NASCAR ace is rebuilding his career
From a disgraced NASCAR exile, Kyle Larson has been given a shot at redemption by the powerhouse Hendrick Motorsports squad. Replacing seven-time champion Jimmie Johnson is no easy billing, but Larson has every intention of repaying the team's faith
Autosport's top 5 NASCAR machines
The American stock car scene is more famous for its close racing and occasional punch-ups, but there have been some fantastic machines too. As part of Autosport's 70th anniversary celebrations in 2020, we picked out five of its best
Why NASCAR's latest second-generation champion is just getting started
Chase Elliott's late charge to the 2020 NASCAR Cup title defied predictions that it would be a Kevin Harvick versus Denny Hamlin showdown. While the two veterans are showing no signs of slowing down, Elliott's triumph was a window into NASCAR's future
Why Johnson’s playoff failure won’t tarnish his legacy
The last season of a retiring NASCAR great has shown promise, and may have resulted in another playoff push without small issues outside his control. 2020 won't be the year Jimmie Johnson would have wanted, but it won't be what he is remembered for
Why a Le Mans winner is heading into the “unknown world” of NASCAR
Comparing Porsche's 919 HYBRID LMP1 to NASCAR is motorsport's equivalent of apples and oranges, but this weekend one of Weissach's top works aces will pit his skills against the regulars and revive the tradition of the 'road-course ringer'