Fans 'don't like' Toyota entry

Nearly half of a 110,000-strong sample of NASCAR fans are against Toyota's decision to race in the Nextel Cup, according to a vote on the sport's official website.

The Japanese manufacturer announced on Monday that it will become the first foreign manufacturer to enter the sport since Jaguar in the 1950s, when it fields six cars in the series in 2007.

Following the announcement, an online pole was posted on NASCAR.com, with three opinions offered on Toyota's participation in the traditionally American series.

Of the 110,225 people who have taken the survey until now, a staggering 46 per cent said that they "don't like it". Only 31 per cent of the sample said that they "like it", with the remaining 23 per cent saying that they "didn't care either way."

On the announcement of their three Toyota teams being launched in the series, Kim McCullough, TMS corporate manager of marketing communications believed that acceptance would come, on the back of positive feedback regarding their two year-old Craftsman Truck campaign.

"The response to Toyota's involvement in the Craftsman Truck Series has been very positive, and we look forward to building on that acceptance at the next levels - in both NEXTEL Cup and Busch racing," McCullough said.

"Next year marks Toyota's 50th anniversary in America and seeing a Toyota Camry - America's best-selling car - in the sport will be a great way to celebrate this milestone."