Toyota to review NASCAR spending

He expects the economic turndown and subsequent drops in car sales to impact on the Japanese manufacturer's racing programs, and says there could be a cut in the firm's NASCAR budget.

"There is probably not anything on this earth here that Toyota is involved with now that is not under some level of review regarding budget expenditure," White told the Associated Press.

"That includes everything that we do, everything that TRD does and everything we do around motorsports. There is a review of everything. Certainly if contracts have expired, it's very likely that contracts have not been renewed, or if they are being renewed, they are certainly being renegotiated."

Toyota reported a massive sales decrease in December, greater than those of both General Motors and Ford. It has planned closures in its production plants in Japan for 11 days over the next two months.

However, White doesn't expect that either Toyota or any other manufacturer will go so far as to withdraw their cars from NASCAR, but does predict that overall investments will be scaled back.

"In my opinion, the four automotive manufacturers... the last thing that you'll see any of them reduce is cars on the racetrack with numbers on them competing," said White.

"That is what it takes to gain the hearts and minds of the consumer and of the fans. I think you'll see the four manufacturers still out there, still being represented and still having cars going around the racetrack.

"There are different levels of trying to support that, and Toyota does it primarily with technology, parts and pieces, and engineering support. Those things are all under review."

Toyota will continue to work with Joe Gibbs Racing, Michael Waltrip Racing and Team Red Bull as their main teams in NASCAR's Sprint Cup Series.