Lead Lap's NASCAR News » Toyota

Waltrip To Drive For Swan Racing In Daytona 500

Michael J Smith — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 07:16:33 +0000

Michael Waltrip will drive Swan Racing’s No. 30 Sprint Cup Series Toyota in the 2013 Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. Waltrip will be reunited with crew chief Tony Eury Jr and competition director Steve Hmiel, whom he worked with at Dale Earnhardt Inc.

Waltrip said:

I am thrilled to drive the #30 Toyota for Swan Racing and the chance to win a third Daytona 500. Reuniting with Tony Jr. and Steve Hmiel brings back a lot of good memories and is going to create new ones.

Brandon Davis, CEO of Swan Energy Inc., an independent oil and gas company, bought Inception Motorsports in the offseason and rebranded it Swan Racing.

Davis said:

Swan Racing is here to compete and to build a championship contender. This one-race partnership with Michael puts a two-time champion behind the wheel and the #30 in the mix at the Daytona 500.

David Stremme will regularly drive the car following the one-off deal with Waltrip. He said:

This is a great move for Swan Racing. Michael and I have been friends for a long time. We got to talking last year and from my perspective I thought this would help to further our relationship with Toyota and be a good building block for Swan Racing.

Ford Updates Design For 2013 Cup Fusion

Michael J Smith — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 17:44:40 +0000

Ford Racing has released an updated version of its 2013 Ford Fusion that will be used in the Sprint Cup Series. The main difference being new grille bars that replace the stickered grille unveiled in January. The car also features more design lines.

Garen Nicoghosian, the Ford design manager in charge of the NASCAR project, said:

We had an opportunity to add more personality and detail to the race car. We took advantage of this opportunity and sculpted a more aggressive front end and we added grille bars that are identical in design to the production car. We also added more detail to the fog light housings, and created a more detailed headlight area as well. In addition, we also sculpted a more aggressive hood, and were able to achieve a closer look to the production car. Our race car is even closer in design to the production car now, and we are very pleased with the results.

Ford unveiled its 2013 Sprint Cup Fusion in January. Since then, Dodge and Toyota have each unveiled their designs. Chevy, which is switching from the Impala to the SS — a completely new model (thought it will be based off of the Holden Commodore/Pontiac G8 according to rumors), has yet to unveil their entry.

2013 Sprint Cup Toyota Camry Unveiled

Michael J Smith — Tue, 22 May 2012 17:21:15 +0000

Kyle Busch unveiled the 2013 Sprint Cup Toyota Camry at Toyota Racing Development’s facility in North Carolina. The new model features an updated nose and grille design along with contour lines down the sides, to make it resemble the production model more than before.

The car also has a more-angular rear bumper and new taillights that match the street version.

Chevy recently announced that they would be running a new model called the SS in the Sprint Cup Series in 2013. While spy shots of that car have been circulating, an official unveiling will occur later this year. The car is expected to look like an updated Pontiac G8. Dodge and Ford have each unveiled their 2013 models already.

JGR Close To Signing Extension With Toyota

Michael J Smith — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 15:27:32 +0000

Joe Gibbs Racing is close to signing a long-term extension with Toyota within the next month, according to ESPN.com. There has been speculation that JGR could switch to Dodge, but this news makes those rumors seem less likely.

JGR President JD Gibbs said that the team working on a deal that would keep them with Toyota “for a long time to come.”

Dodge is looking for a team to anchor its program after Penske Racing, the only major team that currently fields Dodges in the Sprint Cup Series, decided to switch to Ford next season.

JGR’s contract with Toyota is up at the end of the season, making them a target for Dodge. Dodge has also approached Richard Petty Motorsports, as it searches for a program to replace Penske.

In related news, Toyota plans to unveil its 2013 Sprint Cup Camry on May 22nd at Toyota Racing Development in North Carolina.

Related Stories

JGR, TRD Announce Engine-Building Partnership

Tim Clagg — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 17:38:57 +0000

Joe Gibbs Racing and Toyota Racing Development announced a partnership to produce engines for use by JGR and other Toyota teams in 2012. JGR has produced its own Toyota engines since the team switched from Pontiacs, while TRD produces engines for Red Bull Racing, Michael Waltrip Racing, and JTG Daugherty Racing. There had been rumors that JGR would close its engine shop, but that is not the case.

JGR and MWR will use the engines produced in the new partnership beginning in 2012. The engines will be built in California, at TRD’s shop, and then sent to North Carolina for tuning. The partnership will produce engines for the Sprint Cup, Nationwide, and Camping World Truck Series.

Given JGR’s recent engine struggles, the team could switch to TRD engines as soon as this season.

JGR has struggled at times with the durability of their engines this season. They have had 11 engine failures so far this season, including practices and races. Third-year driver Joey Logano has been impacted the most by engine problems. Last month at Daytona International Speedway, the No. 20 team had to replace an engine in the first few minutes of practice forcing Logano to jump in teammate Denny Hamlins No. 11. Most recently Logano had to start at the rear of the field for the Brickyard 400 because of an engine change after qualifying.

JGR builds their engines, unlike the other Toyota teams, who receive their engines from TRD.

The combination of JGR and TRD engines allows TRD to avoid laying off employees, if RBR leaves the sport. TRD will lead longer term projects, such as development of the new fuel injection engine.

JGR President J.D. Gibbs said in a conference call that TRD had already helped in several areas but acknowledged there were areas where the team is struggling. He said:

We’re kind of a the point now where I think we can combine a lot of the best attributes that JGR has, the best attributes TRD has, and really have a better package going forward.

This move should help JGR moving forward. It will take some of the pressure off many of the guys working in the engine shop for JGR, and it will allow JGR racing to make their race cars the best they possibly can. Not only will the move help JGR racing overall, but I believe that it will help strengthen the relationship between all of the Toyota teams because they will be working with the same equipment.

Edwards Re-Signs With Roush Fenway Racing

Michael J Smith — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 14:12:50 +0000

Following a month of speculation, Carl Edwards has re-signed with Roush Fenway Racing, the organization announced. RFR said that Edwards has signed a multi-year deal that begins with the 2012 season.

RFR owner Jack Roush said:

We saw great potential in Carl a decade ago, and it’s been a thrill to watch him grow into one of the sports’ premier drivers behind the wheel of the No. 99. We didn’t take our past success for granted when we sat down with Carl to talk about his future. As an organization, we approach each week with an intense focus on being successful in the race to come. Carl’s position atop the points is a testament to that diligence.

Edwards added:

I sincerely appreciate the amazing opportunity that Jack Roush has given me in this sport and am honored to race for him. As an organization, Roush Fenway provides the resources I need to win, and as a driver, that’s the most important thing. We’re having a fun season on the race track as we’re leading the points and in great position for the Chase. That’s the result of a lot of hard work from the men and women at Roush Fenway, Ford Motor Company and Roush Yates Engines. I really enjoy competing with this group and looking forward to continuing that relationship into the future.

In June, rumors started to circulate that Edwards was being heavily courted by Joe Gibbs Racing to take over driving duties of the No. 20 Home Depot Totoya. There was even a rumor recently that NAPA would leave Michael Waltrip Racing and move to JGR as a sponsor for a fourth team, allowing Edwards to move into the No. 20 car and Joey Logano would move to the fourth car with NAPA as the sponsor.

Those rumors were proven to be false, as Edwards has re-upped with RFR.

Toyota Plans To Run Redesigned Camry In Cup In 2013

Michael J Smith — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 18:04:43 +0000

Toyota plans to run its Camry model in the Sprint Cup Series in 2013, but it will not be the same model that currently runs in the series. Toyota is planning on unveiling a redesigned Camry for the 2012 model year, and hopes to incorporate those changes into its Cup model in 2013, the same year that Ford hopes to field its Mustang.

Toyota Racing Development president Lee White said:

There’s potentially a new car coming, a new Camry — it’s still going to be a Camry — but at some point that look will be put into the new vehicle, and certainly for the ’13 car. I think it’s a ’12 model that you’ll see in the showrooms this fall, but the new car (for NASCAR) isn’t coming ’til ’13, so it’s really how we deal with that — if we do it with a decal package on the current car for ’12 and then the whole new car which everyone’s looking out for ’13.

RPM May Be Considering Switch From Ford To Toyota

Michael J Smith — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 14:10:20 +0000

FoxSports.com is reporting that Richard Petty met with officials from Toyota and Michael Waltrip Racing Sunday and Monday, which could mean the team is considering a switch from Ford Fusions from Roush Fenway Racing to Toyota Camrys from MWR. At this point, this is purely speculation.

It also appears that George Gillett is not a part of this deal. Rumors are circulating that Petty is looking for investors so that he can purchase the majority interest of RPM from Gillett.

In related news, Gillett’s Booth Creek Resort Properties sold its Northstar-at-Tahoe to Vail Resorts for $63 million, according to Sirius Speedway. Without the sale, RPM would have been in danger of missing the AMP Energy Juice 500 at Talladega Superspeedway this weekend, sources say.

Interstate Batteries Extends Sponsorship With Joe Gibbs Racing

Michael J Smith — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 17:07:03 +0000

Intertstate Batteries announced that it has extended its sponsorship of Joe Gibbs Racing. Under the agreement, Interstate will serve a primary sponsor for six races for the No. 18 Sprint Cup Toyota driven by Kyle Busch, and one Nationwide Series race each season.

RWR Forms Technical Alliance With JGR

Michael J Smith — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 18:05:33 +0000

Rusty Wallace Racing, which is switching to Toyota in the Nationwide Series next season, has announced that it has formed a technical alliance with Joe Gibbs Racing. JGR will provide technical support for the team’s factory-backed Toyota Camrys. Engines will be provided by Triad Racing Development.