TOYOTA NASCAR Notes & Quotes
Week of March 10, 2008

Upcoming Races:
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) @ Bristol Motor Speedway:
Friday, March 14, Qualifying, 3:40 PM (ET) -- SPEED, PRN and Sirius Satellite Radio (Ch. 128)
Sunday, March 16, Race start @ 2:00 PM (ET) -- FOX-TV, PRN and Sirius Satellite Radio (Ch. 128) Race 5 of 36

NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) @ Bristol Motor Speedway:
Saturday, March 15, Qualifying, 9:40 AM (ET) -- SPEED, PRN and Sirius Satellite Radio (Ch. 128)
Saturday, March 15, Race start @ 2:30 PM (ET) -- ABC-TV, PRN and Sirius Satellite Radio (Ch. 128) Race 5 of 35

IT'S TOYOTA'S TIME: Toyota earned its first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series victory this past Sunday (March 9), when Kyle Busch crossed the finish line first at Atlanta Motor Speedway. The 22-year-old Las Vegas-native led 173 of 325 laps in the No. 18 Snickers Camry for his fifth-career win. Toyota's inaugural NSCS victory came in the 40th race for the Camry since joining the series at the start of the 2007 season. Busch's Joe Gibbs Racing teammate, Tony Stewart, finished second to give Toyota a one-two sweep.

CAMRY CELEBRATION: "This is a fabulous day for Toyota to win in this prestigious series," said Jim Aust, vice president -- motorsports of Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A. and president/CEO of TRD, U.S.A. (Toyota Racing Development), following the race. "We are feeling really great about the whole decision to move into the Cup Series, as well as for all of the employees of Toyota to have this day."

KYLE ON HIS CAMRY: "This is pretty special," said Busch, after the race. "We're fortunate to have Toyota on our side with the support they give us and for me, to win the first race for Toyota is great. The Joe Gibbs Racing No. 18 car with Bobby Labonte had always been the one to beat here at Atlanta for many, many years when this place was redone. This means so much to come back here and do this. Overall, it 's great for Joe Gibbs Racing."

TALKING TRIPLE CROWN: In addition to Busch's NSCS victory, the 22-year-old Las Vegas-native also won Friday's NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (NCTS) race at Atlanta, becoming the first driver to sweep both the NSCS and NCTS races on the same weekend. If not for a blown right-front tire in Saturday's NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) race, Busch -- who led 153 laps but finished 24th -- may have won all three.

TONY TALKS TIRES: Stewart's runner-up finish at Atlanta was his best Camry result in four races. Handling problems prevented the two-time Cup Series champion from going for the win. "It was just sliding around," said Stewart, following the race. "[The car was] loose in and loose off and tight in the center. Everything you asked the car to do, it wouldn't do because the tires couldn't take it."

HISTORY HERE: Sunday's NSCS race at Bristol Motor Speedway will be the third trip to the half-mile Tennessee oval for the Camry, but only the second on the track's new racing surface. Last March, Brian Vickers (15th) was the highest-finishing Toyota driver at Bristol, followed by Blaney (23rd), Jeremy Mayfield (34th), AJ Allmendinger (40th) and Dale Jarrett (42nd). In August, on the redesigned, progressive -banked track, Michael Waltrip scored Toyota's best result, a 23rd-place finish.

MORE HISTORY HERE: Like in the NSCS, this weekend is also the third trip to Bristol for Toyota in the NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS). Three Camrys competed in the NNS race at Bristol last March, with Dave Blaney (30th) recording the highest finish among the Camry drivers. In the series' return trip to the Tennessee track in August, Jason Leffler (second) and David Reutimann (third) scored top-five finishes, bested only by race-winner Kasey Kahne.

SHORT TRACK TIME: After the first four races of the season on some of NASCAR's longest tracks, the NSCS returns to its short-track roots at Bristol. The current NASCAR chassis made its debut at 'Thunder Valley' last March, and the race was won by new Toyota driver Busch -- then with Hendrick Motorsports. This Sunday's race is the 21st for the new NASCAR chassis, which is being used full-time this season.

DALE'S LAST RIDE: This Sunday's race at Bristol marks the 668th and final NSCS points race for Jarrett. The driver of the No. 44 UPS Camry for Michael Waltrip Racing has amassed 32 wins during his 25-year career, along with three Daytona 500 victories (1993, 1996 and 1999) and the 1999 Cup Series championship. He will turn over driving duties of the car to Reutimann at Martinsville Speedway (March 23), and will join ESPN as a commentator on race broadcasts. Jarrett will make his final career NASCAR start in May's exhibition All-Star race at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Charlotte.

READY FOR RETIREMENT: "This sport has been very, very good to me," says Jarrett. "I've been fortunate to have the opportunity to meet some special people, and work with some of the best in the business. My career has been full of ups and downs, and Bristol will be an emotional race for me. I can't thank enough people for making this happen."

FAVRE FUELS EMOTION: "I'm very happy with the decision [to retire], but it's starting to hit home a little bit more -- even more [after] watching Brett Favre [retire]," continues Jarrett. "That made me think a lot more. When you see someone like that and they have the appreciation for what they do, I hope that everyone understands that's how much I appreciate the opportunities that I've been given in this sport. I've looked at this always as an honor and a privilege to drive these cars, know the people and make a living at this."

BUSCH ON TOP: With his victory at Atlanta, Busch remains atop the NSCS point standings for the third week, and now holds a 73-point advantage over second-place Greg Biffle after the first four of 36 races. Camry drivers Stewart (eighth) and Vickers (ninth) are also in the top-10 in points heading to Bristol Motor Speedway.

QUALIFYING CAMRYS: Bristol is the fifth race on the NSCS schedule, marking the point in the season when the top-35 drivers in the owner's point standings are guaranteed starting spots in races for the remainder of the season. For the first five races of this year, the 2007 final owner standings were used, making Bristol a crucial race for teams to leave inside the top-35. Heading into Bristol, the No. 00 Aaron's Camry (27th), No. 44 UPS Camry (32nd), No. 55 NAPA Camry (33rd), No. 96 DLP HDTV Camry (35th) and No. 22 Caterpillar Camry (37th) are all near that cutoff point.

LOOKING TO GET LOCKED-IN: Following a 10th-place finish at Atlanta, Vickers has the No. 83 Red Bull Camry ninth in owner's points. Getting locked into each race would be a relief for his Red Bull Racing Team, which spent the entire 2007 season outside the top-35. "We still have one more week," says Vickers. "I don't know exactly where we stand on whether we have to make Bristol, or where we have to finish -- but we just have to keep our heads down. It's all about focus and doing what we've been doing. This Red Bull Toyota team has been doing a great job at being consistent."

HOMETOWN HERO: Brandon Thomas, crew chief on J.J. Yeley's No. 96 DLP HDTV Camry for Hall of Fame Racing, will call the race from his 'home' track at Bristol. A native of nearby Kingsport, Tenn., Thomas' first NASCAR win came at the half-mile bullring as a crew member on a car driven by Rusty Wallace. Thomas will attempt to get his first victory as a Cup Series crew chief in front of his friends and family.

THOMAS TALKS: "My grandmother took me to Bristol for the first time when I was just a little kid," says Thomas. "I was more into drag racing when I was little, and I think I fell asleep during the race. The place has grown so much since my first race there, and it's a cool feeling to be on the pit box at such a great track. I still have family in the area, so returning to Bristol is always something I look forward to."

SUBBING SKINNER: Mike Skinner will make his second start in the No. 84 Red Bull Camry this weekend at Bristol, after subbing for Allmendinger at Atlanta. Skinner plans to run a total of four races for the team, to evaluate the program and to help Allmendinger's development behind the wheel. "If the horse won't run, you aren't going to be able to jump up on its back and make it run," says Skinner. "My goal is to help get the horse to run better because we know we have a heck of jockey (Allmendinger)."

BRISTOL BRINGS OUT BEST: Both Jarrett (1997) and Stewart (2001) have Cup Series wins at Bristol, and with four top- five finishes in 18 starts, Stewart has the fifth-highest driver rating (97.7 out of 150.0) according to NASCAR loop data among active drivers at the half-mile track over the past three seasons. Stewart started on the pole at Bristol in the spring race in 2006 and has led 1,085 laps around at 'Thunder Valley.' Driver ratings are calculated using finishes, average running position, average speed and laps led.

NATIONWIDE NEWS: Despite Busch's misfortune in Saturday's NNS race in the No. 20 Farm Bureau Insurance Toyota, two Camrys scored top-10 finishes -- Leffler was eighth in the No. 38 Great Clips Camry and Reutimann ended up 10th in the No. 99 Aaron's Dream Machine Camry.

POINTS POSITIONS: After four of 35 races, four Toyota drivers are currently in the top-12 in the NNS point standings. Busch sits third, followed by Reutimann (sixth), Stewart (seventh) and Leffler (12th). Camrys have won two races (Stewart at Daytona and California), scored two pole positions (Stewart at Daytona and Vickers at Las Vegas), and have recorded 10 top- 10 finishes.

MIKE'S MARK: Mike Wallace will make his 300th-career NNS start Saturday at Bristol in the Germain Racing No. 7 GEICO Camry. It is the 12th-most starts all-time for a driver in the series. In 299 races, Wallace has scored four wins and 54 top-10 finishes. His first start in the series came at Martinsville in 1990.

MORE FROM MIKE: "It's great to think that I've been able to win races and have longevity that has brought me to this point," says Wallace. "There aren't that many drivers that make it this far in their driving careers, and I'm excited to make my 300th start. If it can't be at Daytona, then it's got to be at Bristol. My brothers (Rusty and Kenny) have both won at Bristol, and I'd like to join that list. The trophy from Bristol is neat and the track is great."

TUNDRA TIME: Busch's win in the NCTS race at Atlanta was the third-straight victory for a Tundra to open the 2008 season, and second-consecutive win for Busch -- who also won in California (Feb. 23). Busch led 39 laps in the No. 51 Miccosukee Tundra for Billy Ballew Motorsports at Atlanta. Todd Bodine, the 2006 NCTS champion, won the season-opener at Daytona International Speedway (Feb. 15) in the No. 30 Lumber Liquidators Tundra.

TOYOTA ON TOP: Busch leads the NCTS point standings after three of 25 races, holding a 72-point advantage over Bodine. Tundra drivers Johnny Benson (fifth), Skinner (seventh), David Starr (eighth) and rookie Phillip McGilton (10th) are also in the top-10 in points heading into the next race at Martinsville (March 29).

LIKE FATHER, LIKE DAUGHTER: Chrissy Wallace, daughter of Mike Wallace, will test a Tundra this week for Germain Racing at Martinsville Speedway, with the possibility of racing in the Craftsman Truck Series in the future. "It's fun that I have a daughter that's racing, which is a rarity," says Wallace. "For my daughter to have this opportunity while my career is still going strong means I may have the opportunity to race against her -- it would definitely be the highlight of my career."

MOVING FORWARD: The NSCS enjoys a weekend off after Bristol, returning to action at Martinsville Speedway (March 30). The NNS will be in action at Nashville Superspeedway (March 22), where in 2007, three Toyota drivers nearly scored the first NASCAR victory for the Camry. Reutimann, Blaney and Leffler led 73 of 225 laps at the 1.333-mile Tennessee oval, settling for second, third, and fourth, respectively, behind race-winner Carl Edwards.