NASCAR NEXTEL CUP SERIES

Craftsman Truck Series History The Craftsman Truck Series is one of three premier national series, along with the NEXTEL Cup Series and the Busch Series, sanctioned by the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR). The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series made its debut at Phoenix International Raceway on Feb. 5, 1995. Competitors race on a variety of oval tracks — ranging from half-mile short tracks to the 2.5-mile Daytona International Speedway — throughout the United States, as stand-alone events, or in conjunction with NEXTEL Cup or Busch Series’ races. SPEED Channel will provide exclusive live television coverage of all 25 events in 2007.

TOYOTA IN NASCAR

Began:
2000
NASCAR Goody’s Dash Series

First Win:
2001
Robert Huffman, Kentucky Speedway

First Championship:
2003
Robert Huffman, NASCAR Goody’s Dash Series

First NCTS Season:
2004

First NCTS Win:
2004
Travis Kvapil, Michigan International Speedway

First NCTS Championships:
Manufacturer
2006
Toyota

Driver
2006
Todd Bodine

NCTS Notable Facts:
2006
12 NCTS victories and 14 pole positions

2005
Nine NCTS victories and 13 pole positions

2004
Four NCTS victories and five pole positions

2004
NCTS Rookie of the Year, David Reutimann

TOYOTA IN THE NASCAR CRAFTSMAN TRUCK SERIES

During its first three seasons and 75 races in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, Toyota has visited Victory Lane 25 times and recorded 32 pole positions as well as 133 top-five finishes. Travis Kvapil recorded Toyota’s first-ever NCTS win at Michigan International Speedway in 2004. In 2006, Toyota clinched the series manufacturer’s champsionship as well as its first driver’s championship with Germain Racing’s Todd Bodine.

In 2006, a Toyota Tundra made it to Victory Lane 12 times and Tundra drivers registered 14 pole positions as well as the top-six spots in the final championship point standings. Johnny Benson recorded five wins during the 2006 campaign. Other Tundra race-winners in 2006 were Todd Bodine (three), Mike Skinner (one), Jack Sprague (one) and David Starr (one). Skinner also recorded a series-leading eight pole positions. David Reutimann and Jack Sprague each had a pair of poles in 2006, and both Johnny Benson and Todd Bodine had one pole each during the 2006 campaign.

NASCAR TIMELINE 2002 – PRESENT

JANUARY 2002
NASCAR welcomes Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc., to compete in the Craftsman Truck Series.

MARCH 2002
Design begins on the Toyota Tundra body for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.

MAY 2002
Design begins on the Toyota Tundra NASCAR V8 engine.

FEBRUARY 12, 2003
Toyota formally announces participation in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series beginning in 2004.

NOVEMBER 14, 2003
Toyota announces partnerships with four teams — Bang Racing, Bill Davis Racing, Innovative Motorsports and
Darrell Waltrip Motorsports — to race Toyota Tundras in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in 2004.

FEBRUARY 13, 2004
The Toyota Tundra makes its NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race debut at Daytona International Speedway. Travis Kvapil finishes second.

MARCH 12, 2004
Toyota earns its first NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series pole position with rookie David Reutimann at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

JULY 31, 2004
Toyota earns its first NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series victory when Travis Kvapil captures the checkered flag at Michigan International Speedway.

OCTOBER 16, 2004
Toyota earns its fourth NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series win of its inaugural season with Todd Bodine at Texas Motor Speedway.

2005 SEASON
Toyota Tundras registers 9 wins and 13 pole positions in the 2005 Season.

JANUARY 24, 2006
Toyota announces its three 2007 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Teams: Bill Davis Racing (BDR), Team Red Bull (TRD) and Michael Waltrip Racing (MWR).

NOVEMBER 3, 2006
Toyota clinches its first NCTS manufacturer’s title at Texas Motor Speedway with Mike Skinner’s third-place finish.

NOVEMBER 4, 2006
Toyota announces its three 2007 NASCAR Busch Series Teams: Biagi DenBeste Racing (BiDR), Braun Racing (BR) and Michael Waltrip Racing (MWR).

NOVEMBER 17, 2006
Toyota clinches its first NCTS driver’s championship with Todd Bodine of Germain Racing. Toyota finishes the season with 12 wins and 14 pole positions.