Ventisca
Team Owner
- Joined
- Dec 3, 2018
- Messages
- 2,569
- Points
- 293
My complaint about Toyota is how they have spiraled upward the cost of an OEM even being in Nascar racing... because that just hastens the time Chevy and/or Ford decide to withdraw. As @Revman loves to remind us, Toyota has redefined the business model of an OEM in Nascar by the factory assuming various key functions that were previously team responsibilities.
For example, The Athletic reports that Toyota has spent at least $23 million over four years to develop Christopher Bell as a driver, not including the millions more spent on other Toyota development drivers. Driver development has always been a team activity before Toyota. Or another example... Toyota's factory-owned turnkey engine shop, which TRD-supported teams are required to use, a sharp contrast to Chevy and Ford practices.
My bottom line conclusion: it has become what Jack Roush said it would become. No bueno, IMO.
But if it is allowed by NASCAR and is more effective than the competition -- it is Evolutionary and competitors are at risk as is the nature of competition; unless it reaches a point of such financial or performance disadvantage that NASCAR intervenes or the sport is so irreparably harmed that it ceases to exist.