NASCAR Toyota to join series in 2007

CONCORD, N.C. (AP) -- Toyota is planning to move up to NASCAR's top two stock car series and not everybody is happy about it.
The Japanese automaker, which has competed in NASCAR's Craftsman Truck Series the past two seasons, announced Monday it will also run its Camry brand in both the Nextel Cup and Busch Series in 2007.
NASCAR chairman Brian France gave his blessing to Toyota, telling more than 200 reporters taking part in the first day of the annual preseason media tour "Toyota has proven in the truck series it can be a great partner. NASCAR offered them the best opportunity to build their presence in racing in North America and we're glad they are here."
Toyota will become the first foreign competitor in NASCAR's top series since Jaguar ran in several races in the 1950s.
Team owner Jack Roush, who runs cars in each of the three top NASCAR series and whose drivers have won two of the last three Cup titles, offered a warning about Toyota's move up.
"If NASCAR manages to get in front of Toyota and tell them what they want to do and enforce it, they'll be the first sanctioning body that ever did that," said Roush, whose team runs Fords. "I'll watch with some interest, I'd like to say from a safe distance, but my distance is not far enough to be safe."
Concerns
Toyota, which is becoming increasingly successful in the U.S. even as General Motors and Ford struggle, has previously been involved in American sports car racing and open-wheel racing. The company has been known in the past for inflating the cost of racing with its free spending, sometimes dominating the series and having a major effect on the rules before leaving for greener pastures.