Davis threatens Ford pull out from NASCAR

UPDATE A reader writes, Dear AutoRacing1.com, Ford has a choice, they can stay in NASCAR and look like monkeys when Toyota annihilates them, which in turn will further reduce their car sales, or they could take that $50 to $100 million they spend every year over to Champ Car where they are the exclusive engine supplier. With that level of effort Ford could do for Champ Car what Winston did for NASCAR and together they can grow Champ Car, and as Champ Car's popularity rose, and TV ratings rose, Ford will enjoy the exclusive benefits. So Ford can continue to beat their head against a wall in trying to beat Toyota's deep pockets, or it can do the smart thing and support a series where they can advertise they are winners….instead of losers. Dirk Kirpatrick

11/01/06 “If you look at the engineers I have lost, they (Toyota) are a predator as far as I'm concerned. At some point, if that money gets so high that we decide we can spend it on something else and sell more cars and trucks, we're going to do something else." — Dan Davis, Director of Ford Racing Technology, on claiming he lost its top engineer to Toyota which offered a 200-300% raise.

“We've been doing this for 50-plus years, so we've seen manufacturers come and sometimes go. And we've seen manufacturers have a dominant run. It's our job to make sure the rules package are even, balanced… NASCAR's not going to stay in the past when the world's moving forward."– Brian France, NASCAR Chairman of the Board and CEO

There is no rule that NASCAR can implement that can stop Toyota from stealing away the best "talent." Toyota will eventually dominate Nextel Cup like they now dominate the Truck series.

Sunday’s ESPN Outside the Lines will examine Toyota's anticipated 2007 debut into the NASCAR Nextel Cup series. (November 5, 9:30 a.m. ET on ESPN; re-air noon Sunday on ESPNEWS) The Toyota Camry's entry marks the first time a Japanese manufacturer will be competing, and many owners and fans are nervous, criticizing Toyota's spending and technological onslaught. Toyota insists it has earned its way into the world’s most popular stock car racing series, and today is a part of America. ESPN NASCAR reporter Mike Massaro presents views from both sides of the issue. NASCAR driver Jeff Burton, currently fifth in NASCAR’s “Chase for the NEXTEL Cup," will be among host Bob Ley’s guests Sunday.