Toyota’s move to NASCAR finally pays dividends

Kyle Busch and Toyota Personnel

Getty Images for NASCAR

Toyota in '07 became the first foreign-based engine manufacturer in NASCAR and after 8 long years Kyle Busch won the '15 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship last night with his victory in the Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway, helping Toyota secure its "first Cup title since joining the sport" in '07, according to Jeff Olson of USA TODAY.

Toyota officials following the race "vowed to keep trying for more" titles.

Toyota National Motorsports Marketing & Communications Manager Isaka Kanazawa said, "We used to have the reputation that we would bring a lot of money, win, and then be gone. But we wanted to change that. The bosses told us that we couldn't spend too much money. We needed to continue forward with a smaller amount of money over a longer period of time. We took that approach here." Olson notes Toyota was the "first foreign-based engine manufacturer in a staunchly American form of racing," but its leaders "saw the marketing possibilities."

Kanazawa yesterday "celebrated the weekend's second championship for Toyota," which also claimed the Camping World Truck Series title Friday night with Kyle Busch Motorsports driver Erik Jones. Kanazawa: "I love it here. I can feel that this is a part of our family" USATODAY.com