Toyota Captures NNS Manufacturer’s Title at Kansas

When Denny Hamlin’s Camry crossed the finish line first at Kansas Speedway in Saturday afternoon’s NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) race at Kansas Speedway, it enabled Toyota to clinch its first NNS manufacturer’s championship in its second year of series competition. This marks the third time that Toyota has earned a NASCAR manufacturer’s title since the start of the 2004 season. In each of the past two years (2006 and 2007), Toyota has earned manufacturer’s titles in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (NCTS).

The performance of four teams fielding six Camrys — Braun Racing, Germain Racing, Joe Gibbs Racing and Michael Waltrip Racing — all contributed to the first Nationwide Series manufacturer’s title earning Toyota the Bill France Performance Cup. Camry Nationwide Series drivers have combined to produce 18 victories, 48 top-five finishes, 85 top-10 results and 11 pole positions in the first 30 events of the 2008 season.

“Toyota’s accomplishments are the result of hard work and achievement by all of our race teams — Braun Racing, Joe Gibbs Racing, Germain Racing and Michael Waltrip Racing — working in conjunction with TRD, U.S.A. (Toyota Racing Development) and Triad," said Lee White, TRD’s president and general manager.

“All the tireless efforts during the off-season, at pre-season testing and throughout the season, in combination with a talented driver line-up, have produced the exceptional results that yielded this championship."