Toyota wins Nationwide Series manufacturers championship
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Kyle Busch’s second-place finish for Joe Gibbs Racing in the Kroger On Track For The Cure 250 Saturday wrapped up the second consecutive NASCAR Nationwide Series manufacturers championship for Toyota.
Toyota drivers have combined for 13 victories, 62 top-five and 114 top-10 finishes through the first 32 races of 2009.
“Toyota’s accomplishments are the result of hard work and achievement by all of our race teams working in conjunction with TRD U.S.A.,” said Lee White, Toyota Racing Development’s president and general manager. “All the tireless efforts during the offseason and throughout the season, in combination with a talented driver lineup, have produced the exceptional results that yielded this championship.”
Joe Gibbs Racing has led the way for Toyota this year, with 12 victories between its two cars. Kyle Busch has won seven times in the No. 18, while Joey Logano has won five races in the No. 20 entry.
“We did a little better job last year,” said Jason Ratcliff, crew chief for Busch. “I believe we clinched it at Kansas. It took us a couple more races this year, but we’re thrilled to have Toyota get their second straight manufacturers championship. That’s awesome.
“They do a lot for us and support us, and we’re really proud to be running Toyota Camrys.”
JTG Daugherty Racing is the other Toyota team to win this year, with Marcos Ambrose going to victory lane in the No. 47 at Watkins Glen.
A total of 37 drivers have driven a Camry in the Nationwide Series this year, including Braun Racing’s Jason Leffler, who has started every Nationwide race since Toyota entered the series in 2007, a total of 102 events.
“I feel great because we’ve had quite a few consistent finishes,” Leffler said of 2009. “We haven’t been dominant like the Gibbs [cars], but we have played our part in it. Toyota plays a part in our success for our little team, so we’re glad to do everything we can for them.”
