Toyota is set to announce it's involvement in the 2007 Nextel Cup and Busch series. The announcement is expected to take place from NASCAR's research and development facility in Concord, NC. Toyota has been involved in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series since 2004, garnering their first win with Travis Kvapil in July of that year.

While their move to the big leagues of NASCAR has not been unexpected it will be the first entry by a foreign manufacturer since Jaguar in the 1950's. The move to NASCAR will also mean Toyota's pullout from the Indy Racing League in which they have supplied engines since 2003 when a car powered by Toyota won the Indianapolis 500.

While most likely based on the Camry, which is produced in the US, Toyota will be joining NASCAR just as the Car of Tomorrow program begins implementation which should make for some interesting competition for the other manufacturers and the new cars.

Toyota has announced their entry into NASCAR Nextel Cup and the Busch series for 2007. Toyota originally joined NASCAR in 2000 with their entry in the Goody's Dash Series with the Celica model. They then entered the Craftsman Truck series in 2004 with the Tundra model. For 2007 Toyota will be campaigning the Camry based stock car.



Toyota is expected to announce probable driver and sponsor lineups at the media day event at Lowe's Motor Speedway on Tuesday, Jan 24th.