Gibbs & Toyota: Call It, Like, Official

It's been a rumor on the Fanhouse for a quite a while now, but now it seems we're getting some validation.

Joe Gibbs Racing has an announcement scheduled for next week that is supposed to involve Toyota, according to ESPN.

Joe Gibbs Racing is expected to announce next week it will join Toyota beginning next season, sources told ESPN.com.

A news conference has been scheduled for Wednesday morning at JGR headquarters. Expected to be in attendance are team drivers Tony Stewart and Denny Hamlin.

JGR, which boasts a three-car lineup that will include Stewart, Hamlin and Kyle Busch next season, is leaving General Motors after 16 years. The team earned three series championships, including two with Stewart, under the GM banner.

All three of those championships, of course, have come within the last seven seasons as well, making one believe that there is quite a bit of cash being thrown around by Toyota.

For JGR fans, this move has to go down a little bit uneasy after all the problems we've seen in Toyota's Nextel Cup debut. From aerodynamics to a lack of engine performance, Toyota just hasn't solved a lot of the big issues this season.

Will JGR's experience and engineering department be a tremendous asset to Toyota? You betcha.

But I'll go out on a limb right now -- a pretty short limb, that is -- and guarantee that JGR won't run out to the same start that they got in 2007 during the 2008 campaign.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

8-31-2007 @ 8:15PM

cathy said...

Joe Gibbs doesn't want any 2008 championship wins if he goes with Toyota. Look at how many races Waltrip and Jarrett have failed to get into in their first year with Toyota!

8-31-2007 @ 8:31PM

CJ said...

Im not saying it'll happen, but if Tony, Kyle, or Denny miss races like Dale Jarrett has this, huge shit will hit the fan! I know Tony has past champ provisional, but so did Jarrett! And talk bout having a bad year and not contending next year, there is some talk that it could hurt their chances this year and that Chevy could pull help and support this year! Im not sure that'd happen, but i'd be a lil ticked if i was GM, but well just have to wait and see.

8-31-2007 @ 10:50PM

Dan said...

Cathy and CJ ... what are you two thinking. Gibbs racing is a real race team, with lots of "backing" ie. Home Depot, Fed EX and Interprise Batteries who have been in NASCAR for a long time. MWR, BDR (well BDR has been here a long time but has not done much), Red Bull and the rest are NOT. You guys are nuts. I am not a fan of Toyota Racing and I am not opposed to Toyota Racing. But I think Gibbs Racing has gotten the "short end of the stick" from GM and this is a smart move for both Gibbs and Toyota. I am thinking that Tony Stewart might be a little unhappy, but that will change when he is the leader in the Toyota camp. I am thinking at least 4 wins before the chase for Gibbs racing in 2008.
I could be wrong, but I doubt it.

9-02-2007 @ 9:32PM

JimE said...

Toyota the Great American Myth!!!!
All I can say is there no loyalty in America any more
Toyota has no plasce in our great American sport of stock car racing they are not a american car company, they are a Japanese Company Building cars here in America, I wish Gibbs racing no harm, but I hope they have counted the cost of the fan base loyal to General Motors that they will be loosing, including myself, and the fall out that it will have on their sponsors,and the after market products that they get royalties from. All that I can say is Go Chevy,Ford, & Dodge,don't give those foreign cars a chance, stick together and keep them from winning.

9-01-2007 @ 2:17AM

Don Emerson said...

Gibbs knows what he is doing. Toyota is the wave of the future, catch it or get left behind. We Japanese may have lost the war, but we're going to end up with your country anyway. Thanks for giving it to us. Money talks.....and patriotism walks.

9-01-2007 @ 7:49AM

racing20guy said...

Boo! NO TOYOTA! 'nuff said.

9-01-2007 @ 9:07AM

bubbadog said...

I guess Gibbs racing has seen the fantastic success that toyota has enjoyed in formula 1,and has decided to ride the wave of the future which has been pushing the rest of the f1 field for a number of years. after all someone has to fill those slots at the back of the grid.

9-02-2007 @ 4:25AM

annaseitter said...

TOYOTA SHOULD RETURN TO THE INDY RACE LEAGUE AND LEAVE THE #20/#18/#11 UNDER THE CHEVROLET BRAND.
GENERAL MOTOR SHOULD COUNTER THE BIG MONEY OFFERED BY TOYOTA TO THE GIBBS AND SO THE TECNICAL SUPPORT. STEWART ,HAMLIN AND BUSCH AND THE FANS SHOULD VOTE THEIR OPINION ON THE CAR MAKE WHEECH ANY NASCAR TEAM SENDS INTO RACING.JGR IS NOT IN FINANCIAL TROUBLE, NOT SHORT OF CASH, NOT UNDER BANKRUPCY PROTECTION.
WHY ARE THEY SELLING THEIR BUTT TO THE JAPS? LET'S ALL CROWD GENERAL MOTOR MAIL BOX , PHONE LINES AND E- MAIL BOXES WITH OUR NEGATIVE OPPOSITION.FAST.

9-02-2007 @ 10:06AM

Bsweetie said...

NO NO NO Tony is a Chevy man....Gibbs don't blow it

9-02-2007 @ 1:46PM

lou mazure said...

No loyalty in this day and time. It's all about the money. Toyota seems to have plenty of it thanks to the American car buying public.

9-04-2007 @ 3:20PM

Tony S said...

Shame on Trader Joe and JGR team, wish you the worst luck just like the big goon in the napa car. Sorry to say the sport and US manufacturing are going under because of the stupid people who support imports and not their American brothers and sisters!

9-05-2007 @ 11:19AM

R.V.A. said...

Tony Stewart is a TRADER........I am No Longer a fan.

9-05-2007 @ 11:18AM

TRADERS

9-05-2007 @ 11:24AM

I am DONE with NASCAR

9-08-2007 @ 5:01AM

TONY STEWART IS NOT A TRADER BECAUSE IT WAS NOT HIS CALL TO CHANGE WHEELS TO THE JAP CO.
THE SAME GOES FOR DENNY HAMLIN, JJ YELEY OR KYLE BUSH. THEY ARE ALL EMPLOYEES OF JOE GIBBS RACING, NOT THE COMPANY EXECUTIVE , NOT THE OWNERS , NOT EVEN PARTNERS PARTIAL OWNERS. THIS WAS A DECISION INITIATE BY THE GIBBS AND DICTATED BY THE GIBBS CROWD PROPIETORS.WHAT CHOICE DOES THE DRIVERS HAVE? TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT! HOW MANY FOOLS ARE GOING TO BE FOOLISH ENOUGH TO QUIT THE 2nd best most competitive team in NASCAR AND END UP IN A LOW GRADE TEAM EXSPECIALLY KNOWING THAT ALL JOB OPENINGS ARE FULL AT HENDRICK MOTOR SPORT?
LOOK AT WHAT HAPPEN TO BOBBY LABONTE; I BET HE REGRETS HIS PAST DECISIONS.

9-09-2007 @ 4:32PM

kap said...

I have three more drivers I will never support. Why, they will be driving JAP cars-that's not American. I still won't root for that Jr. looser.

9-22-2007 @ 10:13PM

BIG WILL said...

Give it a season or two and JGR will return to using
Chevrolet. They've done it once after having very
limited success with the Pontiac program (which did
drop out of NASCAR a year later) So maybe if JGR can't
get it together with the Toyota's they'll leave our
sport once and for all.

10-06-2007 @ 3:57PM

Jesse said...

JGR, get off your fat behind and quit kissin' the Japanese butt. Read these blogs, the one thing that comes thru loud and clear is LOYALTY. Or in your case, lack of Loyalty. Since when did you ever hear about a Jap on "Thunder Road". All those Southerners are turning there heads in SHAME. Not only have you disgraced the ole Red, White, and Blue. But I'll bet the Confederate Stars and Bars are finally hitting the Ground. SHAME ON YOU !
If the Japanese want to be in the races Fine, bring 'em on, they'll be welcomed ? But let them supply there own Drivers. To have our top Driver in a Toyota. YOU DEFINITELY DON'T KNOW YOUR ASS FROM A HOLE IN THE GROUND