It Must be “Start a NASCAR Rumor Day”
What, you didn’t know Friday was “Start a NASCAR Rumor Day?” Don’t feel left out of the loop, I just designated it for my own selfish purposes. (And I couldn’t think of a better title)
The genesis of this “hot of the presses” rumor is an article printed in the Cincinnati Business Courier. (H/T Autoblog)
According to the Courier, Toyota Motor North America has been named among the best companies for diversity by Black Enterprise. The magazine named Toyota among the 10 Best Companies in Marketing Diversity for efforts including advertising, promotions, community outreach and scholarships. They were also noted as one of the 10 Best Companies in Supplier Diversity.
It was that award for Marketing Diversity that got me in line to buy a ticket to ride the “Rumor Railroad.”
Anyone guess where I’m going with this yet? No! Ok, think Bill Davis Racing. Think Toyota.
Think Bill Lester, a Bill Davis Toyota Tundra NCTS driver that will attempt to make his second NEXTEL Cup start at MIS this weekend.
There you have it, the genesis of the latest NASCAR silly season rumor. It has all the ingredients.
A company that is not only serious about diversity, but wins awards for its efforts in “advertising, promotions and community outreach.” A company that is already in NASCAR and has Lester under contract with Bill Davis Racing, a team that is known to be one of 3 Toyota teams to run NEXTEL Cup in 2007.
Disclamer: If wrong don’t cry to me, go see Toyota, they hold the TRD purse strings not me. But if I’m right… I’ll be sneezing rainbows and you’ll never hear the end of it.
UPDATE: Here’s proof, however small, Lester deserves a shot in Cup. He qualified the BDR Dodge, 34th in the 43-car Michigan field.
TRD, Toyota, NASCAR, NEXTEL Cup, NCTS, Bill Lester, Auto Racing, Motorsports, Full Throttle
NASCAR makes much of their “alleged” diversity program, but when you get right down to it there are no minority drivers to speak of and nary a non-anglo face in the garages.
It would be refreshing for a company like TRD to invest in a season of rides behind Lester, as opposed to the tokenistic one race “see, we gave ___________(insert name as desired) a chance and he couldn’t make it” approach.
His record in trucks is not that awe inspiring (no wins?) but he seems to be the up front guy deserving to make it or break it in NASCAR. Besides, even if he doesn’t win, he would fit right in with the other 33 drivers who never seem to win either!
Her’e one fan who hopes your new rumor machine output makes to the ears and brains in Daytona and TRD.
I’d love to see Bill Lester get one of the Bill Davis rides.
Ran into him at Martinsville a couple years back by complete chance. Litterally. I wasn’t watching where I was going and backed right into him. Talk about embarrased. He is one of the nicest people you will ever meet. It wasn’t that “I’m so tired from signing autographs for three hours” forced politeness. It was genuine.
Performance in his first cup start didn’t melt the asphalt, but he kept the fenders on it. Considering it was a BDR car, I’d chalk it up as decent. BDR’s equipment is junk. Mainly from the lack of factory support from Dodge. They’ve pretty much just been in “hang in there” mode, waiting for their manufacturer to step up. Now that the are, BDR will be out of excuses soon, and they will have to perform next year.
Rumor machine George? My mind hardly works or appears to be anything close to a machine.
Think of that luke-warm bowl of oatmeal you had as a kid (with over ripe bananas) and you get the idea. However, on occasion I do have flashes of brilliance even if they are fueled by a combo of nitrious and Pabst Blue Ribbon.
Thanks for confirming my previous opinion of Lester Luke. My access to him has been limited but what I have seen has given me a positive feeling as to his character.
You’re welcome Marc. That’s the only time I’ve ran into him though.