Chrysler sues Bill Davis Racing for allegedly moonlighting for Toyota [NASCAR]

[NFS4]

http://www.thecarconnection.com/index.asp?article=6087

DaimlerChrysler has filed suit against Bill Davis Racing, which races for Dodge in NASCAR, for allegedly moonlighting for Toyota.

The suit alleges at least one member of Davis's team recently represented Toyota at a NASCAR wind tunnel test in Marietta, Ga., and that NASCAR officials performed aerodynamic tests on a Toyota truck prototype that bore decals from Davis' team and was powered by a Dodge engine.

Davis's contract with the automaker stipulates Davis and his team to can only "represent, endorse or otherwise promote" Dodge products.

Dodge officials were irate, considering the prototype was for Toyota's Tundra, which the Japanese company is racing in the Craftsman Series next year as a linchpin in a stepped-up marketing plan for the pickup next year in advance of Toyota building a second truck plant in Texas. Dodge's Ram truck is seen as especially vulnerable to greater Tundra volume because it attracts a greater percentage of import car buyers to its trucks than GM or Ford.

The suit, filed in a Michigan state circuit court, doesn't ask for a specific dollar amount in damages. DaimlerChrysler pays its designated "factory" teams an annual sum believed to be in the low seven-figure range. The suit estimates that Davis' team has spent only 50-60 percent of this year's money, and asks for the remainder to be repaid.

 

[thedarkwolf]

Looks like they are going to be hurting till Toyota gets into the Wintson Cup unless they can get one of the other manufactures to back them till then.

 

[Mill]

Originally posted by: thedarkwolf
Looks like they are going to be hurting till Toyota gets into the Wintson Cup unless they can get one of the other manufactures to back them till then.

Yeah BDR is screwed for right now. No wind tunnel testing and no shared info.

 

[thedarkwolf]

Originally posted by: Millennium

Originally posted by: thedarkwolf
Looks like they are going to be hurting till Toyota gets into the Wintson Cup unless they can get one of the other manufactures to back them till then.

Yeah BDR is screwed for right now. No wind tunnel testing and no shared info.

Poor old Ken Shrader at BAM racing has been running all year without any factory backing from dodge. Maybe they will take that money they get back from Davis and give it to them . He has been running pretty well lately.

 

[slick230]

Originally posted by: Millennium

Originally posted by: thedarkwolf
Looks like they are going to be hurting till Toyota gets into the Wintson Cup unless they can get one of the other manufactures to back them till then.

Yeah BDR is screwed for right now. No wind tunnel testing and no shared info.

Not only that, but they get no parts, no equipment, nothing. Dodge has cut them off completely.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

I still want to know what engine Toyota's going to use. Remember, carburated, pushrod V8, upto 358 CID.

 

[thedarkwolf]

They are developing a new engine just for Nascar.

 

[Kaervak]

So that's what the hell happened. Now I see why Bill Davis didn't want to say anything about it.

 

[Igore]

They are developing a new engine just for Nascar.

actually, i read (sorry i can't find the link at the moment) that they are gonna use gm engines. its allowable since gm and toyota are business partners. remember they can't make an engine just for nascar. they have to put it in a production model for it to be allowable under the nascar rules. that's why they made the tundra. well partly, anyways, they needed a production model truck to get into the truck series. if they use gm engines then this is a non-issue b/c gm makes a production model v-8 pushrod motor. all toyota engines, at the current moment, are overhead cam. can't use those in nascar.

this same issue is gonna come up when they try to get into the busch and cup series. as of now they don't have a production car that is big enough. ford is gonna face the same problem when they phase out the taurus. but in ford's case i am sure they already have an ace up thier sleeve.

ig

 

[thedarkwolf]

If you read through here it sounds like they are developing their own engine. Nascar must be slacking up on the rules again. Like they did when Ford and then Dodge started using a 4 door. Plus Ford hasn't made a pushrod v8 since like the mid 90s either. Looks like Toyota might be helping out Bill Davis with cash too. Also both Ford and Toyota are pushing pretty hard for Fuel Injection which would be nice.

 

[halik]

why the hell does the engine have to be carburated v8 pushrod? Nascar could maybe intersting if they let the manufacturers show their skill. It would be sweet seing twin turbo v6 camry Plus pushrod engines are things of the past..

 

[Tom]

There are enough racing series that have been ruined by manufacturers, NASCAR won't let that happen. It's drivers that drive fan interest, just like the other major sports.

 

[NFS4]

Plus pushrod engines are things of the past..

Ever heard of a 405 HP/405 lb-ft engined car called a Z06?