"Big man in charge of Japan's largest automaker. Take that away, what are you?"
"A badass, billionaire, NASCAR racing driver."
Yesterday, Toyota Racing USA shared a new video featuring Toyota CEO Akio Toyoda behind the wheel of the new 2013 NASCAR Camry. Traveling at speed around the legendary Daytona race track, Toyoda is accompanied by Joe Biggs Racing's #18 Mars, Inc./Interstate Batteries Toyota Camry driver Kyle Busch in the passenger seat. Additional footage also shows Toyoda speaking with a number of other Toyota Racing teams along the pit area. Finally, Akio Toyoda gets cozy with the racing fans as well, participating in a meet and greet with a photo and signature session under the trackside Toyota tent.
A properly entertaining bit of PR ahead of the Indianapolis 500 and the Coca Cola 600, Toyota's years of NASCAR involvement also emphasises that the Camry is an American built car, manufactured at Toyota's Georgetown, Kentucky facility since 1988.
In recent years, loyal Toyota enthusiasts of the past have criticized Toyota for abandoning its sports car development for its pursuit in hybrid technology leadership. Well aware of all the feedback from his fans, Akio Toyoda assures that Toyota's sports car DNA is still alive and kicking as the automaker continues to back its NASCAR efforts while also preparing for the highly anticipated release of its latest Toyota GT 86 and Scion FR-S sports cars this summer. What's more, Toyota returns to the 24 Hours of Le Mans arena this year to field a hybrid powertrain LMP1 class TS030 racing car. Just as Toyota demonstrates its ability to push the boundaries in a variety of fields, Akio Toyoda demonstrates the amount of passion required to run the company.
