Toyota Camry Will Be First Hybrid To Pace NASCAR Race This Weekend

Wow a Hybrid! I love the environment. I'm going to add an automated tree planting device to its tail when I win this car!

WHAT!? Some hippy-mobile is going to pace a NASCAR race!? Well that is just un-Ameri...Yeah you know what, I can't even pretend to care about NASCAR. Does anyone even watch it anymore?

That it's a hybrid doesn't bother me as much as it's a Camry.

The Camry is and always has been the ultimate non-performance car. It's bought by people who describe their cars by the colour and the number of doors.

"What do you drive?

"A white 4 door."

"The company is placing a single golden can in a specially-marked 12-pack of Coke. Find it and the car is yours"

Just another reason to not buy Coke...

You'd think Toyota would use a 2010...

Jeez. Why not a Fusion hybrid, if it has to be a hybrid?? (For that matter: hybrid? NASCAR? WTF?)

That's pretty funny. I've never seen a Camry keeping up with traffic. How is it going to be a pace car? Camry drivers drive more slowly and brake more inappropriately than all other drivers.

Maybe this will offset the carbon emissions of the the race cars?

roar02ram,
good catch, they're giving away a last-half gen used car. Ha ha.

I can just see it now. Driving around the track in the fast lane at 45 mph with the turn signal on.

Maybe they could put a small white dog on the drivers lap too.

stephen987, A Fusion hybrid did it last year. It just didn't do the whole race, hence Toyota's claim to be the first hybrid for the entire race.

I wonder if it will end up like the Highlander Hybrid used for drivers introductions:

http://jalopnik.com/5261006/toyota-hybrid-breaks-down-towed-off-track-before-nascar-event

Toyota: Moving forward, on the back of a GM tow-truck.

Where's your vaunted reliability now!?

Geez you guys.. The Toyota Camry and Camry Hybrid are built in Kentucky by Americans.

stovt001: All cars break sometimes. Don't be silly. I know of a 98 Camry with over 200k all original. What makes your example of a Toyota failure more important than mine of a Toyota success? They have way more success than failure.

Toyota's success as a carmaker is due both to their production of fantastic products as well as GM and Ford's constant insulting of the American consumer with subpar vehicles. I just had a 2009 Pontiac G6 GT as a rental. It was, at best, a bad joke. At worst, it was an insult to my intelligence.

Basically for all of you reeling over the fact a TOYOTA of all things might pace something like a NASCAR race.. you really need to get over it. It is of no threat to any of your trailer parks.

Ahhh, come on mlowery85. Even you have to admit the Camry is as far from being a race car (no matter what the class) as any car could be.

I've driven both a recent Camry and had a G6 rental too. You know what, I would take the G6 any day over the Camry. Sure it's not perfect but at least it's not so mind numbingly dull that I feel the urge to drive into a post just wake myself up.

At one time toyota built some really good machines. The Supra, MR2 and some trucks that still have legendary followings.

Now they only care about making money selling appliances like the Camry, Corolla and Highlander.

They have no place pushing racing anymore.

mlowery, what is it with you Toyota lovers and your complete denial of Toyota's emerging reliability problem. This is becoming more and more of a common sight. Sure they made ultra reliable cars in the past, but now they know it doesn't have to go two miles without blowing up and the fanboys will defend it with their dying breaths as being the epitome of reliability. I worked at a Toyota dealership a few years back, when the trouble started, and you can only go so long seeing recall after recall (or "warranty enhancement" to fool the simple minded into thinking it isn't a problem) of detaching seatbelts, non-releasing seatbelts, bad camshafts, freezing transmissions, rusting frames, snapping tailgates, airbags deploying when the door is shut, etc. (yes, that is just the start of the list) before the brainless mantra that Toyotas never ever ever break down and GMs always break down sounds pretty stupid. I know plenty of cars over 200K miles from all manufacturers. The quality gap doesn't exist anymore, but Toyota kool-aid drinkers will cover their ears and scream when presented with any evidence against the fact.

+1 on firswagon's comment that it doesn't matter if it's a hybrid, but rather that it's a famously un-sporty car. It reminds me a bit of the bravada they had as a pace car for the indy 500; it's completely out of it's element, in regards that it was designed to transport, full stop, rather than exitement.

...tough you could say the same about most family friendly medium sedans.

And while I have no long term experience with a Toyota, I hope they don't get comfy with their reputation, if they stop being careful, they're gonna fall.