In a move that has shocked the Nascar world, Toyota Racing Development has announced that as of the end of the year they will no longer be involved in stock car racing. The decision comes after a string of complaints posted to a Toyota Racing Facebook post earlier this week.
 |
| "WhAt AbOuT jEfFrEy EaRnHaRdT?" |
“The will of the people must be honored”, said TRD spokesman Herman Blanche. “We only realize now the amount of anger our mere presence in Nascar has caused the sport’s many fans, and will retreat from the sport effective the end of this season.”
The post in question—one in which three Toyota Camry’s were seen dueling for position with the caption, “Ready for Kansas? We are!” prompted vitriol from a number of Facebook users, who took to the sponsored post’s comments section to register their disgust.
“Toyota in the sport is KILLING nascar!”, one user said, continuing with “This is why i don’t watch anymore!!!1!” Another user said “I will NEVER support a company that sends money overseas—bring back Dodge to Nascar!”
The decision has already caused a major shakeup at Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota’s lead team. A team executive was said to be frantically making phone calls to Chevrolet and Ford, as well as “a kind of a ‘Hail Mary’” email to a former Pontiac Motorsports marketing director.
“When we joined this sport over a decade ago, we were in it for the long haul”, Blanche said. “But the complaints of a dozen or so people on a corporate social media post speaks volumes. We’ll be pulling out our equipment, sponsorship, technical support, and millions of dollars as soon as possible.”
When word of the decision reached those who complained on said Facebook post, most celebrated while others wondered if this weekend’s race was on ESPN or TNN.