NASCAR wants to thank Bernie Ecclestone for this one

Who would have thought that Bernie Ecclestone and his of bastion of extravagance - Formula One - would help NASCAR teams to maybe, save some cash?

Toyota Craftsman truck teams are racing, and winning races with used engines. 

With his win in the Craftsman Truck Series at Gateway this past weekend, Johnny Benson has won back to back events with engines that had been run in previous races.

Toyota began phasing in their used engine program around mid-season.

Laerte Zatta, Toyota's NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Manager says that Toyota is comfortable that the engines are good for 800 miles or so.  Only routine maintenance is required during the 800 miles - things like valve spring changes and dyno testing.

"We're able to offer a discounted price to the teams for the engines," he said.

So where does cousin Bernie come in? 

Well F1 has a two race requirement for race engines.  Toyota has taken what they've learned there and brought that knowledge to NASCAR and their truck - and presumably Busch - series engine programs.  One wonders if the France family will take a page from Ecclestone's rule book someday and require similar durability from the Sprint Cup car.

Picture credit: Bill Davis Racing - I think

Comments

[robert bourne]

I have sent the latest Larry the Cable Guy dvd to Bernie as a token of my deep gratitude...and I thought the only good thing that came out of an F1 race was a good nap...

[Vroom!]

FranceCar puts me to sleep too...at least the middle third. Why was Cali 500 miles? Toyota can bring alot to the table, but will the masses ever accept them?