TOYOTA TIDBITS

KYLE CAPTURES TOYOTA’S FIRST TITLE: Camry driver Kyle Busch gave Toyota its first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) title when he won the 2015 NSCS driver’s championship on Sunday, Nov. 22. Busch won the NSCS season finale race at Homestead-Miami Speedway to capture his first-career Cup Series championship, capping off a season in which the driver rallied to win four of five races during the summer stretch after missing the first 11 races while recovering from injuries. Since Toyota entered NSCS competition in 2007, Camry drivers have tallied 79 victories over nine seasons and Busch has the most Sprint Cup victories in a Toyota (30) and captured the Camry’s first NSCS checkered flag in 2008 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

TUNDRA TRIUMPH FOR JONES: Tundra driver Erik Jones won the 2015 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) driver’s championship to conclude a three-win rookie campaign in the No. 4 Tundra. The 19-year-old driver became the youngest champion in series history and was also the first champ to earn Rookie of the Year honors in the same season. Jones’ title was the third-straight NCWTS triumph for Toyota after he bested second-place Tyler Reddick and Tundra driver Matt Crafton, who won the previous two Truck Series championships (2013-14). In addition to the driver’s title, Toyota won the NCWTS manufacturer’s championship – the Tundra’s eighth total title (2006-10, 2013-15) – and the manufacturer has tallied six total driver’s championships (Todd Bodine in 2006 and 2010, Johnny Benson in 2008,Crafton in  2013-14 and Jones in 2015). Kyle Busch Motorsports also won the owner’s championship for the fourth time since 2010.

TOYOTA TROPHY PARADE LAPS: After Busch and Jones won the NSCS and NCWTS titles, respectively, the Toyota drivers recently visited Toyota facilities in California and Texas. With his NSCS trophy in tow, Busch traveled to Torrance, California to celebrate with Toyota team members at Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A. on Monday.  Meanwhile, Jones visited the manufacturing facility that builds the Toyota Tundra, Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Texas, Inc., in San Antonio Wednesday.

ROOKIE HONORS FOR SUAREZ: In addition to Toyota championships in the NSCS and NCWTS, Camry driver Daniel Suarez won Rookie of the Year honors in the NASCAR XFINITY Series (NXS). In his first full-time season, Suarez finished fifth in the NXS point standings after eight top-five results, 18 top-10s and three pole positions. In addition to his NXS finishes, Suarez also tallied seven top-fives and 10 top-10s in 13 NCWTS starts.

LOOKING TO 2016: Toyota is not only eager to defend its titles in the NSCS and NCWTS in 2016, but the manufacturer will also debut as a Founding Partner of Daytona International Speedway when the season opens in February. The Toyota Injector is a new entry way, as part of the historic renovation known as Daytona Rising, through which fans will arrive at The World Center of Racing. The Toyota Injector spans four concourse levels and more than 20,000 square feet and will feature fan entertainment as well as 60,000 square feet of outdoor activation space to enhance the total consumer experience. The 2016 Toyota Camry will serve as the official pace car for the 2016 Daytona 500.

NOTES, QUOTES & NUMBERS

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS): Camry drivers Kyle Busch (first), Carl Edwards (fifth), Denny Hamlin (ninth), Matt Kenseth (15th) and Clint Bowyer (16th) finished in the top-16 in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) point standings … Camry drivers won 14 NSCS races this season, tying the most victories the manufacturer has had in a single season (2013) … Busch (five wins), Kenseth (five), Edwards (two) and Hamlin (two) won NSCS races for Toyota in 2015 …Five Camry drivers – Bowyer, Busch, Edwards, Hamlin and Kenseth – qualified for the 2015 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, the most Camrys Toyota has ever qualified for the postseason.

KYLE BUSCH, No. 18 M&M’s Crispy Camry Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing

What were you thinking as you crossed the finish line?

“There was some emotion that came through crossing the start‑finish line. Actually coming out of Turn 4, not being crazy, but there was a tear that did go across my cheek because of the G‑forces I was pulling out of Turn 4 and I was like, ‘Are you serious?’ Like, wow, and then I crossed the start‑finish line and I was just so excited and yelling at my team and everything and then it was like trying to keep it all together and it was starting to fizzle up. I thought of a lot of different things in that moment crossing the start‑finish line. I just remember thinking of everything that’s gone on this year – thinking of my wife (Samantha Busch) and Brexton (son) and this race team, and then I thought of how long M&M’s has been in the sport – how much it means to them – and Toyota has been in the sport, this is a first for them.”

JOE GIBBS, team owner, No. 18 M&M’s Crispy Camry Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing

Why is this title so important to your partners?

“We had all the firsts.  It was a first for Toyota, which was a thrill for us – they’ve been such a great partner and to finally get a trophy for them, for Toyota, I appreciate each and every one of them and all those guys that were here. It was a first for M&M’s and Mars. Think about that – they’ve been in the sport 25 years supporting this sport and this is their first championship – just a huge deal. Obviously for Kyle (Busch, driver) and Adam (Stevens, crew chief), this is obviously a big deal also for them and a first for all those people.”

NASCAR XFINITY Series (NXS): Camry drivers Daniel Suarez (fifth) and JJ Yeley (12th) finished in the top-15 in the NASCAR XFINITY Series (NXS) point standings … Camry drivers won 11 NXS races in 2015 … Kyle Busch (six wins), Denny Hamlin (three) and Erik Jones (two) won NXS races for Toyota in 2015.

DANIEL SUAREZ, No. 18 ARRIS Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing

How was the season overall and what does the Rookie of the Year title mean to you?

“It’s been a long journey so far, but a very fun one. This 2015 we had as a goal early on in the year to try to get the Rookie of the Year and try to be strong, trying to learn and trying to be contending for some wins. We didn’t win, but we were close several times. We run in the front. I don’t think it was a surprise anymore to see the ARRIS Toyota Camry No. 18 in the front, which for me is something really good. I want to thank everyone in Joe Gibbs Racing for all the hard work, and not just with the race car to make it fast, with me, as well, to teach me so many things, to try to improve myself and to try to learn as fast as possible.”

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS): Tundra drivers Erik Jones (first), Matt Crafton (third),  Johnny Sauter (fourth), Timothy Peters (fifth), Cameron  Hayley (sixth), Ben Kennedy (ninth) finished in the top-10 in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) point standings  … Tundra drivers won 14 races in 2015 … Crafton (six wins), Jones (three), Kyle Busch (two), Peters (two) and Christopher Bell (one) won NCWTS races for Toyota in 2015.

ERIK JONES, No. 4 Toyota Tundra, Kyle Busch Motorsports

How were you able to win the Truck Series championship?

“I think a lot of it was just being with a great team here in Kyle Busch Motorsports and bringing great Tundras to the race track every week. And I think there were definitely times in the year when I didn’t think we’d be able to do this and looking back and seeing the deficit we were in at some points and just being able to really to pull together and make this all happen here at the end of the year, man, it was just so, so special for everybody here. I’ve had a great three years with these guys and I couldn’t think of a better way to thank them.”

KYLE BUSCH, team owner, No. 4 Toyota Tundra, Kyle Busch Motorsports

Why is this championship so special for Kyle Busch Motorsports?

“It’s just special to everyone at Kyle Busch Motorsports. We’ve been in existence for six seasons and this is obviously our fourth championship, but our first driver’s championship and it means so much more to have the opportunity to help these younger drivers and to help these kids that are coming up thought the ranks to succeed and be successful and to do that with Kyle Busch Motorsports and Toyota.”

FINAL TOYOTA 2015 NASCAR STATISTICS

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