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[/media-credit]CORNELIUS, N.C. – Michael Waltrip Racing announced today a multi-year contract extension with TRD, U.S.A. (Toyota Racing Development) to keep the organization in the Toyota camp for years to come.
MWR and Toyota entered Sprint Cup Racing – NASCAR’s premier division – together in 2007. MWR currently fields three NASCAR Sprint Cup teams and is enjoying its best season with Martin Truex Jr. and Clint Bowyer in the top 10 in NASCAR Sprint Cup driver points and all three of its cars in the top 12 in owner points. MWR Toyotas have earned three poles and seven top-fives in the first 11 races in 2012.
“Toyota has been the cornerstone of MWR,” said co-owner Michael Waltrip. “They took a chance on us in 2007 and together we have matured into who we are today. It was an honor to be part of the freshman class. Knowing we will be with Toyota for the next several years gives our drivers, our team members and our sponsors a sense of stability and confidence. MWR will be able to continue its competitive rise because we are insured Toyota’s tier one level resources. Toyota is a partner in the truest sense of the word.”
“For us, this is a vote of confidence that we are making positive moves towards a championship,” said MWR co-owner Rob Kauffman. “There is more work to do and with Toyota’s long-term support, it helps us make longer term decisions for the betterment of the business.”
“We look forward to continuing our relationship with Michael Waltrip Racing — a member of our ‘freshman class’ from 2007,” said Lee White, TRD’s president and general manager. “MWR has steadily grown into a championship-caliber race team, and the team is now stronger than it’s ever been. We’re extremely proud of all the team’s accomplishments, and we look forward to much more success together.”
TRD will continue to provide MWR engines from its facility in Costa Mesa, Calif., as well as chassis engineering support from its state-of-the-art facility in Salisbury, N.C.
