Toyota not fitting in with NASCAR Crash course

It seems that Toyota's expectations for its first year in NASCAR were way off. Especially since its main team, Waltrip Racing, has had only one of its three cars make every race.

It seems that Toyota's expectations for its first year in NASCAR were way off. Especially since its main team, Waltrip Racing, has had only one of its three cars make every race.

Toyota was expecting a good season in its first year, but the three teams they make cars for are not producing at all. Starting with its main team Waltrip Racing, Dale Jarrett is the only of the three drivers to make all the races. Of those races, Jarrett has had to use his former champion status to make at least five races.
Jarrett's teammate David Reutimann has only made five races this season with his best start of 24th and his best finish of 32nd. Team owner Michael Waltrip has only made the Daytona 500 this year. Dave Blaney of Bill Davis Racing is the only other Toyota driver who has made all eight races.
So why is it that Toyota is struggling so much in its first year? For one, I feel they thought they might come out and possibly be able to have some of the success that they have had in the Truck Series. They have been dominating the Truck Series lately with wins and great qualification runs. They also thought that the Car of Tomorrow would be able to help them get closer to the top teams by equaling the playing field.

However, the fact is that they picked less than average teams to open up their inaugural season in NASCAR. Also, Toyota asked Waltrip to put up a three-car race team when he hasn't been able to do anything since leaving Dale Earnhardt Incorporated. Bill Davis was a fairly good choice for a start team since he has been a team owner for almost 17 years, so he has the experience to get it done.
What Toyota should have done was get another team of higher rank to drive their cars. Granted it would be hard to get any other teams to drive Toyota, but a thought could have been toward Chip Ganassi Racing. Ganassi is used to Toyota since they used their engines in the IRL and CART to win many championships.
Toyota might have also thought that they could have been like Dodge for its second inaugural year. In 2001, Dodge came back to NASCAR after leaving the sport back in 1977. In that year Dodge took a total of four wins. Even in 1986, Pontiac took two wins in its inaugural year of entering into NASCAR.
As much success as Dodge and the other manufacturers showed in their inaugural years, Toyota will definitely not do the same. As hard a time as Toyota is having to get more than two cars in a race, they definitely won't even post a top-10. As a matter of fact, I can't even see Toyota getting a win for at least another year or two.
Since this is my last column I won't make a pick for this week, instead I will take a guess of what will take place over the summer. I will be obvious and say that Chevrolet will continue its dominance through the summer. However, I can see a Roush Ford or possibly a Penske Dodge taking at least one win each. As frustrated as Tony Stewart is getting about not having a win by now, I can tell you he will get one or two wins over the summer. His biggest shot at a win is at the Infineon road course.