3 races down your thoughts on the Toyota.

We have seen the number 7 on 3 different tracks so far this year, and it is early but what are the feelings around the Planet about the change from Dodge to Toyota? I'll be honest and say I know chit about todays cars, but it seems even though the number 7 has no teamates like he kinda had last year that the Toyota is a much better car for Robby's style of raceing.
How much control dose RGM have over working on these engines compared to being restricted with the Dodge engines last year? (That I heard was an issue.) Robby is a great driver no matter what he drives, but will the Toyota put him where we all know he belongs?

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Permalink Reply by Keith on March 4, 2009 at 1:06pm

Other than at plate tracks, Robby has struggled since the COT was introduced. Until Robby and Kirk get some sort of handle on this COT, you can put Studebaker on the hood and it won't make a difference. Time will tell if or how much Toyota is able to assist with that. Toyota power or lack there of, has not been a problem from this viewpoint.

He's better off as far as potential is concerned. TRD has a vested interest to see that Robby succeeds. You can look back and see that non of Robby's previous alliances had any interest other than collecting a check.

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Permalink Reply by Mouseking7 on March 4, 2009 at 2:10pm

Funny how some things work out! Klye said his motor was crap too, and won the race! I'm sure Robby will take a 15th place finish anyday with a crap moter! JMHO

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Permalink Reply by TOG on March 4, 2009 at 1:37pm

3 races, 3 improved finishes- 34,30,15

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Permalink Reply by jamesbtxfan7 on March 4, 2009 at 1:53pm

3 races,My hope is by race 10 to be in top 25,this will take finishing in top 20 most of the time and no DNFs. Go RGM !!!

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Permalink Reply by Shop Goddess on March 4, 2009 at 2:56pm

I believe that Toyota was the best choice for Robby this year. I'm pretty sure that he stated he wanted originally to go back to Ford, but that Roush is the only engine supplier.(?) He did not want to be 9th (or whatever) in line for decent motors, and favored the alternative with Toyota. Toyota has been impacted by the economy, and is laying off and restructuring too, but not to the dire extent of the big(?) three. They seem to have better resources to offer all their racing programs, and hopefully have a more generous attitude toward helping out the smaller teams. The potential with Toyota outweighs the other manufacturers. Unless, of course, RGM wanted to be a 7th (or whatever) Hendrick team.

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Permalink Reply by brian campbell on March 4, 2009 at 3:50pm

only time will tell still to early in the season for a true gauge on the Toyota.
i think he would be in the same place no matter what manufacturer he had.

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Permalink Reply by James Tallant on March 4, 2009 at 5:15pm

I agree, its once the car is rolling through the corners that a stout motor will make a real difference.

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Permalink Reply by GrayAntiMatter on March 6, 2009 at 6:48pm

First three races this year? 34, 30, 15 = 26.3 Avg finish
First three races last year? 8, 18, 42 = 22.6 Avg finish

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Permalink Reply by Philip on March 4, 2009 at 5:58pm

He has not blown up yet so he is doing better than his first couple of years as a owner.

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Permalink Reply by Lance on March 4, 2009 at 6:05pm

The truth of the matter is this. Motors are motors. In Sprint Cup today, you have Hendrick, Roush Yates, ECR, and Penske motors, all of which make big time horsepower, though in different ways. The Ford motor I have heard is more "tourquey" while the chevy and toyota motors thrive on high rpms. I have no clue where Dodge is other than I know the old Dodge engine is behind the curve, which is why RPM is struggling. TRD is definitely putting out a good motor. Among the top teams and TRD, the horsepower advantage is nil. Look at the success of MWR and the 83 car of Red Bull. The 7 is getting the same thing as those teams so regardless of whether or not Robby thinks the motor is crap, the truth is that the 55, 00, 47, and 83 are making it work, he can too. The biggest issue with RGM is going to be can they develop a chassis that rolls off the truck ready to go and is adjustable. It doesn't matter how much engine you've got if the car can't get through the corners. Especially with this new car, you can't drive it deep in the corners and expect to be quick. It's more like road racing than it ever has been, you back up the corner and get back the the gas sooner. I believe the advantage Robby has here is the chassis development that can take place with TRD. The best thing for MWR, Red Bull and RGM to do would be to get on the same chassis and share information as a 6 car team, similarly to how Toyota worked in the truck series. I think that's the key to making this work. If not, we'll be with someone else complaining about how the motor is crap. We need to get past this and look for real solutions.

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Permalink Reply by Turtle7 on March 5, 2009 at 8:48am

Hey Lance... The TV heads at Vegas back up your story about cornering. Biffle when asked about how he drove the track said that you needed to coast on entry roll to the middle and then squeeze into the trottle and power out of the corner. It also seemed that many of the drivers when they had the room were squaring the oval... Going high, coming low and exiting high.

On a different note... TRD is returning to last years oil pumps to prevent cam and lifter failure and recommending the teams run the heavier oil that they used in Vegas. Keep your fingers cross that there are no Kabooms this weekend in the Toyata camp.