2012 Toyota Camry Daytona 500 Pace Car

Camry Set to Pace 2012 Daytona 500

America's Best-Selling Car Will Lead Field in ‘The Great American Race®'

Toyota Motor Sales, Ú.S.A., Inc. (TMS) and Daytona International Speedway (DIS) announced today the all-new 2012 Toyota Camry will serve as the official pace car for next year's DAYTONA 500®.

Toyota will showcase the new Camry -- the best-selling car in America for nine years running -- at Daytona in ‘The Great American Race,' Feb. 26, 2012. The race annually kicks-off the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season.

'We're thrilled to be able to feature the new Camry in Daytona at the season's biggest race,' said Ed Laukes, TMS corporate manager of motorsports marketing. 'We think the DAYTONA 500 is the perfect place to showcase the all-new Camry -- which will go on sale this fall. We knew when the opportunity arose to partner together with Daytona that it would be an extraordinary way to highlight our new Camry, as well as reinforce Toyota's commitment to NASCAR and its fans.'

Camry went on sale in 1983 and since then more than nine million have been sold in the Ú.S. Camry has been the best selling car in America for 13 of the past 14 years.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of Camry production in Georgetown, Ky. Toyota began manufacturing the Camry in Georgetown in 1986 and the vehicle is now also built in Lafayette, Ind.

The 2012 Camry debuts a bold, sophisticated new design with a more spacious interior, improved driving dynamics and an even quieter ride than before. The new model features class leading safety, fuel economy and multi-media technology.

'NASCAR and Daytona International Speedway provide a uniquely American platform for manufacturers to display their technology, innovation and overall automotive excellence,' said Daytona International Speedway President Joie Chitwood III. 'After nearly eight years of competing at NASCAR's highest level, I'm pleased to have the 2012 Toyota Camry pace the DAYTONA 500.'

Toyota has previously provided pace vehicles at several NASCAR tracks, including Auto Club Speedway of Southern CaliforniaSM, Charlotte Motor Speedway, Chicagoland Speedway®, Dover (Del.) International Speedway, California's Infineon Raceway, Kansas Speedway®, Martinsville (Va.) Speedway®, Nashville Superspeedway, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Phoenix International Raceway®, Richmond (Va.) International Raceway®, Wisconsin's Road America and Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International®.

In 2004, Toyota began participating in NASCAR competition by fielding Tundras in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS). Three years later in 2007, Toyota began competing in the NSCS and the NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) with the Camry.

Toyota has won three consecutive manufacturer's titles in the NNS (2008-2010) with the Camry, and Toyota racers have earned one driver's title (Kyle Busch in 2009) and registered 60 race victories in the NNS. In NSCS competition, Camry drivers have earned 36 first-place trophies.

In seven seasons participating in the NCWTS, Toyota has captured five consecutive manufacturer's championships (2006-2010), and Tundra drivers have won driver's titles with Todd Bodine (2006 and 2010) and Johnny Benson (2008), and have earned 88 race wins.

At Daytona International Speedway, Toyota drivers have recorded eight NASCAR wins across NASCAR's three national touring series, including one NSCS win (Kyle Busch in 2008), two NNS wins (Denny Hamlin in 2008 and Tony Stewart in 2008) and five NCWTS wins. In 2008, Hamlin claimed Toyota's first-ever NSCS victory in a non-points qualifying event to determine the Daytona 500 starting lineup.

Source - Toyota

2011 SEMA Show: 2012 Toyota Camry Daytona 500 Pace Car

On display at the 2011 SEMA Show Toyota exhibit will be the all-new 2012 Camry Pace Car, which will lead the field for the start of the 54th running of the Daytona 500® on February 26. It will be the first time a non-GM, Ford or Chrysler nameplate has paced the 'Great American Race®.' David Reutimann, Camry Sprint Cup Driver for Michael Waltrip Racing, will be on hand to talk about the Camry Pace Car during a press conference at the SEMA Show in the Toyota exhibit on Nov. 1 at 10 a.m. Pacific Time.

The Camry Pace Car is based on the all-new 2012 Camry SE, which carries a powerful 268 horsepower V6 under the hood. It is specially-equipped with Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymetric tires mounted on BBS RS 8.5 x 19 wheels, a StopTech Big Brake Kit, TRD custom stainless steel exhaust and Tein adjustable suspension. Safety equipment includes a roll cage, four-point Simpson racing seat belts, Whelen LFL Liberty LED lightbar, and an on-board fire extinguisher.

Camry has been the best-selling car in America 13 of the past 14 years and for nine years running. The all-new Camry features a bold, sophisticated new design with a more spacious interior, improved driving dynamics and an even quieter ride than before. The new model features class leading safety, fuel economy and multi-media technology.

Toyota has previously provided pace vehicles at several NASCAR tracks, including Auto Club Speedway of Southern California, Charlotte Motor Speedway, Chicagoland Speedway, Dover (Del.) International Speedway, California's Infineon Raceway, Kansas Speedway, Martinsville (Va.) Speedway, Nashville Superspeedway, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Phoenix International Raceway, Richmond (Va.) International Raceway, Wisconsin's Road America and Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International.

In 2004, Toyota began participating in NASCAR competition by fielding Tundra's in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS). In 2007, Toyota began competing in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) and the NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) with the Camry.

Toyota has won three consecutive manufacturer's titles in the NNS (2008-2010) with the Camry, and Toyota racers have earned one driver's title (Kyle Busch in 2009) and registered 60 race victories in the NNS. In NSCS competition, Camry drivers have earned 36 first-place trophies.

In seven seasons participating in the NCWTS, Toyota has captured five consecutive manufacturer's championships (2006-2010), and Tundra drivers have won driver's titles with Todd Bodine (2006 and 2010) and Johnny Benson (2008), and have earned 88 race wins.

At Daytona International Speedway, Toyota drivers have recorded eight NASCAR wins across NASCAR's three national touring series, including one NSCS win (Kyle Busch in 2008), two NNS wins (Denny Hamlin in 2008 and Tony Stewart in 2008) and five NCWTS wins. In 2008, Hamlin claimed Toyota's first-ever NSCS victory in a non-points qualifying event to determine the Daytona 500 starting lineup.

Source - Toyota