Tundra driver Kyle Busch’s victory in Friday night’s race at Texas Motor Speedway enabled Toyota to clinch its seventh NASCAR Camping World Truck Series manufacturer’s championship in 11 years participating in the series.
Toyota remains the series’ top manufacturer after previously winning last year’s title (2013) and prior to that a record five straight NCWTS manufacturer’s championships from 2006 to 2010.
Overall, this is the 10th time Toyota has earned a NASCAR manufacturer’s trophy since the start of the 2004 season. Toyota also earned three consecutive NASCAR Nationwide Series manufacturer’s crowns from 2008 to 2010.
In addition, Tundra racers have collected four driver’s championships. Todd Bodine claimed a pair of titles in 2006 and 2010, and Johnny Benson collected the 2008 championship trophy. Last year, Matt Crafton earned his first career NCWTS championship.
This season, Crafton is seeking to become the first-ever back-to-back NCWTS champion, although he’s facing stiff competition from fellow Tundra racers Darrell Wallace Jr. and Johnny Sauter for the driver’s title.
Highlights from the season include Tundra drivers establishing a new series record by winning the first 10 races of the year – from Daytona in February to Eldora in July – and a 12-race winning streak dating back to the final two races of 2013.
Three teams fielding Tundras – Kyle Busch Motorsports (KBM), Red Horse Racing and ThorSport Racing – all contributed to the NCWTS manufacturer’s title. This season, Tundra drivers have combined for 16 wins, seven pole positions, 60 top-five results and 108 top-10 finishes – with two races still remaining on the 2014 schedule.
In addition, Toyota drivers have led 2,197 laps (of 2,830) in NCWTS competition this season – more than three-quarters of the total laps. Of this year’s 16 Tundra wins, 12 have been by KBM drivers – Busch, Jones and Wallace – which matches the most by a team in a single season.
This year, KBM is also looking to earn a third owner’s championship in its fifth year competing in the series. A total of 23 different drivers have participated in the Camping World Truck Series in Tundras this year, including six – Jeb Burton, Crafton, Peters, German Quiroga, Sauter and Wallace – who have competed in all 20 events driving Toyotas.
The 16 Tundra wins this season is the most victories by Tundra drivers in a single year, surpassing the 15 set in 2010. Since joining NCWTS competition in 2004,
Toyota has won 128 races and captured 98 poles in 264 races. Busch (36) has the most victories driving a Tundra.
(Toyota Racing)
