Any questions or concerns about the Toyota teams evaporated in the Phoenix desert Sunday afternoon. Christopher Bell’s victory in the NASCAR Cup Series race capped off a dominating day for the manufacturer. Bell led 50 laps en route to winning, the …
Any questions or concerns about the Toyota teams evaporated in the Phoenix desert Sunday afternoon.
Christopher Bell’s victory in the NASCAR Cup Series race capped off a dominating day for the manufacturer. Bell led 50 laps en route to winning, the first for Joe Gibbs Racing and Toyota in 2024. Chevrolet already swept the first three races.
Bell, though, was just one of five Toyota drivers who spent time in the front, along with polesitter Denny Hamlin, 23XI Racing’s Tyler Reddick, Martin Truex Jr., and Ty Gibbs — all combining to lead 298 of 312 laps.
“This was a momentous win,” Toyota Racing Development president David Wilson said. “This was the first win with our new Camry body. I was clear to say at the beginning of the year that we have struggled here recently. I didn’t realize this statistic until it was brought to my attention, but the four previous Phoenix races, Toyota’s led a combined 15 laps.
“Today, we led everything but 14 laps. That’s a credit to the Joe Gibbs organization, TRD USA, Calty Design, who helped us with this new Camry body. At the same time, I will say that the secret to longevity in sports — in motorsports — is never get too high when the day goes your way, and never get too low when it doesn’t, because we’re going to be racing again next week. Phoenix will be in our rearview mirror.”
[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1428]
Four Toyota drivers finished inside the top 10 at Phoenix Raceway, led by Bell’s win. Hamlin and Reddick tied for a race-high 68 laps led.
Hamlin was taken out of contention when he spun on lap 215 while battling for the lead with Reddick. He finished 11th. As for Reddick, he never made it back through the field after pitting under the final caution (for Hamlin) while nine other drivers stayed out, and ultimately finished 10th.
Reddick, however, earned the first stage win for Toyota at Phoenix. Hamlin earned the manufacturer’s first pole during Saturday’s qualifying session.
“It was unprecedented how much TRD USA and Joe Gibbs Racing worked together on that body,” Wilson said. “I may have said, because I say this all the time — you don’t race wind tunnels, you don’t race dynos. You could be the best on paper, but unless you have the talent behind the steering wheel and the team and the pit crews to put an entire race together, the rest is meaningless.
“Certainly, what we’ve seen four races in validates a lot of our optimism, but we have a whole lot of racing to go — more intermediates, more big tracks, and short tracks to truly evaluate where we are.”
Through four races, Cup Series teams have competed at two superspeedway drafting tracks (Daytona and Atlanta), an intermediate (Las Vegas), and a short track (Phoenix), with another short track coming next week when the series heads to Bristol. The final puzzle piece — a road course — is just two weeks away at Circuit of The Americas.
David Wilson acknowledges that Chevrolet was the dominant manufacturer by far in NASCAR last season, and as the 2024 season begins, Ford and Toyota are in chase mode. But that’s not to discount the “strong year for Toyota” in 2023. Wilson, the …
David Wilson acknowledges that Chevrolet was the dominant manufacturer by far in NASCAR last season, and as the 2024 season begins, Ford and Toyota are in chase mode.
But that’s not to discount the “strong year for Toyota” in 2023. Wilson, the president of Toyota Racing Development, called the group’s speed in the latter half of the season “second to none.” Not only were Toyota drivers often the fastest on any given weekend, but eight of the 16 polls earned throughout the season came in the final 10 races.
“So, we were not lacking for speed — and mind you that’s the hardest thing if you are,” Wilson said. “We were a little bit challenged with race craft, pit lane, consistency, and as we’ve talked about in particular with this new car, you’re not going to win a championship, you’re not going to win a race unless you perform flawlessly or near flawlessly in pit lane. That’s become a critical performance component in our sport. And I love it. That makes this sport so special. But we need to be better.”
[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1428]
Ford won eight races and walked away with the NASCAR Cup Series championship, claimed by Ryan Blaney. Chevrolet won 18 races in the Cup Series but claimed the manufacturers’ championship in all three series.
Toyota had 10 wins with four drivers in the Cup Series last season and one driver, Christopher Bell of Joe Gibbs Racing, represented in the championship race. None of those victories were in crown jewel events, although Denny Hamlin won the highly regarded Bristol night race.
Denny Hamlin had some highlights for Toyota last year, but Wilson (right) is looking for more from all of the manufacturer’s pack this season. Nigel Kinrade/Motorsport Images
This season, Toyota will have a third organization in its stable with the addition of Legacy Motor Club. It will be the first time since 2011 that Toyota has had eight full-time teams on track in the Cup Series. At times, it will be nine cars with the part-time schedule Jimmie Johnson is slated to run.
“I’d be very disappointed if we don’t pick up where we left off when it comes to speed,” Wilson said. “This new Camry body (pictured, top) is just badass, it really is, and we expect it to be better. We expect it to be better on the speedways; we’ve got two more cars — three with Jimmie — at Daytona, so we’re actually going to have a pack. Our pack has always been kind of disappointing but we’ve got some numbers now to work with.
“I’ll get right down to it — all four JGR cars should win, should make the playoffs. Ty Gibbs, I think this is his year. He’s coming into himself from a confidence perspective, from a performance perspective. We expect Ty to win this year. We expect 23XI (Racing) to do the same — to win, both cars to be in the playoffs.”
The unknown for Wilson and Toyota is Legacy Motor Club. Wilson describes it as a “stretch goal” for one of the two Legacy drivers (Erik Jones or John Hunter Nemechek) to earn a postseason berth. Jones has been a playoff driver before, but not with Legacy Motor Club. Nemechek is entering his second full season in the Cup Series.
Legacy Motor Club is also taking an independent approach to its program. Although it will have the resources, teammates, and data from the Toyota camp, Legacy Motor Club is not tied to the other organizations through an alliance and has brought its pit crews in-house.
“We’re standing with them shoulder to shoulder every week, helping them get better,” Wilson said. “But honestly, we’ve got a lot to be excited about.”
Toyota last claimed the Cup Series championship in 2019. It’s the same year as their last manufacturers’ championship in the series.
Joe Gibbs Racing has two NASCAR Cup Series drivers in contract years, but Toyota Racing Development president David Wilson is confident nothing will change with Denny Hamlin and the No. 11 team. “He will be back,” Wilson (pictured at right, above, …
Joe Gibbs Racing has two NASCAR Cup Series drivers in contract years, but Toyota Racing Development president David Wilson is confident nothing will change with Denny Hamlin and the No. 11 team.
“He will be back,” Wilson (pictured at right, above, with Hamlin) said. “There’s no question in our mind, there is no question in Joe’s mind.”
Hamlin has driven for Gibbs in the Cup Series since 2005 and scored his 50th career victory at Pocono Raceway last weekend. Joe Gibbs Racing switched from fielding Chevrolet to Toyota entries in 2008, and 47 of Hamlin’s 50 victories have been with the manufacturer.
But taking care of Hamlin’s contract seems to just be a formality and a much different scenario from teammate Martin Truex Jr., who has been considering retirement the last few seasons. Truex has Gibbs and Toyota eagerly awaiting his decision about the 2024 racing season.
Hamlin, 42, has expressed no interest in retiring or changing teams.
[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1428]
“We’re working through some details and it’s a complicated consideration because now he’s not just a driver for Joe Gibbs Racing, he’s also a team owner,” Wilson said. “And given that there has to be alignment for Toyota and Denny across both those considerations, (we) just have some stuff that we’re working on, but we’ll get them sorted out.
“I know Denny has always wanted to and intends to retire as a driver from Joe Gibbs Racing and continue as a team owner with Toyota. That’s certainly our intent, and we’re working very vigorously to make sure that, in fact, happens.”
Alongside friend and NBA legend Michael Jordan, Hamlin co-owns two cars in the NASCAR Cup Series for Tyler Reddick and Bubba Wallace. Hamlin has also never hidden the desire to one day expand the team to more than two cars.
Hamlin has 61 wins for Toyota across all three NASCAR national series. He is the second-winningest driver for Toyota behind Kyle Busch (203).
“Denny plays a huge role in our family and I think both Tyler [Gibbs, general manager TRD] and I have really enjoyed watching his maturation,” Wilson said. “Not just as a driver, not just as a team owner, obviously, because he’s very new to that, but as a human being and as a person.
“I’m really proud of that because let’s face it, 15 years ago, it was difficult to have a conversation about the weather with Denny while you’re standing on the grid next to him. But he’s come a long way. I know he put out his goal of 60 wins in the Cup Series. From my perspective that is absolutely achievable given his level of talent and his determination.”
David Wilson loves reunion stories. Wilson (pictured above), the president of Toyota Racing Development, has had a few over the years, and he’s just as eager for the one coming next season. Legacy Motor Club and Toyota announced earlier this week …
David Wilson loves reunion stories.
Wilson (pictured above), the president of Toyota Racing Development, has had a few over the years, and he’s just as eager for the one coming next season. Legacy Motor Club and Toyota announced earlier this week that they will pair together in 2024 in the NASCAR Cup Series, bringing Erik Jones and Noah Gragson back under the Toyota banner.
Jones climbed — and won — his way through the NASCAR ladder driving a Toyota. Signed to the Toyota development pipeline as a teenager, Jones has won in a Toyota in the Craftsman Truck Series, Xfinity Series and Cup Series. He is also a former Cup Series Rookie of the Year.
“Erik Jones is a very special person to Toyota, and his mother Carol and his sister,” Wilson said. “We bonded over those years together.”
Jones and Gragson are just as enthusiastic as Wilson about the future.
When his tenure with Toyota ended after the 2020 season at Joe Gibbs Racing, Jones said he never had any animosity toward Toyota or Gibbs, understanding it was a business decision. Jones has driven a Chevrolet for the last three seasons with the No. 43 team.
“When I initially heard of the opportunity earlier this year to maybe come back to Toyota, I was excited about it because it gave a path forward,” Jones said. “I felt like we were reaching our limitations where we were and what we could do for the future, and I have a lot of unmet goals in the Cup Series at this point. So, for me, Toyota gave a path to meet those goals, so I was more than happy to welcome that news and come back in.”
Jones feels his team was “reaching our limitations where we were” and is better poised to move forward with Toyota. Nigel Kinrade/Motorsport Images
Because he’s quite familiar with the Toyota system, Jones doesn’t feel there will be much change for him next season. Jones looks forward to working with many of the same people he’s known for quite some time.
“I already know Toyota’s commitment and how things work and how things run, and it makes me excited as a driver going in knowing some of the resources that we’re going to have going forward to continue building the program.
‘It’s been fun for me with the 43 car, and I’ve seen enough change in three years. I think we’re ready to settle in and really start to build the program that we want to see.”
[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1428]
Resources are what Gragson is also most looking forward to — not just on the racetrack but off it with the Toyota performance center. When Gragson was in the Toyota pipeline that program was still relevantly young, but now, it’s one of the most important tools Toyota drivers use for training, nutrition and more.
“I’m excited,” Gragson said. “The main thing to me is when I came over here midseason last year and met with Maury [Gallagher] and Mike Beam, they told me, ‘We want to do this and we want to do it right and we want to do it quick.’ You hear that from time to time, but these guys are involved, and they’re making moves, and they’re making stuff happen.
“Seeing Maury’s vision to bring Jimmie [Johnson] in and the steps they’ve been putting into place so far in a short time has been really exciting to see. This is another step of the journey, and I’m excited to be a part of it. I’m excited to get back in a Toyota. I know a little bit — I was in the KBM stable with Toyota in the Truck Series, so I might not know the full extent of what it’s like in the Cup Series, but I know that Toyota truly is a family.”
Gragson is eager to hang his hat back in the Toyota tent. “I know that Toyota is truly a family.” Nigel Kinrade/Motorsport Images
Jones drove a Toyota in all three series from 2013 through 2020, winning 18 races across the three national series for Kyle Busch Motorsports and Joe Gibbs. Gragson drove a Toyota truck for Busch from 2016 through 2018 and also made three Xfinity Series starts in a Gibbs Toyota in 2018. Gragson has two wins driving a Toyota.
However, a lot of Gragson’s success in recent years had come while driving a Chevrolet when he moved to JR Motorsports. Gragson also understood there was no fit for him to stay in a Toyota and the timing wasn’t right. But he maintained his relationship with those at Toyota through text messages and conversations.
Wilson described Gragson as a tremendous character and great for the sport.
“He is a talent,” said Wilson. “I love the personality, but he can wheel a race car, and that’s what I love even more. We look forward to getting them back behind the wheel of Toyotas next year.”
Both drivers will return to the Toyota camp with more experience. Jones said he feels more well-rounded nowadays and has learned more in the last three years than in the previous years.
“I felt like, as a young guy coming into Cup, I didn’t always know how to take advantage of everything and the resources that were available to me,” said Jones. “Going through these years now and learning as a person and a driver, I think the resources will be taken much more advantage of on my end. So, I’m excited about that.”
Gragson’s career as a Cup Series driver is still young, but he continues to be surrounded by the best people and, next season, with somewhat familiar equipment. Gragson will be a sophomore in the Cup Series next season as Jones goes into his seventh full season.
“I wouldn’t say I forecast that both or either Erik or Noah would be driving a Toyota again. What I knew in my heart is given the opportunity and the circumstance to drive a Toyota again that they would be happy,” Wilson said. “Again, this comes back to what I think is most important in our driver development program, and that is we take a tremendous personal responsibility in those relationships and the fact that we have some influence on them. We take that very seriously, and in the course of that, you develop relationships.
“I subscribe to karma, if you will, in that good things happen with that. You have to be careful in this garage because, in the end, it’s a pretty small garage. This is a feel-good story from my perspective, from Toyota’s perspective, to have two tremendous people back in the family.”
In general, the New York Giants’ drafts have brought back either a solid player or a non-contributor over the last 22 years.
The worst two picks by the franchise were significant misses, even considering their track record. Baker played poorly as a rookie due to limited athleticism, had off-field issues, and then had a gruesome non-contact knee injury. He was the first player drafted in the top 64 released from his class.
The Giants’ 2012 first-rounder, David Wilson, ran for only 504 yards in two years with the team before injuries sunk his career. He was taken before Mitchell Schwartz, Janoris Jenkins, and Alshon Jeffrey.
Runner-up: David Wilson (2012)
The Giants traded back into the first round in 2019 to select Baker, the Jim Thorpe Award winner in 2018 as the nation’s top corner, giving Seattle three picks (37th, 132nd and 142nd) to do so.
Baker was a disaster from Day 1 and not only was he not long for the Giants, but they also lost out on several key mid-round draft picks as well. It was a complete lose-lose situation all the way around — on and off the field.
Wilson simply was a speedy home run hitter who was better suited for track and field than the NFL. He sustained a neck injury early on with the Giants and was forced to retire from football.
Following the loss of Evan Engram, the New York Giants have now had 11 straight Round 1 picks fail to play on a second long-term contract.
As the league’s legal tampering period opened last week, New York Giants tight end Evan Engram was one of the more highly coveted free agents heading into the open tight end market.
Engram’s departure puts the tight end in all too familiar territory for Giants first-round draft picks. Engram, like so many of the team’s recent Round 1 draft picks, will depart without getting a lucrative deal from Big Blue.
Evan Engram's departure makes it 11 straight Giants first-round picks who didn't get or play a long-term second contract with the team. ELEVEN! Last one to do so was Kiwanuka (JPP pieced together a few short term deals and Odell was signed then traded). That's a loooong stretch.
Though there are a few outliers, as Tom Rock notes, most players never even had the opportunity for a short-term contract after their rookie deal expired. Engram is the latest.
Those 1st round picks:
Aaron Ross Kenny Phillips Hakeem Nicks JPP Prince Amukamara David Wilson Justin Pugh Odell Beckham Jr. Ereck Flowers Eli Apple Evan Engram
Aaron Ross, Hakeem Nicks, Kenny Phillips, Jason Pierre-Paul and Prince Amukamara all contributed to least one of the Giants’ recent Super Bowls. But, for the most part, their prime years were short-lived as the team moved on at the right time.
The sole exception is JPP, who is still playing at a high level but never got a lucrative long-term deal from the Giants before being traded.
David Wilson and Ereck Flowers were unlucky picks by the Giants as Wilson’s career ended early due to injury and Flowers was one of the biggest busts in franchise history. However, Flowers did go on to be a formidable option for other teams following his time with Big Blue.
The departures of Odell Beckham Jr. and Eli Apple were the most drama-filled on the list. And while Beckham still has some love for Big Blue, Apple can’t decide which one of his former team’s fan bases he hates more.
Of course, the Giants’ next shot at breaking the streak will be Saquon Barkley. After his rookie year it seemed as though he would be a Giant for life, but after the last few years of injury-filled football, Barkley may not be a Giant much longer — many speculate that he might currently be on the trading block.
After that it will be Daniel Jones and Dexter Lawrence from the 2019 NFL draft class — a class where the Giants already have a failed with one of their first-round picks (Deandre Baker).
Current general manager Joe Schoen obviously hopes to buck this trend.
It’s no secret that Clemson possesses the most unique entrance in college football. In just a few short weeks the Tigers will leave the playing surface to board the team buses in the west end zone and drive around to the top of the hill for the …
It’s no secret that Clemson possesses the most unique entrance in college football.
In just a few short weeks the Tigers will leave the playing surface to board the team buses in the west end zone and drive around to the top of the hill for the “most exciting 25 seconds in college football” before they take on South Carolina State on Sept. 11 at Death Valley.
And this time the moment will be sweeter after a limited number of fans attended games last season due to COVID-19 protocols.
A panel of ESPN writers gave their thoughts on the traditions that make college football different from any other game. One of the topics the writers broke down was the best stadium entrance and the consensus pick did not surprise.
“I’ve been to Clemson only once, but what a game I saw: Clemson vs. Louisville in 2016. Deshaun Watson vs. Lamar Jackson. The Tigers’ run down the hill was absolutely electric — my second favorite moment next to hugging Ryan McGee in the press box,” Adam Rittenberg said in the discussion. “But it’s hard to top the anticipation of the team taking the buses around the stadium, assembling at Howard’s Rock and then sprinting down the hill. Can’t wait to be back in Death Valley.”
Bill Connelly echoed the same sentiment about the moment when the Tigers run down the hill.
“Clemson is definitely No. 1. The bus ride builds anticipation, and the hill itself adds some lovely ‘Oh man, what if one of them slips and falls?; anxiety, too. It’s perfect,” he said.
Heather Dinich, David Wilson and Andrea Adelson each mentioned the Tigers’ tradition in their answer as well.
While Clemson fans have to wait an extra week to see the Tigers run down the hill, Clemson opens the season against Georgia at Bank of America Stadium on Sept. 4 in the Duke’s Mayo Classic.
In a 2012 NFL re-draft courtesy of Gil Brandt, the New York Giants select OG Kelechi Osemele instead of RB David Wilson.
Months removed from defeating the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI, the New York Giants decided to add a unique spark to their already talented team, selecting running back David Wilson in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft.
Unfortunately for the Giants and Wilson, that union was short-lived.
Wilson, who was named a Second Team All-Pro as a rookie, suffered a career-ending neck injury in 2013 and was forced to retire early.
With that in mind, Gil Brandt of NFL Network had the Giants go in an entirely different direction as part of his 2012 NFL re-draft, selecting offensive guard Kelechi Osemele at No. 32 overall.
Original pick: David Wilson, RB. Osemele was actually drafted by: the Ravens in Round 2 (No. 60).
This can’t be considered a knock on Wilson, since an early career-ending neck injury prevented us from seeing what he could have become. The Giants could have avoided some of the problems that later surfaced along their offensive line by selecting Osemele here, with Cordy Glenn receiving strong consideration, as well.
The Giants did cycle through various guards from that point forward, but a quality offensive tackle would have been even more valuable to the team long-term.
Still, as Brandt alluded, having Osemele, a two-time Pro Bowler and one-time All-Pro, locked into place would have afforded the team an opportunity to dive deeper into their search for a quality tackle.
