Volkswagen enters NASCAR?

**FIRE** · 22 Nov 2009, 09:19 (Ref:2586972)

Quote:

HOMESTEAD, Fla. (AP) -- The head of Volkswagen's motor sports program is at Homestead-Miami Speedway, fueling speculation that the automaker is interested in joining Toyota as the second foreign manufacturer in NASCAR.
Top NASCAR officials confirmed to The Associated Press that Hans-Joachim Stuck met with the sanctioning body Saturday at the track. The officials requested anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the meeting.
Volkswagen officials expressed interest in entering a racing series, but indicated they are more inclined to pick a series that showcases technology, according to a person who attended the meeting but also requested anonymity. NASCAR features competition over technology.
A second option for Volkswagen could be the Grand-Am Road Racing Series, which is owned by NASCAR and currently uses foreign engine makers.
...
Allowing more foreign automakers into the sport could rankle hard-core race fans, who objected to Toyota and think NASCAR should include only American manufacturers. But the decline of the automotive industry has wreaked havoc on racing budgets, and most NASCAR teams either received cutbacks in funding this season or were cut off entirely.
...

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories...11-21-16-07-19

Volkswagen, car of the people - Perfect combination with NASCAR.

VW CC in Cup, Passat/Jetta in Nationwide?
But what car in the Truck series? Currently VW has no pickup truck, but they launch the Amarok in 2010:

http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2008/09...-revealed.html

EDIT: I see the car will not be sold in the USA.

There are also rumors VW (and Audi & Porsche) has an interest to enter Indycars as a engine supplier.

Quintin03 · 22 Nov 2009, 11:16 (Ref:2587075)

NASCAR and VW, strange combination.

kelvin88 · 22 Nov 2009, 11:18 (Ref:2587078)

Did you not see the last Herbie film, Fire?

FPV8U · 22 Nov 2009, 11:21 (Ref:2587083)

Bring it, now Toyota are in there why the hell not.

Matt · 22 Nov 2009, 17:01 (Ref:2587244)

Toyota is the only American car in the series.

BRING ON THE VOLKSWAGENS.

duke_toaster · 22 Nov 2009, 17:06 (Ref:2587245)

I heard something a few weeks ago about them wanting to enter, but only if the rules allowed fuel injection.

mountainstar · 22 Nov 2009, 17:09 (Ref:2587250)

Volkswagen is finishing up a huge plant in Chattanooga, TN and plans on having a larger presence here in the USA, so I am sure they are going to be more involved in motorsports.

**FIRE** · 22 Nov 2009, 17:10 (Ref:2587252)

Quote:

Originally Posted by duke_toaster

I heard something a few weeks ago about them wanting to enter, but only if the rules allowed fuel injection.

Quote:

Fuel Injection in 2011?: Several sources, including a NASCAR Sprint Cup crew chief and a manufacturer's representative, have confirmed that the sanctioning body intends to replace carburetors with fuel injection on Sprint Cup engines in 2011
...

Source: Jayski

Andy77 · 22 Nov 2009, 18:11 (Ref:2587272)

The Indycar rumour is around for longer now. Since mid summer at least.
I think I even posted about it here somewhere but in another content regarding the VW take over of Porsche. I'll look it up

Edit: Here it is. posted in road car section on July, 31st 2009:
http://tentenths.com/forum/showpost....31&postcount=3

fieldodreams79 · 22 Nov 2009, 20:26 (Ref:2587344)

VW in NASCAR? why the hell not?
they make a V8, right? or are they going to run a biodiesel?

MJ_N_09 · 22 Nov 2009, 20:50 (Ref:2587356)

Yes, there is a sedan that comes in V8.

MJ_N_09 · 22 Nov 2009, 20:52 (Ref:2587357)

And what a surprise, someone on another board I go to doesn't think they belong because they dont make a Muscle car. WHO CARES?????

fieldodreams79 · 22 Nov 2009, 21:39 (Ref:2587382)

it does seem even more odd than Toyota, for whatever reason....

i guess the American manufacturers are getting beat at the dealerships, why not let them have another place they can lose.

mountainstar · 22 Nov 2009, 23:03 (Ref:2587436)

Quote:

Originally Posted by fieldodreams79

it does seem even more odd than Toyota, for whatever reason....

i guess the American manufacturers are getting beat at the dealerships, why not let them have another place they can lose.

It's not totally out of place as VW has plans for global domination like Toyota and they aren't too far off the mark from doing that.

Nascar is something I could see happen, but not anytime soon.

Matt · 22 Nov 2009, 23:17 (Ref:2587439)

Guarantee that VW will go with Red Bull Racing.

MJ_N_09 · 22 Nov 2009, 23:30 (Ref:2587447)

Update.....

Is is NOT Nascar that VW wants, but Grand-Am.

fieldodreams79 · 23 Nov 2009, 02:55 (Ref:2587519)

Quote:

Originally Posted by mountainstar

It's not totally out of place as VW has plans for global domination like Toyota and they aren't too far off the mark from doing that.

well, NASCAR wants world domination, so something's got to give.

i'll reframe from making any historical references.

fieldodreams79 · 23 Nov 2009, 02:57 (Ref:2587520)

Quote:

Originally Posted by MJ_N_09

Update.....

Is is NOT Nascar that VW wants, but Grand-Am.

is there a difference?

Neil22 · 23 Nov 2009, 03:39 (Ref:2587533)

Quote:

Originally Posted by MJ_N_09

And what a surprise, someone on another board I go to doesn't think they belong because they dont make a Muscle car. WHO CARES?????

Try driving their R32. It's as much a 'super car' as any out there, and better at the gas station. You don't need a V8 when you get a V6 that can put the power to the ground.

JHamilton · 23 Nov 2009, 19:23 (Ref:2588001)

Quote:

Originally Posted by MJ_N_09

Update.....

Is is NOT Nascar that VW wants, but Grand-Am.

pfft... Well, we'll see what happens. I'm sure McNish would love to drive a prototurtle.

Matt · 23 Nov 2009, 19:40 (Ref:2588014)

Going to GrandAm, and they wanted technology....

Cynic · 23 Nov 2009, 22:03 (Ref:2588082)

It would make more sense for them to be looking at Grand-Am rather than NASCAR from a target-market point of view if nothing else. I can't see the Junior Nation all rushing out to buy Golf's somehow...

I do like Matt's rendering on page 1 though. If as long rumoured NASCAR do sanction fuel injection in the future I could certainly see some of the smaller teams taking a gamble and hooking up with non-US manufacturers.

mountainstar · 23 Nov 2009, 22:45 (Ref:2588103)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cynic

It would make more sense for them to be looking at Grand-Am rather than NASCAR from a target-market point of view if nothing else. I can't see the Junior Nation all rushing out to buy Golf's somehow...

I do like Matt's rendering on page 1 though. If as long rumoured NASCAR do sanction fuel injection in the future I could certainly see some of the smaller teams taking a gamble and hooking up with non-US manufacturers.

What's the target market for Grand Am? No one watches on TV and no one really goes to the races in any large numbers.

Volkswagen has their TDI Cup here which in terms of ROI has done real well for them.

NaBUru38 · 23 Nov 2009, 23:15 (Ref:2588116)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neil22

Try driving their R32. It's as much a 'super car' as any out there, and better at the gas station. You don't need a V8 when you get a V6 that can put the power to the ground.

Actually, the Golf VI doesn't have V6 engines. The R32 was replaced by a turbo 2.0L engined Golf R.

Audi should return to ALMS. Porsche is already everywhere. But Volkswagen... touring car racing would be the usual choice but it isn't popular in the United States. Nascar would make sense for them if the cars actually looked like to road cars. Argentine Top Race, V8 Supercars and DTM cars are better look-alikes.

**FIRE** · 25 Nov 2009, 19:23 (Ref:2589167)

Entering GrandAm doesn't make sense. The series has no fans and is relative low tech.

To promote the brand Volkswagen NASCAR is the best choice. If they want to promote technology they should enter ALMS or maybe Indycar.

From the European manufacturers I can only see Volkswagen entering NASCAR.

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