Replies to post #31743 on A Monster Energy Nascar Challenge

[Seminole Red]

McCumbee to replace Petty in No. 45 Dodge on Sunday
ESPN.com news services

Updated: March 31, 2008, 10:29 PM ET
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It's time to reevaluate.

That's the word from Petty Enterprises which announced on Monday that Kyle Petty will not compete in the Sprint Cup Series race at Texas Motor Speedway. Truck series regular Chad McCumbee will drive the No. 45 Dodge on Sunday.

"Texas is a good track for him," Petty said. "He had a strong run going in the truck race there last year."

McCumbee finished 25th in his debut at Pocono last season when he drove two races for Petty, who moved to the television booth.

"At Pocono, he did a great job filling in for me when I went into the booth," Petty said. "Everyone at Petty Enterprises believes in Chad and his abilities. Texas gives us a chance to get another good look at Chad without throwing him to the wolves. He should be relaxed because he knows he can get the job done there."

Petty has struggled this season, and the No. 45 has dropped out of the top 35 in car owner points. His best finish was 28th at Bristol, Tenn. He failed to qualify for last week's race at Martinsville, Va.

[Newhampsha]

Here ya go, a rice burning OLDSMOBILE!!!!!!!!!!! LOL

Nearly four years to the day that the final Oldsmobile rolled off the assembly line in Lansing, Michigan, comes word that Oldsmobile is back. More startling than the announcement itself is its origin -- not from Lansing, not from Detroit, not from Michigan, not even from anywhere in North America.

A statement from Tokyo, of all places, reports that Toyota has secured rights to the Oldsmobile name. Asked for comment, GM is remaining extremely tight-lipped on the issue at the moment while presumably trying to sort out internally what oversight allowed this to happen -- and who to can for it.



Oldsmobile IntrigueA Most Egregious Oversight

Toyota officials have stated that GM's copyright on the Oldsmobile brand name expired midway through 2006. In the midst of the constant corporate shuffling underway in the domestic automotive juggernaut, somehow responsibility for renewal slipped through the cracks and the name floated around untethered for almost a year before someone at Toyota noticed. The unsubstantiated -- at this point -- story is that the alert came from the astute nephew of a still-confidential executive, who works as a clerk in the U.S. Copyright Office.

The Toyota exec saw an opportunity, and the rights to the name were scooped up by Toyota for a nominal re-filing fee -- just $5000. As Toyota pushes upmarket -- the Avalon and Highlander can both reach above $40,000, while a loaded Sequoia can eclipse $60,000 -- the question has been raised repeatedly just how much the American public is willing to pay for a vehicle with the same badge as a $12,000 Yaris. Toyota took note of the rapid failure of the Volkswagen Phaeton and does not wish to find itself in the same situation.

According to Bob Carter, general manager of Toyota USA, Oldsmobile will fill the gap between Toyota and the company's luxury flagship brand, Lexus. "Oldsmobile is an established and respected luxury nameplate." Carter says, "We fully realize this acquisition is unconventional, but the opportunity to immediately acquire over 100 years' worth of brand recognition couldn't be missed.