Honda going NASCAR racing

UPDATE We are bumping this rumor up to 'strong' now. Honda, long-rumored to be interested in NASCAR Nextel Cup racing, is now trying to hire NASCAR engine builders for its Honda Racing Development operation, according to engine men familiar with the situation. It is unclear just what game plan that Honda might be considering. But NASCAR has provided Honda with Truck-racing templates, and Honda, since introducing its first big truck this season, the Ridgeline, has been widely expected to enter NASCAR Truck racing eventually. Winston Salem Journal 10/03/05 Robert Clarke, president of Honda Performance Development, attended his first NASCAR race Sunday. He said Honda isn't planning to follow Indy Racing League rival Toyota into NASCAR, and he came simply to watch the race. Indy Star [Editor's Note: Clarke said recently he would be visiting a lot of different races at the end of this year to see what might be the best fit for Honda going forward. We're willing to bet that Honda could someday end up in NASCAR, especially if the open wheel wars continue to take the sport to complete destruction. We predicted Honda would follow Toyota into NASCAR a long time ago. We still maintain that opinion. The IRL and Champ Car are making it easy for Honda to go to NASCAR. Honda can simply say, (our words) "Look guys I gave you every chance in the world to find a way to merge (IRL and Champ Car) and it didn't happen. In addition we have no other manufacturers to compete against…..so we have decided to go NASCAR racing."]