Benson to test Toyota Busch car

UPDATE #2 Toyota officials have made inquiries about the deadlines for submitting new car and engine designs for next season, but have so far made no formal submissions, NASCAR Busch series officials confirmed. Any manufacturer wishing to submit a new car model must due so by July 1. All testing and final approval is required by Sept. 1 to compete the next season. Recent published reports have indicated Toyota was considering beginning a program in the Busch Series before moving on to any Nextel Cup participation. ThatsRacin.com 04/18/05 Garage sources say Toyota has two Busch cars built and will be ready for competition in 2006. Bill Davis Racing, which has been without factory support in Cup for nearly two years, is expected to field teams, as is Chip Ganassi Racing. The other manufacturers have personal services contracts with most drivers; Toyota, though, is expected to hold the drivers' contracts, rather than the car owners, to maintain control over the program. Sporting News/FoxSports 04/18/05 Toyota is getting closer to a Nextel Cup effort, according to sources, who say that it's only a matter of time before Toyota executives finally pull the plug on their $98-million-a-year Indy Racing League operation and begin moving that cash to NASCAR, first for a Busch effort in 2006. Johnny Benson is reported to be set to test a Toyota Busch car at Michigan soon and at an unnamed short track. Winston Salem Journal [Editor's Note: It's interesting that the Toyota to pull the plug on their $98 million IRL program rumor is also in the NASCAR paddock. Where there's smoke, there's fire. Toyota spending a whopping $98 million a year and getting beat by little Honda must not sit well with the Toyota brass in Japan. ]