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<TD class=line><FONT size=1>Spencer slams Toyota entry </FONT></TD></TR>
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<TD class=byline><FONT size=1>By Richard Oliver </FONT></TD></TR>
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<TD class=source><FONT size=1>San Antonio Express-News </FONT></TD></TR>
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<TD class=date><FONT size=1>Web Posted : 01/29/2004 12:00 AM </FONT></TD></TR>
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<TD class=storytext><FONT size=1>FORT WORTH — Veteran NASCAR driver Jimmy Spencer, whose nickname on the circuit is "Mr. Excitement," caused a stir during Wednesday's media day at Texas Motor Speedway when he took a swipe at the entry of Toyota, a Japanese firm, into this season's Craftsman Truck Series. </FONT>


<FONT size=1>"I was raised with Chevrolet, Ford and Chrysler, so I don't know," said Spencer, who drove a Dodge truck to one series victory last year. "Those sons of bitches bombed Pearl Harbor, don't forget. As long as it's good for the economy, I guess it's OK. But I hope that Ford, Chevrolet and Dodge kick their ***." </FONT>


<FONT size=1>Spencer, a 46-year-old Pennsylvania native who lives in Cornelius, N.C., made the statement during a question-and-answer session before roughly 100 media members, facility guests and officials. Texas Motor Speedway will host truck series stops on June 11 and Oct. 16. </FONT>


<FONT size=1>"We stand by what we said all along, that NASCAR is interested in companies who manufacture their products in the U.S.," said Owen Kearns, Jr., manager of communications for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. "Toyota's trucks are built in Indiana, the engines are made in West Virginia, they employ a lot of American workers in production. </FONT>


<FONT size=1>"Jimmy's going to be Jimmy, and he's always going to be Jimmy. He's old-school." </FONT>


<FONT size=1>Les Unger, who represents Toyota manufacturing on the Craftsman Truck Series, could not be reached for comment. </FONT>


<FONT size=1>Construction is under way on a Toyota production plant in San Antonio. The complex, which will employ 2,000 workers, will produce up to 150,000 Tundra pickups per year. </FONT>


<FONT size=1>"What I'm getting at is that the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, but times have changed and our sport has changed," Spencer said later when asked about the comment. "I know that people take that stuff out of context, but it doesn't bother me." </FONT>


<FONT size=1>The introduction of the company to the truck series, he added, was a positive one. "I think they'll get a lot of support. It's going to help the truck series more than anything. It's going to be good. Our times have changed, and we have to be a world economy." </FONT>


<FONT size=1>As for a potential backlash, Spencer shrugged. "It doesn't bother me," he said. "I can handle the Toyota people." </FONT>


<FONT size=1>Spencer was suspended for one NASCAR Winston Cup event last year after punching fellow driver Kurt Busch during an altercation following a race. He is one of the few drivers to win on the Winston Cup (now Nextel Cup), Busch Grand National and Craftsman Truck series. Spencer has tentative plans to race in all three series this year, if he lands sponsorships. </FONT>


<FONT size=1>He's won two Winston Cup races, at Daytona and Talladega in 1994. Spencer has 12 career Busch triumphs. He had his first victory in the Craftsman Truck Series last year at New Hampshire.</FONT></P>


<FONT size=1> http://news.mysanantonio.com/story.c...n&amp;xlb=200& amp;xlc=1120618</FONT></P>


<FONT size=1>redriderbob</FONT></P></TD></TR></T></TABLE>


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This is why I love Jimmy Spencer, both of us would love to see the Tundra fail!!!</P>


redriderbob</P>

 

I hate Jimmy Spencer, but I also hope for the Tundra's fall... <IMG src=smileys/smiley36.gif border="0">

~Amanda

 

Oh I love Jimmy Spencer, is has an awesome personality!</P>


redriderbob</P>

 

I think he's a whiney crybaby who never takes the blame, him and Robbie Gordon are too much alike, I hate them both.

~Amanda

 

No Way! If Spencer does something wrong he takes blame for it... I just like his attitude towards different things... like in his 1st CTS race last year some dumb Ford rookie driver spun Spencer out w/ only 20 laps to go, while he was in the lead and Spencer totalled his truck, all because some idiot was trying to race him when the guy was 5 laps down. Spencer then said "Thats exactly why you will never see that guy in Cup!". Come on. As for the Kurt Busch thing, I hate Kurt Busch and he had it coming to him. Anyone who tries to injure another driver by cutting down their tire in a race and just slams in the back of you to spin you around deserves to get punched in the nose.</P>


redriderbob</P>

 

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Have to agree with my girl on this one. Guys like R. Gordon and Spencer will never be champions in Nextel. Their attitudes make them unmarketable. This is only my opinion.</P>

 

I'm not a Kurt Busch fan either, but Spencer is more of the... excuse maker. I mean to each their own, but I despise Jimmy Spencer and Robbie Gordon, if you are that cocky and you aren't winning anything, then you have a serious attitude problem.

Kevin Harvick in a rain delay... outstanding, that's personality. Or him before, during or after the race to be honest... LOL! Harvick really has a knack with the camera... Tony Stewart, the bad boy who can WIN, bad attitude, apologetic nature, great sponsor and loads of talent! Little E, has the personality, the talent and the fan base to move NASCAR to Alaska if need be.

People like that drive NASCAR... people like Jimmy Spencer (who's had just wonderful sponsors, oooh wait, not true...) and Robbie Gordon (who can be at fault and still cry about it like someone drove him into the wall) simply fuel the hatred for the other driver, the far and few between that are Spncer and R. Gordon fans simply get drowned out at the track by those of us rooting for the good ol' boys...

(Sorry, I'm <U>not</U> trying to cause an arguement, I'm passionate about NASCAR and I cannot truly convey how much I hate Spencer and R.Gordon, I YELL at the TV when they are on... LOL!)

~Amanda

 

Spencer won't be penalized by NASCAR: The national motorsports manager for Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., defended the company Thursday in the wake of inflammatory comments made against it by veteran NASCAR driver Jimmy Spencer the day before. "The investment of Toyota in plants and associated businesses in this country is in the billions of dollars," Les Unger said from Homestead-Miami Speedway in South Florida, where testing for several NASCAR series is taking place this week. "We think we're great corporate citizens as far as this country is concerned." When Spencer, 46, was asked at Texas Motor Speedway what he thought about Toyota, a Japan-based firm, competing in this year's Craftsman Truck Series schedule, he brought up the bombing of Pearl Harbor as part of a rambling response on the development. Spencer, well-known on the NASCAR circuit for his opinionated, biting sound bites and sometimes off-color humor, later attempted to clarify his statement, stressing he was referring to how international business relationships have evolved in the years since World War II. "If Toyota didn't do that (add new racing teams), the truck series would've been a dying breed," said Spencer, who drove a Dodge truck to one series victory last year. "Toyota's going to be good."(San Antonio Press)
AND NASCAR will not penalize driver Jimmy Spencer for a remark about the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor or his hope that Toyota's venture into truck racing will be a failure. "That's Jimmy Spencer," NASCAR spokesman Jim Hunter said Sunday when asked about comments the outspoken driver made last week about Toyota's entry into Craftsman Truck competition. Although Hunter said Spencer is not in any trouble with the sanctioning body, he emphasized that NASCAR does not share the driver's opinion.(CNNSI/AP)
see more about Spencer's comments at: the Washington Post or/and San Antonia Press: [Jimmy] Spencer slams Toyota entry(2-2-2004)</P>


Taken from Jayski.com</P>


redriderbob
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Sorry you hate Jimmy, but he did smack Rubberhead (Kurt Busch) for us, didnt he?<IMG src=smileys/smiley4.gif border="0">