ORIGINAL: deranged
I can't really say that running stock engines is the answer. Toyota doesn't even produce a push-rod V/8 for passenger cars so NASCAR or is it JAPCAR (I know, not politically correct) lets Toyota develop a completely new engine just for the series? It's now all about BIG money and that's it. It is no longer about the cars or manufacturers and innovation. This is a spec series just like IROC, and they've made this once avid follower a rather disinterested occasional viewer if there's nothing else on tv on a rainy or otherwise crappy Sunday afternoon
What a shame that would be, Toyota would not be able to run. Actually I think they need to run the actual cars they are advertising. I'd like to see an LX platform Charger against a W-body Impala against a Mazda 6 based Fusion, against a Camry with the exact engines and transmission they offer in the production models with no special modification beyond what is reasonable. Then we would see a record rate on a switch over to offering manuals on these cars with these exact engines.