Toyota notes 2009-04-14

Only One Camry-Winner At Phoenix

FILE ON PHOENIX: Last April, Denny Hamlin earned a third-place result in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) event at Phoenix International Raceway (PIR) and Kyle Busch finished 10th -- giving Toyota two top-10 finishes at the one-mile Arizona oval. When the series returned to the desert track last November, Hamlin's fifth-place result made him the top Camry driver to the finish line, while Busch wound up eighth. In NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) competition, Busch was victorious from the pole position last April after leading 133 of 202 laps at Phoenix.

SUN DEVIL IN THE PITS: Former Arizona State University (ASU) football player Brett Nenaber (catch-can, No. 83 Red Bull Camry) has transferred his athletic ability from the gridiron to the race track. Nenaber was a walk-on member of the Sun Devils football team in 2003, who played defensive back and saw extensive special teams action. He was the recipient of the team's ‘Hard Hat' award in 2006 and 2007 as the player with the strongest off-season workout regime. The Chandler, Ariz.-native graduated from ASU in 2007 with a degree in interdisciplinary studies, with concentrations in business and communications. Nenaber joined Red Bull in 2008 on the team's developmental pit crew before taking over the No. 84 catch-can duties midway through last season. He was moved to the No. 83 team at the beginning of 2009.

CAMRY CLAIMS MARK: Joey Logano's triumph at Nashville Superspeedway on Saturday was the 25th victory for a Camry driver in the Nationwide Series since the beginning of the 2007 season. The 25 wins include two triumphs earned during Toyota's inaugural season in the series, 20 wins in 2008 and three so far this season. Drivers who have recorded wins for Toyota include Kyle Busch (12), Tony Stewart (five), Denny Hamlin (four), Logano (two), Jason Leffler (one) and David Reutimann (one). In addition to the 25 victories, Camry drivers have earned 81 top-five results, 158 top-10 finishes, led 4,718 laps and earned 20 poles.

MCDOWELL MAKES RETURN HOME: Glendale, Ariz.-native Michael McDowell returns home this weekend for the Nationwide Series race near Phoenix. The 23-year-old attended Dear Valley School District until ninth grade and was then was home-schooled to allow him time to pursue his racing career. McDowell won the 2004 Star Mazda race at PIR track and earned seven Phoenix Kart Racing Association championships while growing up in the area. McDowell and his wife Jami, a 2004 graduate of Deer Valley High School, met in middle school and welcomed their first child, Trace Christopher McDowell, on Feb. 25. When he returns to the Phoenix-area, Mexican food is a must for McDowell -- and he plans to stop by Pedro's, a Mexican restaurant he frequented with his grandparents on a weekly and sometimes daily basis while growing up in Glendale.

BENSON'S BIG CHALLENGE VS. CELEBRITIES: Reigning NCWTS champion Johnny Benson will compete in the Toyota Pro/Celebrity race as part of the 35th annual Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, April 18. The field of 18 drivers will compete in brand new, race-ready Scion tCs in a 10-lap race for charity on the 1.97-mile road course through the streets of downtown Long Beach, Calif. Among the celebrities taking part in the event include Adrien Brody, Eric Close, Tim Daly, Keanu Reeves, Alex Trebek and Raven- Symone. Last year's champion Jamie Little, an ABC/ESPN NASCAR pit reporter, will return to compete in the Pro category with Benson, Coy Gibbs and Al Unser, Jr. This will be Benson's first-ever Long Beach race. Toyota NASCAR drivers Todd Bodine, David Reutimann and Mike Skinner have previously taken part in the event.

-credit: toyota motorsports