Toyota Tundra Thunders By Field at Michigan- Kvapil Captures First NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Race For Toyota

               

BROOKLYN, Mich. (Aug. 1, 2004) - Toyota earned its first-ever victory in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck
Series (NCTS) Saturday when Travis Kvapil captured the checkered flag in his No. 24 Bang Racing Line-X
Tundra at Michigan International Speedway.  Kvapil, who recorded his fourth career NCTS victory, led the
final 17 laps in the Line-X Spray-On Bedliners 200 en route to the win.

"This is huge," said Kvapil, following the race.  "What a day!  I needed to go as hard as I could, and as fast as
I could - and I was able to do that today.  I got to about mid-pack about halfway through the race and thought
that was all I had.  My Tundra just got a little bit tight, it didn't have good balance, and I just didn't have a
good 'feel.'  But, my guys worked on the Tundra all race, gave me some great pit stops, made some good
adjustments, and I was able to drive to the win."

Kvapil was the first of three Toyota drivers to cross the finish line among the top-five at Michigan.  Mike
Skinner, Kvapil's Bang Racing teammate, led 26 laps during the race and was third to the checkered flag in
his No. 42 Bang Racing Tundra.   Johnny Benson, in his first NCTS start since 1997, finished fourth driving
the No. 22 Bill Davis Racing Tundra.

"Looks like this was our lucky race number 13," said Jim Aust, Vice President of Motorsports.  "A lot of
people have been working hard towards this goal and they deserve a lot of credit - including everyone at
TRD and all our race team partners.  We're looking forward to more of these before the season is over."

Kvapil brushed the wall during practice Friday afternoon, and then his team made an engine change
following the final practice session.  The engine change forced the Janesville, Wis.-native was to start the
race from the rear of the field.

"Mike Skinner's crew really helped us out yesterday after we had our problems," said Kvapil.  "I drove into the
wall and then we had to change a motor.  The No. 42 bunch helped us out with all their notes.  They had a
really fast truck so we made some adjustments that we picked up from their notes - and obviously, it helped."

"The guys on my Line-X team did a great job and everybody at Toyota did a great job," said Kvapil.  "Toyota
gave us some great horsepower again today - like they've been doing all year long."

"It's really hard to put into words what this means," said Lee White, Senior Vice President of Toyota Racing
Development.  "It all started three years ago and to win in the middle of our first season is pretty
phenomenal.  We're working with some great people in Travis Kvapil and Mike Skinner and all the people at
Bang Racing.  Larry McReynolds deserves a lot of credit for putting this team together and making it happen.
I hope he was watching today's race."

Following Kvapil, Skinner and Benson to the checkered flag were Robert Huffman, who registered a NCTS
career-best seventh-place in his No. 22 Innovative Motorsports Tundra.  Bill Lester (18th), David Reutimann
(24th) and Hank Parker, Jr. were the other Toyota drivers in the field.

After 13 2004 NCTS races, three Toyota drivers sit among the top-15 in the championship point standings.
Kvapil is 7th in the standings with 1,749 points, while Skinner is 9th (1,628 points) and Reutimann is 14th
(1,535 points).  Reutimann also tops the Rookie-of-the-Year standings.

The next NCTS race is Friday, August 2, at Indianapolis Raceway Park, beginning at 8:00 PM (EST).  At
Indianapolis Raceway Park, Darrell Waltrip will be making his second NCTS start of the season in the No. 11
Toyota Tundra.


Toyota Finishing Positions - Michigan International Speedway:
1st -- Travis Kvapil, Bang Racing, No. 24 Line-X Tundra
3rd -- Mike Skinner, Bang Racing, No. 42 Toyota Tundra
4th -- Johnny Benson, Bill Davis Racing, No. 23 Toyota Tundra
9th -- Robert Huffman, Innovative Motorsports, No. 12 Toyota Tundra
18th -- Bill Lester, Bill Davis Racing, No. 22 Toyota Tundra
24th -- David Reutimann, Darrell Waltrip Motorsports, No. 17 NTN Bearings Tundra
29th -- Hank Parker Jr., Innovative Motorsports, No. 21 Toyota Tundra

Toyota Tundra Drivers in the NCTS Point Standings (following Michigan race):
7th     Travis Kvapil       1,749 points
9th     Mike Skinner        1,628 points
14th    David Reutimann  1,535 points
20th    Hank Parker Jr.     1,429 points
23rd    Bill Lester         1,291points
24th    Robert Huffman  1,131 points