Toyota Expands Support 2006 USAC National Midget Racing Series

TORRANCE, Calif. (June 19, 2006) - Toyota announced today three new initiatives to support the 2006 USAC National Midget Racing Series.   The first program, the Toyota Challenge, will  feature a three event "championship within a championship" competition commencing with the Toyota USAC Racing Classic presented by Comfort Suites of Brownsburg at the O'Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis (July 1), followed by USAC scheduled events at Milwaukee (July 21-22) and Terre Haute (September 29).  A $25,000 prize fund will be paid to the top five car entrants based on USAC National Midget Series entrant points for the three races.  Included in the prize fund will be a $15,000 award to the Toyota Challenge Champion.

"The fact that two very different paved tracks and a very challenging dirt track make up the Toyota Challenge virtually insures that the champion will be an all-around standout among the competing entrants," stated Gary Reed, vice president, Special Racing Projects at TRD, U.S.A.

In addition, Toyota is announcing a unique year-end owner's bonus fund that can total up to $25,000 to recognize and support entrant participation.  At the end of the season, the top-10 point standings USAC National Midget Series team owners will receive $100 for every event entered in the 2006 schedule.

The Toyota-sponsored year-end bonus fund is also intended to reward the dedicated, hard-working teams who makeup the backbone of the USAC National Midget Racing Series, regardless of what chassis or engine they have selected for competition. "The teams' collective commitment to this sport and series makes it possible for Toyota and the other participating manufacturers, engine builders and sponsors to feature their products in a very competitive and entertaining environment," added Reed.

Finally, the company has added the USAC National Midget Racing Series to its annual Toyota Motorsports/TRD, U.S.A Contingency Awards Program that is designed to reward exemplary performance at the grassroots level.  Toyota-powered USAC National Midget Racing teams must submit required claim forms and display proper TRD logo stickers as outlined in the program guidelines.  The payouts will include $500 to the highest finishing Toyota-powered USAC Midget per event and $350 to the 2nd highest finishing Toyota.  The program will run for both 2006 and 2007 and exclude participants from 9 Racing.

"These three initiatives demonstrate Toyota's commitment to strengthen the financial reward and level of competition for all USAC Midget team owners and drivers," said Les Unger, Toyota national motorsports manager.