Toyota Supra wins in... NASCAR?

The Toyota Supra is a legendary name in circuit racing especially in the Japanese series of Super GT (previously JGTC) and in the IMSA Camel GT Series in the 1980's. While not quite as popular as Super GT, the Supra also made an apperance at 24 Hours of Le Mans back in 1995. Now, the Supra name has been cemented into a new racing series – NASCAR.

After just two races into its debut season, the Toyota Supra has already made its mark in NASCAR after Christopher Bell won the NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway last weekend. Bell managed to dominate the race, leading 142 laps out of 163. The fact that he started from third place also shows the capability of the NASCAR Supra, and helped him clinch victory.

“That’s really, really big,” said Bell about the Supra’s first win. “It all just boils down to the fact that you don’t get to be a first-time winner very often. There’s a very good possibility Kyle (Busch) is going to win one of the next three (races) and I beat him to victory lane. I’m all smiles right now.”

Aside from the Supra, Toyota experienced a great weekend in Atlanta with Kyle Busch claiming his 52nd career NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series win in a Tundra. Meawhile, Martin Truex Jr. managed to finish in the top-10 with his Camry during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race.

In review, this is the first time that the Supra is racing in NASCAR after Toyota made the announcement last year. The NASCAR Supra is shaped to resemble the all-new 5th generation model which debuted earlier this year albeit still conforming to NASCAR regulations. Expect more things to come as Toyota will also be entering the Supra at this year's Nurburgring 24 Hour endurance race.