Editing NASCAR (section)

==Global expansion==
In 2006, [[Toyota]] announced they would be joining NASCAR's ranks.<ref name="bernstein">Bernstein, Viv. [https://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/24/sports/othersports/24nascar.html?pagewanted=print "World of change is likely as Nascar lets Toyota join."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151102102206/http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/24/sports/othersports/24nascar.html?pagewanted=print |date=November 2, 2015 }} January 24, 2006. May 1, 2008</ref> Toyota generated early success winning several races off performances from [[Denny Hamlin]] and [[Kyle Busch]].<ref name="results" /> Any increase in foreign competition is expected to raise the price of putting a car on the track.<ref name="bernstein" />

Another topic on the NASCAR circuit is the increase in foreign born drivers and the effects they may have on the future of NASCAR.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/764158-nascar-sprint-cup-power-ranking-the-best-non-american-drivers-of-all-time|title=NASCAR Sprint Cup: Power Ranking the Best Non-American Drivers of All Time|last=Daniels|first=Tim|website=Bleacher Report|language=en|access-date=2019-04-19|archive-date=April 19, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190419040502/https://bleacherreport.com/articles/764158-nascar-sprint-cup-power-ranking-the-best-non-american-drivers-of-all-time|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Juan Pablo Montoya]], [[Patrick Carpentier]], [[Dario Franchitti]], [[Kimi Räikkönen]], and [[Jenson Button]] are among the foreign-born big names who have crossed over from [[Formula One]] and the [[Indy car]] circuit.<ref name="swan" /> These drivers have made an impact on NASCAR not only by winning races and dominating road courses, but by expanding NASCAR's point of view.<ref name="results">[http://www.nascar.com/races/cup/2008/rr_index.html "Season Results."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100821070359/http://www.nascar.com/races/cup/2008/rr_index.html |date=August 21, 2010 }} NASCAR.com. May 1, 2008</ref>

NASCAR included a race at the Mexican road course [[Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez]] in the Nationwide Series schedule from 2005 through 2008, as well as a race in [[Montreal]], Canada at [[Circuit Gilles Villeneuve]] from 2007 through 2012, with the Camping World Truck Series adding a date at [[Canadian Tire Motorsport Park]] in 2013. There has been talk of possible expansion with exhibition races in Japan and a return to Canada.<ref>Bowles, Thomas. [http://www.frontstretch.com/tbowles/2338/ "Bowles-Eyed View."] NASCAR's international expansion missing a foreign star. March 5, 2006. May 1, 2008 {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140112055112/http://www.frontstretch.com/tbowles/2338/ |date=January 12, 2014 }}</ref>

Expanding into international markets could increase NASCAR's popularity and allow foreign sponsors and manufacturers to get involved in the sport.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Minsk|first=Belarus|title=National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR)|pages=4|language=English}}</ref> Some think this could be a very positive move for NASCAR, which has seen its television ratings drop 21 percent between 2005 and 2007.<ref name="fischer" /> During the same 2-year period, NASCAR also saw the greatest drop in tickets prices observed in over a decade.<ref name="fischer">[http://www.canada.com/topics/sports/story.html?id=45fb6b27-716b-4586-b52d- 8f83f019ce4b&k=13233 "NASCAR's foreign invasion."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151102102213/http://www.canada.com/topics/sports/story.html?id=45fb6b27-716b-4586-b52d- |date=November 2, 2015 }} Fischer, Doug. February 17, 2007. May 1, 2008</ref> In 2010, NASCAR saw television ratings drop 10% from the year before, which was down 33% off its peak in 2005.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=5 Ways to fix NASCAR |author=Ryan, Nate |date=February 18–20, 2011 |magazine=[[USA Weekend]] Weekend}}</ref> Some think that an increase in international diversity would translate into growth and generate greater opportunities for NASCAR fans.<ref name="swan">{{cite news|last1=Swan|first1=Raygan|title=This year's Daytona 500's grid looks like an Indy 500 grid|url=http://www.nascar.com/2008/news/opinion/02/09/rswan.welcome.open.wheel/index.html|access-date=May 29, 2016|work=NASCAR.COM|publisher=Turner Sports and Entertainment Digital Network|date=February 9, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081219151542/http://www.nascar.com/2008/news/opinion/02/09/rswan.welcome.open.wheel/index.html |archive-date=December 19, 2008 }}</ref>

In 2023, to celebrate their 75th anniversary, NASCAR partnered with Chevrolet and Hendrick Motorsports to enter a [[Next_Gen_(NASCAR)#Le_Mans_Garage_56_project|Next Gen]] Camaro ZL1 in the [[2023 24 Hours of Le Mans|24 Hours of Le Mans]]. It coincided with the 100th anniversary of the prestigious endurance race at the [[Circuit de la Sarthe]] in Le Mans, Sarthe, France, and the Camaro entered as a Garage 56 (Innovative) entry. Jimmie Johnson and Button were joined by German WEC veteran and [[Mike Rockenfeller]] – a 2010 LMP1 category and overall winner at Le Mans – as the drivers.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Cornilleau |first1=Arnaud |title=Why is there a NASCAR on the 2023 24 Hours of Le Mans grid? |url=https://www.24h-lemans.com/en/news/why-is-there-a-nascar-on-the-2023-24-hours-of-le-mans-grid-57532 |website=24 Hours of Le Mans |access-date=19 March 2024 |date=6 April 2023 |language=en |archive-date=March 19, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240319214204/https://www.24h-lemans.com/en/news/why-is-there-a-nascar-on-the-2023-24-hours-of-le-mans-grid-57532 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Chad Knaus]], Johnson's crew chief during each of his Cup Series championships, was project manager, while the car bore #24 in honor of [[Jeff Gordon]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Garage 56 project's Le Mans invite official; team will compete using No. 24 |url=https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2023/02/27/garage-56-projects-le-mans-invite-official-team-will-compete-using-no-24/ |website=National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing |access-date=20 March 2024 |date=27 February 2023 |archive-date=June 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230607042047/https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2023/02/27/garage-56-projects-le-mans-invite-official-team-will-compete-using-no-24/ |url-status=live }}</ref>