NASCAR Fans Left Divided Over Toyota’s Shocking Move Refocusing DEI Involvement

NASCAR’s international OEM is now taking a step backward. Toyota houses stellar Cup Series drivers like Denny Hamlin and Tyler Reddick. Both are currently pursuing a difficult Cup Series championship, battling with fierce rivals and collecting points rapidly. However, their car manufacturer may not be collecting points in public opinion due to a recent decision it made.

Toyota, housing 50,000 American employees and 1500 dealers, may have irked a large part of its workforce. It recently pushed back progress in its diversity and equality initiative in response to an activist’s campaign. This has triggered eclectic waves of reactions in the NASCAR community.

Toyota is getting “narrow”

The Japanese automobile company has “gone totally woke,” according to Robby Starbuck, a conservative activist. This individual targeted Toyota’s association with the LGBTQ+ advocacy group, the Human Rights Campaign. This marked the second NASCAR OEM that Starbuck included in his agenda – Ford Motor Co. was a part of it before. Other companies like Harley-Davidson Inc. and Lowe’s Cos. were also in the mix. But now Toyota has joined their lot in taking action – paying heed to Starbuck’s demands.

According to Bloomberg, “Toyota Motor Corp., will refocus DEI programs and halt sponsorship of LGBTQ events, citing ‘a highly politicized discussion’ around corporate commitments to diversity, equity and inclusion.” Denny Hamlin‘s carmaker also decided to end its participation in HRC rankings and other corporate culture surveys. Toyota will “narrow our community activities to align with STEM education and workforce readiness,” it said in a memo Thursday addressing its wide workforce.

After Starbuck boycotted LGBTQ+ initiatives led by Toyota, the car brand initially said its employee groups led those and not the company directly. But then the brand folded to the activist’s purpose. Eric Bloem, a vice president at HRC, warned NASCAR’s OEM of not being part of a growing future after it released its decision. “Short-sighted decisions to abandon DEI initiatives will have a lasting, negative impact on business success in a future where more people than ever are identifying as LGBTQ+.”

Even the NASCAR community reacted to this sudden move on Toyota’s part. However, the waves of emotions differed among the racing fans.

NASCAR fans’ eyes are off (or on) Toyota

Being a 76-year-old sport, NASCAR hosts a wide variety of audiences. Although most of them belong to an older demographic espousing traditionalist views, they include people who are in pace with changing times. So as Toyota rolled back its diversity policy, some fans were outraged. Somebody commented that they would opt for another car manufacturer instead of Toyota. “Well I was looking at a @ToyotaMotorCorp but I’ll be sticking with Volkswagen for my next car now.” Another fan called out the OEM for unnecessarily bending to a narrow faction’s opinion: “spineless move, not surprised.” Somebody else chimed with this sentiment, bashing Toyota for failing to weather Starbuck’s challenge, and also hinted at falling sales. “Cowards (laughing emoji) f-ck that sequoia I was eyeing then“

Yet another section of the NASCAR audience reading this piece of news held polar opposite views. These people echoed the old days of NASCAR when diversity initiatives were not so widespread. So one fan hinted at Toyota’s rising sales instead: “Thank goodness I need a new 4-Runner.” Somebody else was giddy with happy emotions at the idea of flaunting their Toyota ride at the upcoming Talladega Superspeedway race proudly. “Driving this baby up to dega tomorrow with 250k miles. Toyota is the GOAT BABY.“

Evidently, NASCAR’s top OEM is prompting different shades of people to react to its decision. Let us hope no detrimental action is taken after this that would affect Toyota’s workforce and also NASCAR’s racing as a whole.