How does an automaker make the best-selling car in America even better? There are probably a number of ways, but this year, Toyota has unveiled a variant of the popular Toyota Camry with a powerful V6 engine under the hood. There's no better place for a car that pumps out 268-hp than a racetrack, right?

Exactly. Toyota showed up at the 2011 SEMA Show with the 2012 Camry Daytona 500 Pace Car. It's not just for show, either. At the Daytona 500 in February, the Camry will be the very first non-American pace car keeping order at the "Great American Race."

This isn't the first pace car Toyota has provided for NASCAR. The list of tracks with Toyota Pace Vehicles is extensive, but to name a few: Charlotte Motor Speedway, Chicagoland Speedway, Pheonix International Raceway, and Nashville Superspeedway. As for racing chops, Toyota's got those too. In 2008, 2009 and 2010, Toyota took home manufacturer's titles at the NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS), and in 2009, Kyle Busch earned the driver's title with the Camry. In all, Toyota drivers have nabbed 60 race victories in the NNS. And in the NASCAR Spring Cup Series, drivers have earned 36 first-place trophies.

So, it's really no surprise to Hanford Toyota Scion to see Toyota and NASCAR team up yet again. However, while the 2012 Camry SE is pretty impressive in and of itself, Toyota knows you can't just take any car off the lot and put it on the track. Which is why the Camry Pace Car was modified with RS 8.5 x 19 wheels and Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymetric tires, Simpson racing seatbelts, a roll cage, Whelen LFL Liberty LED lightbar, and an easily accessible fire extinguisher - just in case!

Needless to say, we're pretty excited to see the 2012 Camry Daytona 500 Pace Car take its first laps in February. In the meantime, we invite you to come down to our showroom at 1835 Glendale Ave Hanford, CA 93230 to get behind the wheel of a sharp and powerful 2012 Toyota Camry. If you have questions about this or any other emerging Toyota news, feel free to give us a call at (888) 456-2038 or simply contact us via our website anytime.