Retiring Toyota Racing Development Boss David Wilson a True Motorsports Game-Changer

• A native of northern Virginia and unabashed Virginia Tech booster, David Wilson, has spent 35 years at TRD in almost every capacity.

• Wilson has tried to downplay his contributions to what became Toyota’s most impressive performances.

• There’s no denying Toyota’s participation has dramatically changed the NASCAR landscape.

Dave Wilson is too humble, too self-effacing, too modest to say what others in the world-wide motorsports community know to be true. That is, he will leave a gaping hole in the sport when he retires in December as leader of Toyota Racing Development

In NASCAR, particularly, seldom has a man from outside come in and made such an impact that he can be called a game-changer. Rick Hendrick is one. Joe Gibbs? Probably. Warner Hodgdon? Maybe. Dave Wilson? To be sure.

The native of northern Virginia and unabashed Virginia Tech booster has spent 35 years at TRD in almost every capacity. He’s been knee-deep in racing since succeeding Lee White in mid-2013. His most notable successes have been in stock cars, but he's also handled IndyCar, off-road, sports car, and drag racing.

Under White’s steady hand Toyota had come to the Craftsman Truck Series in 2004. Its teams were formidable from the start, winning 23 times in its first three seasons and the 2006 championship with Todd Bodine. By contrast—and not unexpectedly—its Cup teams struggled early, not winning until its 40th start, with Kyle Busch in the spring 2008 race near Atlanta.

Throughout his 11-year tenure at the top at TRD, Wilson has tried to downplay his contributions to what became Toyota’s most impressive performances. More often than not, his modesty was ignored as he quickly became known as an accessible, honest, forthright, and low-key friend to all.

“The past couple of days have been completely overwhelming,” Wilson said during his recent retirement presser at Richmond. “The kindness and generosity I’ve seen have been special and remarkable. It’s been wildly uncomfortable because we come from a place where we celebrate the team, not the individual. On my very best day I’m simply a reflection of this team.

“The accomplishments aren’t mine. They’re our accomplishments. For that, I’m so grateful and proud, but it’s time to hand the keys over. I enjoyed toiling in the background, being that guy behind the scenes. Then, somehow, after 10 or 11 years I was thrust into this spotlight. It seems like just the other day.”

As for those years of TRD accomplishments in NASCAR: 628 victories spread among Cup (187), Xfinity (208), and Craftsman (233); nine driver’s titles in Craftsman, four in Xfinity, and three in Cup; an astonishing 13 Manufacturers’ Championships in Craftsman, four in Xfinity, and three in Cup.

Wilson is 63, relatively young by NASCAR standards. Roger Penske is 87. Gibbs will be 85 this fall. Jack Roush is 82, Richard Childress is almost 80, and Hendrick recently turned 75. Wilson said he’s been weighing the go/stay quandary since last year, when he and his wife adopted their two pre-school grandsons.

“It starts by being in a position where you comfortably know you can step back and the team will move forward,” he said of leaving TRD. “I’ve known for years that Tyler Gibbs (new head of TRD) is the guy to replace me. He’s so much smarter than I am and has a work ethic of an absolute animal. It started with having a level of trust and comfort that you’re going to keep moving forward.

“The other side is simply the clock. Some family circumstances played into this. My wife and I adopted our two grandsons, so I’m changing diapers.” (He smilingly resisted an offer to compare his grandsons to some of his drivers). “I’ve got a one- and four-year-old at home who need me… and I need them. I don’t know how I’ll handle (retirement). My wife is a little terrified.

“We had a test run with COVID and I found I didn’t miss not getting on an airplane. I loved being home with my family, I really did. It doesn’t mean there won’t be moments when I need to get on an airplane and get out of here. I’ll figure it out.”

Wilson says he’s happy with his decision, that he’s at peace in his heart. He should be, for he’s done an extraordinary job following White in what once was an all-red/white/blue league. Long-time fans comfortable watching Ford, GM, and Chrysler products race bristled with resentment when Toyota showed up in 2004. The Japanese-based manufacturer spared nothing to make its teams competitive, then to advertise and promote their on-track successes. That commitment forced other manufactures to dig deeper to keep up. Ford loyalist owner Jack Roush once called Toyota “the dark side.”

There’s no denying Toyota’s participation has dramatically changed the NASCAR landscape. Whether that change has been for better or for worse is in the eye of the beholder. This much is true: with Toyotas on the grid, competition is at an all-time high.

“I’d like to believe TRD is better now than when I got here,” Wilson said. “I’d like to believe our position has left NASCAR in a better place, that we’ve left a mark, that our sport is stronger for it. When we entered 20 years ago, we didn’t have a relationship with the sanctioning body or our competitors. I’m proud of the competitive model Toyota brought to the sport. We’ve changed the way the sport goes racing and I love that. There’s a lot I’m really happy about and proud of.”

Gibbs, formerly TRD vice president and not related to Joe Gibbs, knows he’s following a legend. “When people hear or think about TRD they picture Dave,” he said. “He’s synonymous with Toyota in this garage and in this sport. I’m humbled and excited to be in this position. When you look at TRD and where we are now … the things we can do and have done, Dave’s fingerprints are all over those things.

“Some accomplishments were mentioned, but there are so many off-track that people don’t see or know about. They have built our organization into what it is. Dave’s impact on TRD will go far, far beyond when he walks out the door in December. His legacy is our people, our team, the culture we have… and his humility.”

Well said, indeed. “Mr. Hokie” will be missed.