Ford, Chrysler, and General Motors employees gathered in force on Sunday at Michigan International Speedway to watch the fruits of their labor compete on racing biggest stage.  The Sprint Cup series came back to Michigan for the running of the Carfax 400, the second race of the season at the track and a much needed shot in the arm for the area that depends on the still reeling American automotive industry. While each and every fan in attendance had their own personal allegiances to their employer and their favorite driver, everyone put aside their differences to cheer against their common enemy, Toyota.  But, unfortunately for Detroit, Toyota had other plans with Brian Vickers piloting his Toyota Camry to victory.

“I sure as hell hope win on Sunday sell on Monday is an old wives tale,” said Ford employee Stan Utternuts.  “This is an outrage.  For Toyota to come into our backyard and rub salt in our wounds like this is foul play.  I got the right mind to head over to Japan and put my hefty girth to good use in their Sumo Wrestling league.  How’d them boys feel if I took that from them on their home soil?”

The Toyota victory is the latest in a long line of disappointments for the American auto industry.  While Toyota has certainly won races in Sprint Cup competition before, this latest win couldn’t have come at a worse time or worse place for the American auto worker, Detroit on race day.

“I spend each and every waking moment from the minute I get out of bed til I climb back in at night hating Toyota,” said Chrysler employee Ernie Stanphuck.  “Then when I’m out enjoying my weekend at the track, I gotta get to hatin’ Toyota a whole day earlier!  I can’t keep up like this.  It ain’t healthy.”

Some fans took the win as a wake up call and used it for motivation to help get the US auto industry back on the right track, the race track.

“I’m just gonna get backto the plant tomorrow and get my happy butt back to work on that Chevy Volt,” said General Motor’s employee Vic Marinara.  “That oughta put an end to all this fuel mileage gamble business.  Hell, that oughta put an end to this fuel business all together.”

Once again the race came down to fuel mileage and race leader Jimmie Johnson ran out of fuel in the final laps, handing the victory to Toyota and driver of the Red Bull #83 Brian Vickers.

“I would more than welcome Jimmie Johnson, Chad Knaus,and Rick Hendrick himself to come on down to my dealership tomorrow and take a look at a brand new 2010 Toyota Camry,” said Crazy Frank Laser of Frank Laser Toyota.  “As a licensed Cash For Clunkers dealer, I’d take Jimmie’s old gas guzzlin’ Chevy off his hands, take $4500 right off that sticker price, send him out of my lot and back into Victory Lane.  I’ll take the gamble right out of his fuel mileage gamble.  The only one taking a gamble here is me but I’ll do what it takes to get you in a brand new Toyota from Frank Laser Toyota!” 

In other news, Detroit sports fans are anxiously awaiting the start of the NFL season where their beloved Detroit Lions are expected to do no worse than their 0 and 16 season last year.  Until then, fans are taking solace in the fact that number one draft pick and Quarterback Matthew Stafford is not Japanese.