Camry chosen as Daytona 500 pace car

Toyota and Daytona are teaming up for next year’s Daytona 500.

Daytona International Speedway announced on Tuesday that the 2012 Toyota Camry will serve as the official pace car for the Feb. 26 race.

It is the first time a Toyota has been named the pace car for a Sprint Cup race at the historic speedway.

“Toyota has a successful track record of manufacturing in the United States and they have built upon that success in NASCAR’s top three national series,” Joie Chitwood III, Daytona International Speedway President, said in a statement. “The 2012 Camry is a sharp, sleek vehicle and it will look great at the head of the field in the 54th running of the Daytona 500. We’re proud to have the 2012 Camry, built by great American workers, pace the ‘Great American Race.’ ”