This is the Statt Mann Baby!! Time to Scatt a little bit.

Many are dismissive of American rallying because it doesn’t brag about a mysterious 75 million fans.

Well, this year we saw Action Sports icon Travis Pastrana win his second straight Rally America championship. And we heard that many of his close friends are testing, trying or training to get their own programs going… including BMXer Dave Mirra and MXer Chad Reed.

Now I hear Off-Road racer and Dakar Rally navigator Andy Grider COULD be driving one of two Toyota Matrix open class rally cars next season.

He told me Sunday that the deal’s not done yet and we all know that no project is done until the paperwork is finished and the checks have all cleared. In short, it could still fall apart.

But the fact that Toyota MAY RSVP to a party where everyone is wearing a Subaru costume is refreshing and needed.

And don’t think the car won’t be competitive. Former American Rally king Rod Millen’s name popped up at SEMA. TRD is also behind the curtain and those names alone mean the cars could be fast if not competitive.

As a Rally fan I’m just glad someone sees value in my favorite form of motorsport. I’m equally happy one of those “someones” is a car maker who thinks he can sell products in my woods.

Peace.