With such obfuscation, it’s hard to say this is anything more than someone in NASCAR leveling an accusation at someone else. It happens all the time with drivers.

We have an e-mail into Toyota seeking comment, and will update if and when we hear anything back.

UPDATE to add that Kymberly Strong, who handles PR for Toyota in the Cup division, e-mailed back to say that Lee White, Toyota’s general manager for its Cup program, will speak with reporters this weekend at Martinsville, so I’ll be interested to see what he has to say. More on White in a moment.

But we shouldn’t be surprised to hear that Roush would hold back any sort of ill will toward Toyota. Remember, it was Roush that was one of the harshest critic of Toyota when the manufacturer announced its intentions to enter the Cup series.

“Toyota will not find that the established teams and manufacturers will wither in their path, as has been the case where they have tried to engage elsewhere,” Roush said last season.

More recently, a war of words erupted between Roush and White — a former Roush employee — over Carl Edwards’ loose oil tank lid at Las Vegas. Edwards won that race but because of the loose lid, his car failed its post-race inspection; Edwards was penalized and crew chief Bob Osborne was suspended for the infraction.

White was critical of the infraction, saying it was intentionally done to increase downforce.

“I’m gonna treat Lee White and Toyota for their accusations in USA Today today like they were an ankle-biting Chihuahua and be done with it,” Roush said at Atlanta.

As the weekend went on, however, multiple drivers sided with White. Dale Earnhardt Jr. called Roush’s defense that it was a simple mistake “ridiculous” and “really comical.” Elliott Sadler called Roush’s defense an insult to his intelligence.

So the sniping between Roush and Toyota is nothing new.

This latest incident could simply be the latest volley. Or it could be Roush pulling out the big guns. If Roush follows through on his threat of litigation, we’ll know the answer.

For all we know, the part could be a Roush Fenway can opener. Until Roush details what the part was — or is forced to reveal it — we’re left to guess as to how important it may have been. Obviously we can’t expect Roush to disclose every detail of the part, otherwise it wouldn’t be proprietary.

We should find out soon enough. The teams are due to arrive in Martinsville on Friday; by then, someone will likely have something to say.

(Photo by Terry Renna/Associated Press)