TOYOTA NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS)
Tundra Tows the Endeavour — Notes & Quotes
Charlotte Motor Speedway – October 12, 2012
Today (Oct. 12) a Toyota Tundra full-size pickup truck is slated to tow the Space Shuttle Endeavour during its final journey to the California Science Center, where it will go on permanent display. The Endeavour will travel 12 miles across Los Angeles to the Science Center. A stock 2012 Tundra CrewMax 1/2-ton pickup will tow Endeavour for a quarter mile over the Manchester Boulevard Bridge, an area that requires a different tow mechanism than other portions of the route for weight distribution purposes. Tested extensively prior to the announcement, the 2012 Tundra is slated to safely tow the 170,000 pound historic artifact on its journey.
TODD BODINE, No. 11 Toyota Care Toyota Tundra, Red Horse Racing What are your thoughts on a Tundra towing the Space Shuttle Endeavour? “It shows how tough a Tundra really is — that’s for sure. Obviously, on the track Tundras have won three championships in the Truck Series and proven their ability to be strong and be tough. What we put into our race trucks comes directly from Toyota and TRD (Toyota Racing Development) in relation to what they do on the streets.”
Do you have any advice for the driver? “Slow and steady — pretty important cargo that’s being towed. It’s part of our national heritage and history and with the Tundra being made in San Antonio it’s very cool to see an American-made truck pull the Space Shuttle Endeavour.”
TIMOTHY PETERS, No. 17 Red Horse Racing Toyota Tundra, Red Horse Racing What are your thoughts on a Tundra towing the Space Shuttle Endeavour? “I think it’s pretty cool. It definitely shows the durability and how tough these Tundras are — not only on the race track, but for everyday use as well. It’s an honor talk about a Tundra towing the space shuttle Endeavour, which is pretty historic within itself.”
Do you have any advice for the driver? “Number one, don’t scratch it. And number two, the gas is on the right, brake on the left.”
JOHNNY SAUTER, No. 13 Hot Honey’s/Curb Records Toyota Tundra, ThorSport Racing What are your thoughts on a Tundra towing the Space Shuttle Endeavour? “It’s pretty incredible. That to me is just inconceivable really if you want to know the truth, but nothing surprises me. Obviously, those trucks are made for towing. That’s impressive. I’ll put it to you this way, the way that my Toyota Tundra runs in the draft at 190 mph it doesn’t surprise me that it will pull the space ship.”
Does this represent the end of an era of American history? “It does for me. Not only am I a history buff, but it’s also one of those things where I think to a lot of people are always wondering what’s out there that they don’t know about. That space program was something on a much larger scale that it seemed to result in interesting facts and things like that, so it’s going to be kind of hard to see that all go.”
Do you have any advice for the driver? “First of all, I would have loved to have been the guy to be able to do that. I tell you what, pulling something that’s that prestigious, I’d tell them to keep it between the lines at all times.”
