odd Bodine will head to the 2012 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Friday, November 16, with a new paint scheme covering his No. 11 Toyota Tundra. The two-time champion will continue his long-standing relationship with Toyota by representing the Tundra Endeavour Project, an event that showcased the power of the 2012 Tundra Crewmax pickup when it towed the space shuttle “Endeavour”. The Tundra towed the 292,000-pound shuttle and its custom tow dolly across a Los Angeles freeway bridge en route to the California Science Center, where it was placed on permanent display on October 13, 2012.
The Toyota Tundra full-size truck helped tow the space shuttle Endeavor during its final journey during which the shuttle traveled 12 miles from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on city streets. As a proud member of the Southern California community and supporter of the Science Center since 1992, Toyota escorted the Endeavour to its new home as a tribute to the greatness of the American space program and the hard-working Americans who build the Tundra. Built only in the United States at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Texas in San Antonio, the production process of the Tundra creates over 6,000 American jobs.
Bodine’s Toyota Tundra will have a unique paint scheme designed by Toyota, dedicated to the Tundra Endeavour Project and featuring graphics of the Endeavour.
“Toyota was very proud to help the Endeavour make history on October 13th, 2012. Since Todd had been aboard the Endeavour in 1995, this was the perfect opportunity to raise awareness about this historical moment with the NASCAR fans,” said Les Unger, Toyota National Motorsports Manager.
Bodine is currently the longest-tenured NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, driving a Tundra in the series since 2004. He’s scored 22 wins and two championships while driving for the manufacturer, and also has special ties to the Endeavour himself. Taking a tour of the space shuttle and sitting in the captain’s seat in 1995, Bodine is no stranger to the details and importance of the project.
“Toyota has stood behind me for such a long time and it’s an amazing manufacturer to drive for,” Bodine explained. “I’ve been fortunate to drive fast Tundras for the past nine years and win two championships with them, and I’m proud to be a Toyota driver. When I visited the Endeavour in 1995, I was given the opportunity to sit in the cockpit of the shuttle, which is a very special and extremely rare privilege. So when we were approached with the chance to represent this project at Red Horse Racing, we gladly accepted the opportunity.
“It’s really amazing that a stock Toyota Tundra was able to tow the Endeavour; it just shows how tough these trucks are. As the full-sized pickup truck with the highest North American parts content, I think the Tundra was a clear choice to pull this American icon to its final home.”
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