Travis Pastrana To Break Distance Record In Rally Car

Brendan Lutes

• October 15 2009
• 2,834 views
• 10 comments

Santa Monica, Calif. (October 15, 2009) – With four consecutive Rally America championships, nine X Games gold medals, the first double backflip on a motorcycle and a hit television series under his belt, it is safe to say that Travis Pastrana has reached the pinnacle of his career – and yet he’s showing no signs of slowing down anytime soon. In fact, on New Year’s Eve at Red Bull: New Year. No Limits., the action sports superstar will step on the accelerator and ring in 2010 by adding yet another jaw-dropping feat to his already impressive resume: the world record for longest distance jump in a rally car. Add a healthy dose of the Pacific Ocean to clear, and now you have a party!

Red Bull: New Year. No Limits. will be televised live on ESPN/ESPN HD on Thursday, December 31, immediately following the Chick-Fil-A Bowl (approx. 11:00 p.m. ET / 8:00 p.m. PT). Viewing of Pastrana’s jump will be free to the thousands of revelers in downtown Long Beach.

“I’m looking forward to being part of Red Bull: New Year. No Limits.,” said Pastrana. “Long Beach will continue the tradition of a fun and festive environment for this New Year’s celebration and flying over the water in a car and landing it onto a floating barge will push the limits of anything that I have ever executed in my career. Live events are always difficult and more entertaining, both for the fans and the participants, and so many factors play into the success of this jump. I live for this kind of excitement.”

Joan Lynch, ESPN vice president, content development, added, “We are thrilled to team again with Red Bull to televise this live and exciting event on ESPN for a third year. ESPN is dedicated to bringing live and compelling programming to the viewer and no New Year’s show delivers more unique suspense and action than Red Bull: New Year. No Limits.”
NOT SINCE THE JETSONS WILL A CAR FLY SO FAR
Before the clock strikes midnight on the East Coast on December 31, Pastrana will attempt to accomplish the first ever ramp-to-ramp car jump over water, a feat that will test the laws of physics and take his career to yet another level. With the world-famous Queen Mary docked in the background, Pastrana will jump his rally car off the Pine Street Pier onto a floating barge anchored in Long Beach’s Rainbow Harbor, aiming to shatter the existing mark of 171 feet and establish a new world distance record, live on ESPN.

Jumping a car takes guts enough, but add water between the ramps, and Pastrana will feel what most, if not all, golfers feel when faced with hitting a ball over water – stay out of the water! On New Year’s Eve, Travis is not only the golfer, but also the golf ball!
THREE’S COMPANY
Pastrana will follow in the footsteps of fellow motorsports athletes Robbie Maddison and Rhys Millen, who rang in the last two New Year’s Eve celebrations by pushing their physical, mental and technical limits to break boundaries and records, in front of thousands of fans in Las Vegas and millions of viewers on ESPN.

For Red Bull: New Year. No Limits. event details, visit www.redbullnewyearnolimits.com, and for information on Pastrana, visit www.travispastrana.com.