A Victory Cross Country demonstrated its technological superiority – and flat-out impressive performance – when stock car racer and extreme sports star Travis Pastrana used the bike to outrace a FOX network camera at Daytona International Speedway prior to the 2013 Daytona 500.
On Feb. 20, four days before the running of the Daytona 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race, Pastrana outran the new FOX CAMCAT on the powerful and stylish Midnight Metallic Flame Cross Country featuring Factory Custom Paint.
The CAMCAT is a sophisticated high-definition camera that was suspended above the front stretch at Daytona International Speedway for the FOX broadcast of the race. The camera moves at a high rate of speed to track the cars racing past the start-finish line, but it couldn’t outrun the Cross Country.
Victory provided FOX with the Cross Country, and Andy Pallemaerts, owner of Volusia Motorsports, the Victory dealership in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, delivered it to the speedway, where he and his daughter got to meet Pastrana.
“We got to meet Travis and hang out for a while,” Andy said. “He is a legend, and such a cool guy. Keep your eyes on Travis this year. There is no one more competitive, but he does it with such style and fun. Very refreshing!”
Pastrana was a motocross and supercross racer who first gained worldwide fame as a star of early X Games, where he performed incredible tricks on a dirt bike. He has gone on to race in several other disciplines and perform extreme tricks in an assortment of vehicles. In the first NASCAR Nationwide Series race of his career, the Feb. 23 race at Daytona, he finished 10th driving for Roush Fenway Racing.
Victory Has Been There Before
Victory has been on the legendary banked oval of Daytona Int’l. Speedway before. In the early 2000s, the AMA used a Victory SportCruiser (V92SC) as a spotter bike, so it was ridden around the track prior to races for track inspection.
Plus, at Biketoberfest 2003, Victory arranged to have the Victory riders' party in the Speedway infield, and Victory riders got to take a couple laps on the Speedway track used by motorcycle racers. That means they rode on the oval through turns three and four and down the front stretch, then turned into the infield, just as racers will do during races such as the Daytona 200 during Daytona Bike Week 2013.
• Learn about the 2013 Victory Baggers, including the Cross Country, at the Victory home page.
Travis Pastrana rides the Midnight Metallic Flame Cross Country featuring Factory Custom Paint on Daytona Int’l. Speedway four days prior to the 2013 Daytona 500.
As NASCAR drivers practiced on the Daytona Int’l. Speedway track, the Midnight Metallic Flame Cross Country featuring Factory Custom Paint awaits rider and racer Travis Pastrana.
Victory riders (next two photos) enjoyed their laps on the legendary Speedway in 2003.
After taking their laps on the legendary Speedway in 2003, Victory riders posed for a group photo in Victory Lane in the Speedway’s infield.
CLICK HERE to enjoy more Victory history in the “15 Years Young, 15 Victory Highlights” series of articles.