Rally to Daytona: A Look at the Stock Car Career of Travis Pastrana

This past weekend in Daytona, Travis Pastrana made his NASCAR return, as well as his Cup Series debut for 23XI Racing. This also marked Pastrana’s first start in any of NASCAR’s Top 3 series since 2020…so how did Pastrana get here? The focus will be on the path to the 2023 Daytona weekend and a brief overview of his NASCAR career thus far.

2011:

Travis Pastrana made his stock car debut in late January 2011 during the Toyota All-Star Showdown at Irwindale Speedway. Pastrana, driving a #99 Boost Mobile Toyota for Michael Waltrip Racing, qualified 20th and finished a solid 6th in his stock car debut.

Pastrana would go on to run several more races (in what was known as the K&N West and East Series at the time) during the 2011 season, making 3 East Series starts, 1 West Series start, and also running in Denny Hamlin’s Short-Track Showdown in Richmond. Combined, Pastrana made 6 K&N Series starts, with a best finish of 22nd in the East Series twice.

Pastrana also was scheduled to make his Nationwide Series debut at Richmond in 2011, but the entry was withdrawn.

2012:

2012 saw Pastrana’s official arrival into the stock car world, as he would make starts in the K&N East Series, Nationwide Series, and a solo Truck Series start.

K&N East: Pastrana ran 8 East Series races, returning to the #99 Boost Mobile Toyota for Michael Waltrip Racing. Pastrana was impressive in his 8 starts, this time scoring 1 Top 5 and 4 Top 10 finishes, with a best of 4th at Iowa Speedway.

Nationwide Series: Pastrana’s K&N East Series performance earned him the chance to finally make his Nationwide Series debut at Richmond in 2012. Driving the #99 Toyota for RAB Racing (who partnered with Waltrip for the part-time effort), Pastrana qualified 25th and came home 22nd in his debut. Following Richmond, Pastrana would run 7 more races in the RAB Racing 99 entry, with a best finish of 13th in Indianapolis.

Following race 24 in Atlanta, Pastrana would move to the iconic #60 Roush Fenway Racing Ford for the second race at Richmond. Pastrana qualified his Ford EcoBoost Mustang an impressive 5th, and came home 17th.

Truck Series: Towards the end of the 2012 season in Las Vegas, Pastrana also made his truck debut, driving the #98 AM/PM Toyota for ThorSport Racing in a one off ride. Pastrana ran well, coming home 15th after qualifying 17th.

2013:

Pastrana concentrated on the Nationwide Series for the 2013 season, as he signed to run a full schedule for Roush Fenway Racing in the #60 Ford. The team however, struggled mightily during the long season, despite the veteran experience of the team and crew chief Chad Norris.

In 33 races, Pastrana only collected 4 Top 10 finishes (Daytona, Las Vegas, Richmond, and Indianapolis), while finishing mid-pack most weekends or exiting the race early. Pastrana’s final numbers for 2013 include 6 DNF’s, 5 laps led, and an average finish of 21.3.

2015-2020 (Truck Series): Following his departure from the Roush Fenway program, Pastrana returned to the trucks in 2015, making a solo start for NTS Motorsports and their #31 GunBroker.com Chevrolet in Las Vegas, where Pastrana would finish 16th.

In 2017, Pastrana re-emerged in the Truck Series in Las Vegas yet again , where Pastrana wheeled the #45 Chevrolet for Niece Motorsports to a 22nd place finish, going out after 112 laps due to an accident.

Pastrana was absent from the entry lists again until 2020, where he would re-unite with Niece Motorsports and make 2 starts, with finishes of 22nd in Kansas and 21st in Las Vegas.

2023:

During the 2022 off-season, it was announced that Pastrana would making his return to the world of NASCAR in 2023, first announcing he would be entering the Daytona 500 in a third #67 Toyota for 23XI Racing. A few weeks later, it was also announced that Pastrana would be returning to the trucks as well, driving for Niece Motorsports in the #41 Silverado at Daytona.

Cup Series: In what is still to be a one-and-done start, Pastrana raced his plaid patterned #67 Black Rifle Coffee Toyota into the Daytona 500, earning the 40th starting position. Pastrana would have an impressive Cup Series debut though, bringing his Toyota home 11th in a race plagued with carnage late in the going.

Truck Series: Pastrana made his return with Niece Motorsports at Daytona as well, qualifying his #41 Worldwide Express / Black Rifle Coffee Chevrolet in 25th. Pastrana would have a strong showing, and bring his truck home in 13th in the rain-shortened event.

** Currently, Pastrana has nothing announced past the Daytona weekend. There could be a possibility of more truck races during the season**