Travis Pastrana’s return to NASCAR puts him in the Lucky 13 recap! Read about how his night at Daytona went! (Photo Credit: Niece Motorsports | X)

Lucky 13 rides along with the driver who qualifies 13th, keeping an eye on how their race unfolds. This driver could be sent to the back of the pack and still pull off a victory, or their luck could take a nosedive early in the race. With luck on their side – or against them – anything can happen! So, grab your four-leaf clovers, your lucky horseshoes, and maybe even a rabbit’s foot for the latest Lucky 13! Will it be fortune or misfortune? Let’s find out!

Fresh From Florida 250

Driver: Travis Pastrana
Organization & Number:  Niece Motorsports, #42
Crew Chief: Landon Polinski
Spotter: TJ Majors

“Livin’ the dream!” – Travis Pastrana, pre-race

Stage 1

Travis Pastrana returned to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series to kick off the 2026 season at Daytona International Speedway. Before Friday night’s race, the 11-time X Games gold medalist had six previous starts in the series with an average finish of 18.2.

Rolling off from P13, he looked to better that in the Niece Motorsports’ No. 42.

The green flag waved, and drivers took it three-wide by Lap 2. Pastrana fell to P19, and Spotter TJ Majors noted, “It’s pretty dicey up here…I’d like to fade back a little bit.” And with that, Pastrana slid back to P26, and Majors worked to help his driver understand the draft.

The first caution came on Lap 6 as Cleetus McFarland got shoved out of the pack. Ultimately, he slammed the inside wall, ending his night early.

Crew Chief Landon Polinski brought Pastrana to the pits to top off before resuming the race. He returned to the track in P33 on Lap 11 and settled in at P32.

Despite some squirrelly moments, the stage ended with Pastrana in P29. He noted his truck felt, “Pretty good, actually.”

Stage 2

(Photo Credit: Niece Motorsports | X)

Following a stop under yellow, he restarted the stage P29. Ten laps into the stage, Pastrana yelled, “We’re really doing it!”

He worked his way to P25 before the caution waved with four to go in the stage. At that time, Tony Stewart and Jake Garcia got into each other, bringing out the second caution for incident.

This caution forced the stage to end under caution with Pastrana in P23. Under yellow, the team came up with a plan for the final stage.

Stage 3

Pastrana tried to convince the team to stay out, but Polinski shot down the idea. Finally, Pastrana said, “I wanna lead a lap, I hope it’s the last one!”

The final stage started with Pastrana in P19, and 55 to go.

Behind him were numerous trucks that were ready to make a run. This set Pastrana back to P27. Up front, Ty Majeski took the lead, and the drivers behind him lined up single file.

With 42 to go, the caution waved as Carson Hocevar had trouble. The leaders all took to the pits, but Pastrana remained on track, which allowed him to take the lead. However, with one to go, Polinski brought his driver in to top off on fuel.

With 37 to go, Pastrana was lined up P27 in a mostly single-file line behind the leader. He gained a spot as drivers shuffled into a pack.

Seven laps later, Grant Enfinger blew a tire, but kept it straight and the race green. Four laps later, Layne Riggs suffered the same fate. At this time, Pastrana had moved to P23.

With 21 to go, Hocevar brought out the caution again for a flat tire. This caution allowed the field to top off with fuel.

(Photo Credit: Niece Motorsports | X)

Pastrana lined up P23 with 16 to go in the Fresh from Florida 250.

16 to Go

Majors encouraged his driver to hang out in the mid-20s, predicting, “They’re gonna tear up a bunch of trucks soon.”

Hocevar went for another spin with 12 to go, but the race stayed green.

Drivers took it three-wide with 10 to go, as the intensity ratcheted up.

Two laps later, Pastrana was running P20 but lost a spot in the shuffling.

With four to go, the caution waved as Spencer Boyd, Taylor Gray, and Dawson Sutton wrecked.

Facing NASCAR Overtime, Pastrana, sitting P18, said, “We made it this far; if there’s an opening, we’re taking it!”

A stack-up coming to the white almost forced a caution, but NASCAR kept it green.

The final lap saw a significant amount of lead changes, but no caution.

Pastrana kept it clean and brought it home P15.

NASCAR fans know sponsors make the sport go ’round. We want to give a shout-out to BRUNT Workwear. They played a huge part in the weekend for the No. 42 team.

Be sure to give Travis Pastrana (Facebook, Instagram, X) and Niece Motorsports (Facebook, Instagram, X) a follow to keep up with the latest news from the driver and team.