CORNELIUS, N.C. — Eleven-time X Games Gold medal winner Travis Pastrana makes his NASCAR debut this weekend in the Toyota All-Star Showdown at Irwindale Speedway. Pastrana will drive the No. 99 Boost Mobile Toyota for Michael Waltrip Racing in the K&N Pro Series East-West race.
The 27-year old action sports star, along with co-owners Gary and Blake Bechtel, announced the formation of Pastrana-Waltrip Racing in November. Pastrana, a co-owner in the venture, plans to run seven NASCAR Nationwide Series races for Pastrana-Waltrip Racing in the No. 99 Boost Mobile Toyota in 2011. Pastrana will make his Nationwide Series debut on July 30th at Indianapolis – the same weekend he will make a cross-country trek to Los Angeles to compete in the ESPN X Games.
Pastrana began preparation for his NASCAR career by testing at New Smyrna (Fla.) Speedway in December. He also tested at Gresham (Ga.) Motorsports Park and Irwindale (Calif.) Speedway in January.
The four-time Rally America champion also plans to compete in the K&N Pro Series West race at Phoenix on Feb. 24.
Pastrana’s 2011 Nationwide Schedule
July 30 – Indianapolis, Ind.
Sept. 9 – Richmond, Va.
Oct. 1 – Dover, Del.
Oct. 8 – Kansas
Nov. 5 – Fort Worth, Texas
Nov. 12 – Phoenix
Nov. 19 – Homestead-Miami
QUOTES
TRAVIS PASTRANA ON HIS NASCAR DEBUT: “This weekend is all about making laps and learning. Driving a stock car is absolutely awesome. However, I think it’s going to be the biggest challenge of my career. I know this weekend and this year are going to be tough and frustrating at times. I have had three different opportunities to test and I have learned a lot but I know there is a lot more for me to learn. Honestly, this weekend I want to go out there and try to do the best we can, and earn the respect of all my competitors. You need the other guys to work with you and not against you. NASCAR is a team sport even if they’re not on your team.”
PASTRANA ON WHY HE DECIDED TO BEGIN A CAREER IN NASCAR: “For me it’s all about waking up every morning with a passion. I have always been one to switch maybe before I needed to or maybe before other people thought it was wise. I think if you are passionate about something you can find a way to make it happen. In my 27 years I have been able to chase a lot of different dreams and I feel like I have done as much as I can do in that sport or been as successful as I want to. I need to wake up every morning thinking about nothing else other than what it’s going to take to get to the top of whatever sport I am in. I think this is the biggest challenge that I have ever had and it’s going to take a lot of time, but I am willing to put the time in.”
CREW CHIEF MIKE GRECI ON TESTING AT IRWINDALE: “The first day was a little bit of a struggle for him. He puts so much intensity making every lap perfect that he gets himself a little frustrated at times. So we ended the test a little early on the first day so he could sit back and evaluate some things. We he came back on the second day he was spot on. Sometimes he is just so intense in doing well that he gets caught up in it a little. He thinks that he should be as fast as all the other cars on the track. He has succeeded in everything he has ever tried so he just gets frustrated when he isn’t the fastest car on the track. I think he will be okay this weekend, he just needs to be patient.”
NOTES OF INTEREST
- Last Friday night at L.A. Live, the sports and entertainment district in downtown Los Angeles, Pastrana announced that Boost Mobile would sponsor his No. 99 Toyota for the 2011 Nationwide Series. Additionally, the action sports icon announced his Nationwide schedule with his debut set for July 30th at Indianapolis.
· The Michael Waltrip Racing K&N Pro Series East team has won two consecutive championships with Ryan Truex. The team has captured five wins, two poles, 15 top-five and 17 top-10 finishes in just 21 races. Brett Moffitt will drive MWR’s East car in 2011.
