Pastrana grabs the Aaron’s 312 pole at Talladega

Travis Pastrana, driver of the No. 60 Roush Fenway Racing Ford, captured the Coors Light Pole Award for the 22^nd annual Aaron’s 312 NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) race at Talladega Superspeedway.  This is Pastrana’s first pole in his first start at Talladega Superspeedway not to mention his first pole in 17 NASCAR Nationwide Series starts.

When Pastrana was asked for his thoughts on his first pole, he responded, “It sounds like a dream come true.  Bringing the guys to the line at the green flag at Talladega is awesome, so I’m definitely excited.  I mean, this Roush Fenway team has worked so hard.  Chad (Norris), my crew chief, he’s like, ‘We’ve been putting everything together.  Let’s go out there and get this thing.’ He had a lot of confidence in myself and the car and it’s just awesome to be able to show the work these guys are putting together and I’m definitely really happy to be here.”

Pastrana’s pole position is also Roush-Fenway Racing’s first NNS Coors Light pole at Talladega Superspeedway. Travis said, “Anytime Jack’s smiling, I’m smiling.  That’s a good deal.”

When asked what a pole means from a team and driver standpoint, Pastrana said, “On the restrictor plate races it means you went out there and drove a perfectly clean lap and that your car and that your crew and that everybody was working together.  You picked the right line and did the right stuff, but mostly that you have a great team and a great car.  Winning the pole at a restrictor place race also means that you’re gonna have a lot of people that are willing to work with you come race day, so I’m excited about that.”

The Aaron’s 312 race on Saturday will be Pastrana’s eighth start for the 2013 racing season.  He has had top ten finishes this season at Daytona, Las Vegas and Richmond.  Pastrana has completed 1,394 out of 1,420 laps and is currently ranked 13^th in the series points standings.