DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Travis Pastrana’s DAYTONA 500 adventure ended in a smile, if not a trophy. The renowned X Games gold medalist and beloved action racing star led two laps and ultimately finished 11th in his DAYTONA 500 debut. And he’ll take it.
Pastrana’s night ended at the Daytona International Speedway Infield Care Center after his No. 67 23XI Racing Toyota was collected in a huge multi-car crash triggered by someone else on the last lap. But he emerged proud of his NASCAR Cup Series debut and grateful for the opportunity.
“I was really excited to be up in the hunt for a potential top five coming to the checkered,” Pastrana said, pausing to acknowledge a group of fans shouting congratulations and giving fist pumps to the popular competitor.
“Honestly just to be in the hunt for a top five at the end exceeded all my expectations,” he continued. “Obviously, it’s disappointment now because you want to do the best you can, and I was trying not to crash. Just unfortunately when things got tight in there, I wasn’t able to control at the top with a push.”
Leading Laps 39-40, however, certainly provided a huge moment for Pastrana.
“I led a lap, but it was by mistake,” he said smiling. “I was like “I should come in,’ they said, ‘stay out,’ and I was like I’m already out.’ So led a lap in the DAYTONA 500, finished top-20 and the car isn’t a complete write-off so the kid’s college fund should be intact.
“It was a win. It was awesome.”
Pastrana said he did not plan to race again in the NASCAR Cup Series, but said he was open to competing in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series should the right opportunity come. The DAYTONA 500 was a “fantastic” experience for the 39-year-old Pastrana and appears to have provided exactly what he pursued.
“We’ve been winning championships on the dirt, and I just wanted to experience the whole DAYTONA 500 Speedweeks,” Pastrana said, grinning.
Source: Holly Cain/NASCAR Wire Service
