Travis Pastrana

Travis Pastrana

Pastrana in 2015
Nationality American
Born Travis Alan Pastrana
(1983-10-08) October 8, 1983
Annapolis, Maryland
Related to Lyn-Z Adams Hawkins (wife)
Alan Pastrana (uncle)
Global RallyCross Championship career
Debut season 2011
Current team Subaru Rally Team USA
Car no. 199
Former teams Pastrana 199 Racing
Starts 11
Championships 0
Wins 1
Poles 0
Best finish 9th in 2012
Previous series
2012–2013
2012
2012
2011–2012
2011
2005–2010		 NASCAR Nationwide Series
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series
Rolex Sports Car Series
K&N Pro Series East
K&N Pro Series West
Rally America
Championship titles
2006–2009
2001
2000		 4× Rally America Champion
AMA Supercross 125cc Champion
AMA Motocross 125cc Champion
NASCAR Xfinity Series career
42 races run over 2 years
2013 position 14th
Best finish 14th (2013)
First race 2012 Virginia 529 College Savings 250 (Richmond)
Last race 2013 Ford EcoBoost 300 (Homestead)
Wins Top tens Poles
0 4 1
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series career
2 races run over 1 year
2015 position 62nd
Best finish 62nd (2015)
First race 2012 Smith's 350 (Las Vegas)
Last race 2015 Rhino Linings 350 (Las Vegas)
Wins Top tens Poles
0 0 0
Statistics current as of October 3, 2015.

Sports career

Sport Rally, Motocross, Supercross, Freestyle Motocross, freeride mountain biking, Base Jumping, NASCAR, monster truck freestyle
Event(s) X Games, Red Bull X-Fighters, Dew Tour, Rally America

Travis Alan Pastrana (born October 8, 1983) is an American professional motorsports competitor and stunt performer who has won championships and X Games gold medals in several events, including supercross, motocross, freestyle motocross, and rally racing. He runs a show called Nitro Circus, and previously competed in the NASCAR Nationwide Series for Roush Fenway Racing.

He currently competes in the Global RallyCross Championship, driving the No. 199 Subaru for Subaru Rally Team USA.

Early life

Pastrana was born on October 8, 1983 at 12:20 p.m. in Annapolis, Maryland to parents Robert and Debby Pastrana.[1] His uncle, Alan Pastrana, played as a quarterback from 1965 to 1968 at the University of Maryland,[2] which Travis Pastrana also attended.[1] On June 11, 2003, 19-year-old Pastrana was seriously injured when he crashed his Corvette into a tree in Davidsonville, Maryland.[3]

Motocross/Supercross

Pastrana has won three motocross racing championships: the 2000 A.M.A. 125cc National championship, the 2001 125cc East Coast Supercross Championship, and the 125cc Rose Creek Invitational. Pastrana also raced in the 2000 Motocross des Nations. He moved up to the 250cc class in 2002. His stand-up style, ability to spot jump combinations and great speed through the whoops make him easy to spot on the track. Although Pastrana has never won a 250cc race, his kindness to the fans and love of the sport still make him one of the most popular riders of all time. The Freestyle stunt riding started at a young age. At 13 years old Pastrana was already performing stunts during motocross racing, keeping the fans enthused and, later in life, leading to his career in freestyle motocross. Pastrana has always raced and competed on Suzuki motorcycles, and remains fiercely loyal to the brand. He races with Team Cernic's Suzuki. All of his motorcycles and rally cars carry the number 199. He even sponsored a Monster Jam truck called Pastrana 199 and Nitro Circus, after the show on MTV. On October 3, 2014, Pastrana competed in the first ever Red Bull Straight Rhythm competition, riding in the Open Class on a Suzuki RM-Z 450 with a Honda CR500 engine swap. He dubbed the bike the RM-Zilla, a name born on Instagram where Pastrana posted a picture of the bike and the quote "I see your 450 and raise you a 500." However, Pastrana was eliminated early on in the bracket and James Stewart took the win.[4]

Team Puerto Rico

Robert Pastrana, Travis' father, is a native Puerto Rican, which made Travis directly eligible to represent Puerto Rico in international competition.[5] On February 27, 2008, the Asociación de Motociclismo de Puerto Rico (Motorcycling Association of Puerto Rico) provided him with a license to represent the island, which was accepted by the Unión Latinoamericana de Motociclismo, the relevant sanctioning body in Latin America.[5][6] His debut with the team took place on March 15, 2008. Here he qualified to the finals by defeating Erick Vallejo of Mexico. In the finals he finished third, behind local Costa Rican racer Roberto Castro and Vallejo.[6]

X Games

Rallying

Pastrana's Subaru Impreza WRX STI.

In 2003, Pastrana opened a rallying career in the Race of Champions, and began driving for the Subaru-backed Vermont SportsCar rally team in 2004. Starting in 2006, Pastrana was signed by Subaru to lead their new Subaru Rally Team USA, being paired once again with veteran co-driver Christian Edstrom. On August 5, 2006 Pastrana won the gold medal in the first rally car competition at the X Games, edging out rally legend Colin McRae by 0.53 seconds after McRae rolled his car through the last jump.

Pastrana and Edstrom clinched the 2006 Rally America National Series overall and open class championship on October 22, 2006 during day one of the Lake Superior Performance Rally. The team finished out the 2006 series with another first-place victory at the Wild West Rally in Olympia, Washington on December 31, 2006.

On December 16, 2006 Pastrana competed at the 2006 Race of Champions at the Stade de France in Paris. He represented the United States in the Nations' Cup by himself, after injuries forced teammate Jimmie Johnson and his replacement Scott Speed to withdraw.

February 19, 2007 brought news that Pastrana's longtime co-driver Edstrom had announced a sabbatical to concentrate on his career and family. Although former McRae co-driver Derek Ringer competed with Pastrana for the 100 Acre Wood Rally in Salem, Missouri and Rally America, he did not announce a permanent co-driver.

Pastrana driving a classic Ford Escort Mk1 at the 2008 Colin McRae Forest Stages.

In September 2008, Pastrana took part in the Colin McRae Forest Stages Rally, a round of the Scottish Rally Championship centred in Perth in Scotland. Derek Ringer was his co-driver and they entered in a historic Ford Escort RS1600. He was one of a number of celebrity drivers to take part in the event in memory of McRae, who died in 2007.

On August 29, 2009 Pastrana claimed the overall victory at Ojibwe Forests Rally, his fifth of the 2009 Rally America season. The victory sealed his fourth consecutive Rally America driver's title, the most in series history.[9]

In 2011, Pastrana began competing in the Global RallyCross Championship. The next year, he entered five races, but finished (and won) only one.[10]

International competition

Pastrana, Colin McRae and Ken Block at X Games XIII.

On December 13, 2006, Subaru Rally Team USA announced plans to enter Pastrana in certain World Rally Championship events in 2007, 2008, and 2009.

In the 2007 season, he raced three P-WRC events in the Group N class, driving a Subaru Impreza WRX STI–based rally car. During March 9–11, 2007, Pastrana competed in his first world rally at the 21º Corona Rally México. He finished fifth in the P-WRC (Group N) class (the best in-class finish by an American in a WRC event since John Buffum finished third in the Acropolis Rally in 1988), followed by a tenth place in Rally Argentina and an eleventh in Rally GB. Pastrana described his season as having gone "horribly".[11]

Pastrana's 2008 season in the P-WRC was even less successful, with one retirement following a crash on stage one of Rally Argentina[12] and one thirteenth place on the Acropolis Rally.

NASCAR

Pastrana at Road America in 2013

Pastrana made his debut in NASCAR competition by driving in the 2011 Toyota All-Star Showdown, finishing sixth. Later in the year, he competed in NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin's Short Track Showdown at Richmond International Raceway, finishing 31st after being involved in a crash on lap two.[13] Pastrana later formed a partnership with Michael Waltrip Racing and Gary and Blake Betchel called Pastrana-Waltrip Racing,[14] and in 2011, ran three K&N Pro Series East starts, with his debut at Richmond in the Blue Ox 100,[15] finishing 33rd.[16] Pastrana's plans to compete in 2011 in the Nationwide Series were cancelled as a result of his injuries at the X-Games in July of that year; as a result, his scheduled race at Indianapolis Raceway Park was officially written off as a withdrawal.[17] In 2012, he planned to run a full season in the Pro Series East and select Nationwide Series races.[18] On April 27, 2012, Pastrana made his Nationwide Series debut, finishing 22nd at the Richmond 250.[19] In his first seven races, driving the No. 99 Toyota Camry for RAB Racing in an association with MWR, Pastrana posted a best finish of 13th in the inaugural Indiana 250; at Richmond in September, he drove for NASCAR powerhouse Roush Fenway Racing in the No. 60 Ford Mustang.[20] He also made one start in the Camping World Truck series that year for ThorSport Racing at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, driving their No. 98 Toyota to a 15th-place finish despite a spin early in the race.

In November 2012, Pastrana was revealed to have arranged a full-season ride for 2013 in the Nationwide Series with Roush Fenway Racing.[21] He drove in the team's No. 60 Ford during the 2013 season, posting four top-ten finishes with a best finish of ninth at Richmond International Raceway. The next race, Pastrana won his first career pole position at Talladega Superspeedway, with a lap speed of 176.500 miles per hour (284.049 km/h),[22] but was involved in a late crash.[23] Pastrana ended 2013 with four top tens,[23] a pole and a 14th-place points finish, 429 points behind champion Austin Dillon.[24]

On November 11, 2013 he announced via Facebook that he would be leaving NASCAR at the end of the 2013 season, citing a lack of sponsorship, frustration regarding his performance and a desire to spend time with his family as the reasons for his decision;[25] Pastrana wrote:[23]

“ "I hate to quit and I hate to fail, but sometimes things work out as they should. I've never been able to figure out the finesse required in pavement racing and that is disappointing, but I'm looking forward to driving more rally and racing more off-road trucks and there will be some announcements on those fronts shortly." ”

However, he left open the possibility of running occasional Camping World Truck Series events, and has expressed a desire to compete in the Daytona 500.[26] On September 23, 2015, Pastrana announced he would make his comeback to NASCAR, signing a one-race deal with NTS Motorsports to race the No. 31 Chevrolet in the Truck Series race at Las Vegas on October 3.[27] After qualifying 17th, Pastrana finished 16th, two laps behind race winner John Wes Townley.[28]

Injuries

“I don’t remember most of the injuries, there have been too many.” – Travis Pastrana[29]

Injuries have often taken Pastrana off the circuit for weeks or months at a time. His medical records include: a dislocated spine, he has torn his ACL, PCL, LCL, MCL and meniscus in his left knee, broken his tibia and fibula, he’s had surgery on his left wrist twice, left thumb once, two surgeries on his back, one on his right elbow, nine on his left knee, six on the right knee, one shoulder surgery which left him with the only piece of metal he has in his body.[30]

When Pastrana was 14 years old, he was severely injured while competing in an FMX competition. He came up short, landing on the top of the front side of the landing ramp and the motorcycle decelerated from 50 mph (80 km/h) to 0 mph (0 km/h) in less than one second. The bike was stuck into the dirt ramp with the front wheel just over the top and the crankcase smashed into the dirt deep enough to support the entire motorcycle upright. Upon impact Pastrana froze in the upright riding position and his feet went straight out to the sides like he was trying to straddle a bull. As soon as his legs went outward he fell off the motorcycle and his father took off across the dirt course in fear of what everyone had just witnessed. He was severely injured, his spine having been separated from his pelvis. It also left him in a wheelchair for three months.[31]

“I was in and out of consciousness for about three days and had six blood transfusions,” says Pastrana. He also adds that according to doctors, only three people in the U.S. have ever lived after such an injury. It was a long and difficult recovery. Pastrana would routinely ride wheelies in his wheelchair around the hospital and therapy areas. While in the wheelchair recovering, he vowed to continue motorcycle jumping. He was also injured in July 2011 while competing at the X Games when his motorcycle did not rotate to the landing position, crushing his ankle and causing a fracture. However, Pastrana was back in his Subaru Impreza and competing in the Rally Cross final where he overshot the corner, forcing himself into the wall; on-board footage shows his leg in plaster being slammed against the wheel well, much to his discomfort.[32]

Other activities

On September 26, 2007, Pastrana jumped out of an airplane over Arecibo, Puerto Rico, without a parachute in a carefully choreographed stunt. He met up in midair with another jumper, then latched himself into a harness to make a safe tandem landing.

On Sunday, February 8, 2009 at 10 p.m., MTV Nitro Circus, his new television show of which he is an executive producer, premiered on MTV. A spinoff of MTV's Jackass, the two shows shared producers, Jeff Tremaine and was partially created by Jackass frontman Johnny Knoxville. It features Jolene Van Vugt, Erik Roner (deceased), Streetbike Tommy, Andy Bell, JD Larson, Jim DeChamp, among others doing dangerous stunts. Jackass' Johnny Knoxville, Bam Margera, Chris Pontius and Steve-O; BMX freestylers, T. J. Lavin and Mat Hoffman; and actor, Gary Coleman have guest starred on various episodes. Nitro Circus was also featured in an episode of MTV's Rob Dyrdek's Fantasy Factory and vice versa.

Pastrana and the rest of Nitro Circus appeared in the music video for "Spaceship" by Puddle of Mudd.

Racing

Pastrana at the 2014 Mount Washington Hillclimb

On Friday, January 1, 2010, Pastrana officially set a new world record in a ramp-to-ramp car jump. He jumped his Subaru rally car off the Pine Street Pier onto a floating barge anchored in Long Beach’s Rainbow Harbor, breaking the existing mark of 171 feet (52 m) and establishing a new world distance record of 269 feet (82 m). To celebrate, after getting out of his car, he performed a gainer from the landing ramp into the harbor below.[33]

In June 2010, Pastrana entered the Prelude to the Dream charity dirt track race at Eldora Speedway in a No. 199 Subaru. After starting 15th, he finished 23rd.[34]

In September 2010, Pastrana set the world record for fastest ascent of Mount Washington in a car, using his Subaru WRX STi: 6 minutes, 20.47 seconds. In June 2011, David Higgins set a new record for ascent of Mount Washington in a car, at 6 minutes, 11.54 seconds, using the same model vehicle.[35][36]

In 2012, Pastrana competed in the 24 Hours of Daytona for AF Waltrip, with NASCAR driver Michael Waltrip, Michael Waltrip Racing owner Rob Kauffman, and road racing veteran Rui Águas as codrivers.[37] After starting 38th, the team's Ferrari 458 finished 35th overall, 22nd in the GT class.[38]

In the media

Pastrana 199/Nitro Circus Monster Truck

"Pastrana 199" was a monster truck that raced on the United States Hot Rod Association (USHRA) circuit. The truck was owned by Live Nation/FELD Motorsports and sponsored by Pastrana. The truck was originally driven by Paul Cohen, then later driven by Chad Tingler, Courtney Jolly and Cam McQueen. Pastrana made his monster truck debut on October 18, 2006 in the Pastrana 199 monster truck at the 2006 Monster Jam. Also, on an episode of Nitro Circus, Pastrana attempted to backflip the Nitro Circus-themed monster truck. Though unsuccessful, he walked away without injury. In 2008–2009, the Pastrana 199 truck was driven by Pastrana's friend Cam McQueen. McQueen was invited to the 2009 World Finals for his second appearance. During the 2009 World Finals the "Pastrana 199" truck changed its name to "Nitro Circus". Pastrana himself competed in the freestyle competition of the event debuting the "Nitro Circus" truck, finishing in a three-way tie for 5th place in a field of 24 trucks. On February 27, 2010 in Jacksonville, Florida, Cam McQueen successfully executed a backflip in the Nitro Circus monster truck during the freestyle competition, making Nitro Circus the first to do so in competition. The "Nitro Circus" monster truck made its final appearance and was retired after the 2011 Monster Jam season.

Personal life

In June 4, 2011, during a live performance of Nitro Circus, he proposed to Lyn-Z Adams Hawkins, a professional skateboarder. On October 29, 2011 Hawkins and Pastrana were married in front of several family and friends in Southern California, near the home of Hawkins.[39] On February 26, 2013 Hawkins and Pastrana announced on their personal Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages that they were expecting their first child due in September 2013. Hawkins gave birth to a girl named Addy Ruth on Labor Day, September 2, 2013. On August 5, 2014 Hawkins announced in her personal page that she and Pastrana were expecting their second child due in February 2015.[40][41] She gave to birth to a girl named Bristol Murphy on February 9, 2015.

Racing record

Complete Rally America results

NASCAR

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

Nationwide Series

Camping World Truck Series

* Season still in progress
1 Ineligible for series points

24 Hours of Daytona

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position, Results are overall/class)

Rolex Sports Car Series results

* Season still in progress.
1 Ineligible for series championship points.

Complete Global RallyCross Championship results

Supercar

References

  1. 1 2 Travis Pastrana: Biography, TV Guide, retrieved October 4, 2010.
  2. ↑ McKee, Sandra (June 17, 2001). "FREQUENT FLIER Racer: A motocross superstar at the age of 17, Travis Pastrana has a zest for winning, and entertaining, that just keeps soaring.; Motocross". The Baltimore Sun. p. 1.E.
  3. ↑ Report: Famed Stunt Rider Injured In Car Crash, WBAL-TV, June 11, 2003
  4. ↑ Smith, Shawn (December 20, 2014). "WATCH: James Stewart, Travis Pastrana compete at Red Bull Straight Rhythm (NBC, 4 p.m. ET)". motorsportstalk.nbcsports.com. NBC Sports. Retrieved 24 February 2015.
  5. 1 2 José Luis Rodríguez C. (February 28, 2008). "Competirá por Puerto Rico Travis Pastrana estará en el supercross del Saprissa" [He will compete for Puerto Rico: Travis Pastrana will be in the Saprissa supercross] (in Spanish). La Nación. Archived from the original on March 2, 2008. Retrieved April 6, 2008.
  6. 1 2 Chuck Akin (March 18, 2008). "Pastrana at the Latin American Supercross Championships". Racer X Illustrated. Retrieved April 16, 2008.
  7. ↑ "Off-Road Truck Racing: Teen Drivers". X Games. June 2, 2015. Retrieved June 5, 2015.
  8. ↑ "Off Road Truck Racing". X Games. Retrieved June 18, 2015.
  9. ↑ "Ojibwe Forests Rally – Day 2". TheRallyBlog.com. Retrieved March 30, 2009.
  10. ↑ "TRAVIS PASTRANA QUALIFIES FOURTH FOR DAYTONA NASCAR RACE". Red Bull. February 22, 2013. Retrieved February 16, 2015.
  11. ↑ PWRC: Pastrana: It's not quite gone to plan... | WRC News | Dec 2007. Crash.Net (2007-12-15). Retrieved on 2011-11-04.
  12. ↑ World Rally Championship – Drivers & Teams. Wrc.com. Retrieved on 2011-11-04.
  13. ↑ "2011 Denny Hamlin Short Track Showdown". Racing-Reference. Retrieved February 16, 2015.
  14. ↑ Associated Press (July 15, 2011). "Travis Pastrana finishes 22nd". ESPN. Retrieved February 15, 2014.
  15. ↑ "Travis Pastrana to Compete in Blue Ox 100 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Race on Thursday, April 28". Richmond International Raceway. April 11, 2011. Retrieved February 15, 2014.
  16. ↑ "2011 Blue Ox 100". Racing-Reference. Retrieved February 15, 2014.
  17. ↑ "2011 Kroger 200 Benefitting Riley Hospital for Children". Racing-Reference. Retrieved February 16, 2015.
  18. ↑ Pockrass, Bob (January 11, 2012). "Travis Pastrana to run full NASCAR East schedule, Nationwide debut postponed to at least April". Scene Daily. The Sporting News. Retrieved January 12, 2012.
  19. ↑ Newton, David (April 27, 2012). "Travis Pastrana impresses in Nationwide debut at Richmond International Raceway.". David Newton Blog. ESPN. Retrieved April 28, 2012.
  20. ↑ "Pastrana to Drive for Roush Fenway at RIR". Motor Racing Network. September 3, 2012. Retrieved September 3, 2012.
  21. ↑ "Pastrana full-time with Roush Fenway in 2013". NBC Sports. November 6, 2012. Retrieved December 23, 2012.
  22. ↑ "Travis Pastrana captures first NASCAR Nationwide pole with strong lap at Talladega". Autoweek. May 3, 2013. Retrieved February 5, 2014.
  23. 1 2 3 "PASTRANA NOT RETURNING TO NASCAR IN 2014". NASCAR. November 11, 2013. Retrieved January 20, 2014.
  24. ↑ "NASCAR Nationwide Series standings for 2013". Racing-Reference. Retrieved February 16, 2015.
  25. ↑ Associated Press (November 11, 2013). "Travis Pastrana leaving NASCAR after season finale". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved November 11, 2013.
  26. ↑ Caraviello, David (November 22, 2013). "Pastrana still feels lure of NASCAR's challenge". NASCAR.com. Retrieved 22 November 2013.
  27. ↑ Albert, Zack (September 23, 2015). "TRAVIS PASTRANA WILL DRIVE IN LAS VEGAS TRUCK SERIES RACE". NASCAR. Retrieved September 23, 2015.
  28. ↑ "2015 Rhino Linings 350". Racing-Reference. Retrieved October 7, 2015.
  29. ↑ "Thrill of NASCAR, AMS Excites Pastrana". Atlanta Motor Speedway. April 5, 2012. Retrieved July 23, 2015.
  30. ↑ Why Travis Pastrana is The Man. lat34.com. August 28, 2006
  31. ↑ Backflip: Travis Pastrana and Aaron Fotherinham – 360Guide. 360guide.info. Retrieved on 2011-11-04.
  32. ↑ Injury scuttles Pastrana's Nationwide debut – July 29, 2011 – NASCAR.COM. Nationwide.nascar.com (2011-07-29). Retrieved on 2011-11-04.
  33. ↑ VIDEO: “Man has flown a car”. AUSmotive.com. Retrieved on 2011-11-04.
  34. ↑ "2010 Prelude to the Dream". Racing-Reference. Retrieved 2015-02-14.
  35. ↑ Lavrinc, Damon. (2010-09-14) Watch Travis Pastrana's run up Mt. Washington. Autoblog.com. Retrieved on 2011-11-04.
  36. ↑ Ryan Triffitt (September 2010). "Travis Pastrana Sets New Mark for Mt. Washington Auto Road Hillclimb". Mount Washington Auto Road. Retrieved October 4, 2010.
  37. ↑ "WALTRIP, PASTRANA TO DRIVE IN ROLEX 24". NASCAR. December 2, 2011. Retrieved February 16, 2015.
  38. ↑ "2012 Rolex 24 at Daytona". Racing-Reference. Retrieved February 16, 2015.
  39. ↑ Bane, Colin (November 1, 2011). "Mr. and Mrs. Pastrana". X-Games. ESPN. Retrieved November 5, 2013.
  40. ↑ Bane, Colin (February 26, 2013). "Pastranas expecting their first child". X-Games. ESPN. Retrieved February 27, 2013.
  41. ↑ Gluck, Jeff (September 5, 2013). "12 Questions with Travis Pastrana". USA Today. McLean, VA. Retrieved September 8, 2013.
  42. ↑ Rally America 2005. Rally-america.com. Retrieved on 2011-11-04.
  43. ↑ Rally America 2006. Rally-america.com. Retrieved on 2011-11-04.
  44. ↑ Rally America 2007. Rally-america.com. Retrieved on 2011-11-04.
  45. ↑ Rally America 2008. Rally-america.com. Retrieved on 2011-11-04.
  46. ↑ Rally America 2009. Rally-america.com. Retrieved on 2011-11-04.
  47. ↑ Rally America 2010. Rally-america.com. Retrieved on 2011-11-04.
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