Motocross legend Travis Pastrana leads multiple laps, nets top-11 finish at Daytona 500
DAYTONA BEACH — For two glorious laps, Travis Pastrana saw nothing but open track in front of him.
For two wonderful laps, the motocross legend, who’s won X Games gold medals and rally-racing championships, sat at the top of the NASCAR world in his first Cup Series attempt. For two incredible laps, Pastrana led the Daytona 500 Sunday at Daytona International Speedway.
“This was beyond any expectations, any of my wildest dreams,” he said.
Pastrana didn’t win. But in his first Cup Series race, he came closer than most, surviving until double overtime and finishing 11th behind winner Ricky Stenhouse Jr. in the 40-driver field. He worked his No. 67 Toyota — his “rocket ship,” he called it — into the top six with two laps to go before an Aric Almirola bump whirled him around and ended his day.
The push was light enough that he wasn’t completely sure if it caused his spin-out or he lost control on his own. He had to ask his crew afterward.
“It was confusing, it was chaos and it was everything I had hoped it would be,” Pastrana said. “I think we did alright … We could see the lead, and that was cool.”
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At times, his inexperience showcased itself. He committed a pit violation in Stage 1, passing through too many boxes. He fell behind by more than a lap and had to trudge his way back.
“I definitely learned a lot,” Pastrana said.
Even his two laps in front weren’t necessarily intentional as several of the leaders pitted.
“It was by mistake,” the 39-year-old said. “I was like, ‘I should come in (to pit road).’ They were like, ‘Stay out. No, come in.’ I was like, ‘I’m already out!’”
Those laps came before his Stage 1 penalty. He was one of 21 different leaders of a race that featured 52 lead changes during 212 laps.
But Pastrana kept hanging around.
After qualifying on speed Wednesday and starting 40th, he closed Stage 1 in 37th, then Stage 2 in 32th. He avoided a pair of wrecks in Stage 3 to get back onto the lead lap and advance into the premier pack.
He just couldn’t dodge the last one, the big race-ender. If he had gotten out cleanly, he could’ve placed in the top five.
Pastrana doesn’t plan to do this again any time soon. It was a one-off appearance, and he joked he might sleep for the next week after being released from the infield care center.
“This isn’t where my skill set lies,” he said. “I am not good enough to go out there. If I was trying to be a top-20 driver, I would be here all the time. But to be a Denny (Hamlin) or a Bubba (Wallace) or any of those guys up top … it would take me three-to-five years to get where I feel like I could be competitive with any of them.
“I’m going to spend more time with my wife.”
Pastrana smiled. Even if he never climbs into another racecar, he’ll always have an 11th-place finish at The Great American Race.
And those two remarkable laps.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Travis Pastrana exceeds 'wildest dreams' with top-11 Daytona 500 finish
