Travis Pastrana hasn’t been involved in NASCAR since 2013 when he ran the full XFINITY Series schedule. On Friday, the former driver made a rare appearance at a NASCAR-sanctioned track. The former NASCAR XFINITY Series driver was looming around the Sprint Cup and Camping World Truck Series garage after the opening Cup Series practice.
When a former driver shows up to a race track it brings up the question on whether or not that driver is going to make a return. Will he come back? When will he come back? Why is he here?
Pastrana never ruled out a return to NASCAR. But, after struggling in his lone season behind the wheel of a Roush Fenway Racing Ford he still thinks about making a return to some sort of NASCAR division ranging from K&N East races to the Camping World Truck Series and everything inbetween.
“I’ve been really happy,” Pastrana said of his post-NASCAR career. “I just ran out of money and talent. I definitely talk to these guys about running the K&N Series here and there and then try to get in a truck race from time-to-time. This year we just didn’t have much time, but we’ll see what happens.”
The former Roush Fenway driver has had no serious discussions with any current teams about getting back behind the wheel in NASCAR.
“No serious discussions,” Pastrana said. I’ve got an off weekend on Dover for the K&N race or Las Vegas truck. Hopefully, we can talk to someone about getting behind something.
Even with the few off weekends, he does still keep in contact with the drivers and crew members of Roush Fenway Racing.
“Quite a bit,” Pastrana said about remaining friends with his former teammates. “Crew chief Chad (Norris) calls quite a bit and we’ll bet on football games, so yeah I still stay in contact with them.”
Though Pastrana hasn’t raced in NASCAR since 2013, he has kept extremely busy in the past two years.
“It’s gone really good,” Pastrana said about his 2015 season. “We’ve really just been doing Nitro Circus. We’ve done 45 shows this year all over the world. It’s good to get some time off.
Pastrana did mention that he really liked his first stint in NASCAR.
“I really liked my short lived career in NASCAR,” Pastrana said. Just walking up and down here, all of the truck drivers and the crew chiefs, everybody really took me under their wing and I really had a good time just getting to know the sport and what it’s all about. I could have asked for better results, but at the end of the day I needed to do more homework. I always like jumping into the deep end.”
It will be interesting to see if this is a one appearance deal or if the former X-Games Gold Medalist is serious about strapping up and giving it a second-go in NASCAR.
- Josh Wise Adapting to The Motorsports Group - August 14, 2016
- Carl Edwards has Fully Transitioned into Joe Gibbs Racing - August 5, 2016
- Chris Buescher Steals a Victory in Soggy Pocono Event - August 1, 2016