When Travis Pastrana suits up for his first foray into the NASCAR Nationwide Series, he’ll do so with a haircut arguably more suited for the hockey playoffs than the racetrack.
The action sports star, sporting a glorious mullet, will make a much-anticipated Nationwide debut Friday night at Richmond International Raceway in the Virginia 529 College Savings 250 (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2), the seventh race of the season.
Pastrana, who has made a name for himself on two wheels and four, has already had some seasoning in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series, which he called a “humbling” experience.
“I’ve gotten my butt kicked by literally 15-, 17-, 18-year-old kids on a weekly basis, so there’s definitely a lot of young talent coming up,” Pastrana said. “I’m super excited to learn the ropes.”
The haircut came courtesy of a professional, but not exactly a professional stylist. Pastrana has five-time Sprint Cup champion Jimmie Johnson to thank for the new look.
“He has a rocking mullet that I was able to carve out of his head with some metal cutting shears,” Johnson said. “He is all committed, fully in. On a more serious note, it’s just seat time. The guy knows how to race. He knows how to ride and drive whatever the heck it is. It’s just seat time.”
A pair of two-time Nationwide winners continue to run 1-2 in the series standings, with Elliott Sadler just four points ahead of defending series champ Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
