Travis Pastrana Posts Career-Best Finish at Indy

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In: Xfinity Series News

No. 99 Boost Mobile Toyota driver Travis Pastrana posted a career-best 13th-place finish in Saturday’s inaugural NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The RAB Racing driver started 19th and raced there until a competition caution flag flew on lap 15. On lap 38, Pastrana avoided a multi-car incident that brought out the afternoon’s second caution. Grass on No. 99’s grill acquired when Pastrana cut through the infield grass to avoid the accident pushed the engine’s water temperature above the normal range.

 

He pitted three times to fix the issue. The 28-year-old driver restarted 31st on lap 48 and moved back in the top 20 by lap 54. He continued his charge toward the front claiming 11th by lap 83. Pastrana lost a few spots in the final laps to finish 13th. The action sport star returns to the No.

99 Boost Mobile Toyota Sept. 1 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

 

 

*   Pastrana started 19th and finished 13th

*   Scored his career-best NASCAR Nationwide Series finish in seven starts

*   Will race in the K&N Pro Series East race at Iowa next Friday night

*   Has one more scheduled Nationwide Series start this season – Atlanta

*   Pastrana’s Nitro Circus The Movie 3D premiums August 8th

 

 

PASTRANA QUOTE:

What was it like racing at Indianapolis?

“It’s a very intimidating place. This is it for motorsports — this and Daytona. Definitely an honor to race here. After practice I was really worried, I didn’t think we had the speed. Definitely was a big gap between the guys out front and the guys in the back — bigger than most of the short tracks. I felt really good. We learned a lot. They did a great job getting the car working because we just went back to what we had. It took me awhile to get the line on this track just because there is so much speed. This is the biggest track I’ve ever raced. I’m really excited with a top-15 — the first top-15 and the crew did a great job.”

 

What did you learn in today’s race?

“The drafting and everything — I’m just clueless. I understand racing, but when you have guys making up huge runs coming up and two or three-wide and all of the sudden it’s like, ‘Wow.’ I’m earning a little respect in here and there’s always going to be those few people that you lose respect for or they lose respect for you as it goes on. It’s just racing situations. I’m really excited. We’re just trying to go out there now and not damage the car, get all the experience we can, not crashing in qualifying — I’ve done that a lot of times where we just didn’t get the benefit of racing the race because I messed up the car early. That’s what we did the last two races. I’ve learned my most in the last two races. Respectable finishes, but still every driver wants to win. It’s going to take time.”

 

RAB Racing PR

 

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