Racing legend Travis Pastrana will try to qualify for his first NASCAR Cup Series Race at subsequent month’s Daytona 500. Pastrana is making an attempt to earn an open qualifying spot (one among 4 obtainable) in NASCAR’s greatest race of the season, and his try will probably be behind the wheel of 23XI Racing’s No. 67 Toyota Camry.
“Trying to earn one of many only a few remaining spots in qualifying for the largest race I’ve ever had the chance to compete in won’t be a straightforward activity,” Pastrana mentioned. “But I’m assured the 23XI crew will give me a automobile that belongs within the present and actually consider I’ve the abilities to get it there.”
Pastrana is a motorsports legend on each two and 4 wheels with victories in supercross, motocross and rally racing. His resume contains 11 gold medals in moto and rally automobile occasions on the X Games. Pastrana additionally created the Nitro RallyCross collection in 2018 and is the collection’ reigning champion.
This is just not his first foray into inventory automobile racing. Quite the other, as Pastrana has 42 begins within the NASCAR Xfinity Series and 5 begins within the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, although he has not raced in any NASCAR collection since 2020.
“My first supercross win got here at Daytona once I was 16 years previous, and I certified third at Daytona for the Xfinity collection in 2013,” Pastrana mentioned. “That race didn’t find yourself nicely, however I used to be in a position to end tenth regardless of the very fact I crossed the end line backward by way of the infield grass at 180mph.”
23XI Racing was based by NBA legend Michael Jordan and three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin in 2020. The crew at the moment fields two vehicles within the Cup Series with Bubba Wallace piloting the No. 23 Toyota Camry and Tyler Reddick within the No. 45 Toyota Camry.
“He is among the most well-known and well-decorated motion sports activities athletes of all time, and we’re wanting ahead to serving to him in his quest to race within the Daytona 500,” mentioned Steve Lauletta, 23XI Racing president.
Qualifying for the Daytona 500 begins on February 15, with the race scheduled for February 19 at 2:30 p.m. (ET). Pastrana is wanting to earn a spot within the race and amongst his competitors from non-chartered groups is seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson who’s popping out of retirement to race with Legacy Motor Club.
