Travis Pastrana’s three-year NASCAR foray is coming to an end. His last race will be Saturday’s Nationwide Series season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
Travis Pastrana quitting NASCAR
Pastrana is leaving NASCAR after just one full season, due to a lack of sponsorship and wanting to spend more time with his family.
Chris Graythen
The action sports star announced the decision on his Facebook page Monday, citing lack of sponsorship.
“It’s tough to step back now and prove the critics were right, but unfortunately my results were not good enough to get the sponsors I needed to appropriately fund next season,” Pastrana wrote.
Pastrana began competing in stock car racing three years ago running in the K&N East Series and embarked on a limited Nationwide schedule for Michael Waltrip Racing in 2012. His start in NASCAR’s No. 2 division was delayed a year when Pastrana broke his ankle and foot during an accident in an X Games event.
Using personal sponsorships from Red Bull and DC Shoes, Pastrana secured a Nationwide ride with Roush Fenway Racing. But his first full season has been disappointing. In 32 starts he has just four top-10 finishes and has crashed out of six races.
“I hate to quit and I hate to fail, but sometimes things work out as they should,” he wrote. “I’ve never been able to figure out the finesse required in pavement racing and that is disappointing.”
Pastrana, well-known for his exploits in motocross and X Games, his arrival in NASCAR was met with much fanfare. Because of his popularity it was the hope of many within the NASCAR community that he would help attract a younger demographic.
Pastrana plans to continue in rally and off-road truck racing.
“This past season of NASCAR has been an awesome experience,” he wrote. “I have made a lot of great friends, had a lot of fun and gained a new appreciation for all aspects of this sport.”
More from SB Nation:
See More:
