Racing legend Travis Pastrana will attempt to qualify for his first NASCAR Cup Series race at next month’s Daytona 500. Pastrana is trying to secure a vacant qualifying spot (one of four available) at NASCAR’s biggest race of the season, and his attempt will fall behind the wheel of 23XI Racing’s #67 Toyota Camry.
“Trying to secure one of the few remaining spots in qualifying for the biggest race I’ve ever had the privilege of participating in will not be an easy task,” Pastrana said. “But I’m confident that the 23XI team will give me a car that belongs on the show and I really believe I have the skills to take it there.”
Pastrana is a motorsport legend on two and four wheels with victories in supercross, motocross and rally races. His résumé includes 11 gold medals in moto and rally car events at the X Games. Pastrana also created the Nitro RallyCross series in 2018 and is the reigning champion of the series.
This isn’t his first foray into stock car racing. On the contrary, Pastrana has 42 starts in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and five starts in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, although he has not raced in any NASCAR series since 2020.
“My first Supercross win came at Daytona when I was 16 years old and I qualified third for the Xfinity Series at Daytona in 2013,” said Pastrana. “The race didn’t end well but I was able to finish 10th despite crossing the finish line backwards through the grass in the infield at 180mph.”
23XI Racing was founded in 2020 by NBA legend Michael Jordan and three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin. The team currently fields two cars in the Cup Series, with Bubba Wallace piloting the No. 23 Toyota Camry and Tyler Reddick piloting the No. 45 Toyota Camry.
“He is one of the most well-known and accomplished action athletes of all time and we look forward to supporting his quest to race at the Daytona 500,” said Steve Lauletta, President of 23XI Racing.
Qualifying for the Daytona 500 begins on February 15th with the race scheduled for February 19th at 2:30pm ET. Pastrana is trying to secure a spot in the race, and his non-charter team competitors include seven-time NASCAR Cup Series Champion Jimmie Johnson, who is coming out of retirement to race with the Legacy Motor Club.
This article, written by David P. Castro, was originally published on ClassicCars.com, an editorial partner of Motor Authority.
