Pastrana... no more Nascar?

GeorgiePorgie 11/12/2013 7:15am
11/12/2013 7:15am Edited Date/Time 11/12/2013 7:16am
Not to be the conspiracy guy, but if this 'car club' doesn't want a motocross guy succeed I feel like it's NASCAR that can break a guy with raw talent just by bumping him around on the track and rattling him. And driving a car isn't easy. Doubt we will ever see an ex moto successful nascar driver.

But TP can do anything! That guy is crazy.


Nascar is hurting for sure, I go to MIS every year to watch the race and 10 years ago you couldn't get a ticket. Now the stands are empty, the infield plots are more scarce......
TomZ
Profile picture for user TomZ
Posts
708
Joined
7/24/2008
Location
West Bloomfield, MI, USA
TomZ 11/12/2013 7:17am
11/12/2013 7:17am
It seems that everything TP has done has been pretty transparent so no surprise that he would be so open about this situation. It would surprise most people how difficult the quest for big dollar sponsors really is........even for TP. Many of these drivers trying to make it invest $100's of thousands of their own money (or Dad's) hoping to get results that will attract a title sponsor to cover the season's racing. I am uncertain exactly how much TP invested in himself but understand that it was substantial.

One thing you can count on is that he will turn up smiling and doing things his way.
Jason_Headson 11/12/2013 7:21am
11/12/2013 7:21am
From his letter sounds like some off road truck racing is coming, and why not Johnson, McGrath, even Deegan are all successful! Red bull is very involved and TP has to be one of there top named athletes. I for one welcome his next adventure, would be great to see him race the big house here in Crandon. Good luck in all you do TP! Great guy Humble
put_chug
Profile picture for user put_chug
Posts
101
Joined
8/23/2013
Location
Uhrichsville, OH, USA
put_chug 11/12/2013 8:13am
11/12/2013 8:13am
I wonder if he will be alright financially without nascar?

The Shop

See All »
Choppy
Profile picture for user Choppy
Posts
1931
Joined
12/16/2012
Location
USA
Choppy 11/12/2013 9:12am
11/12/2013 9:12am
His agent made reference to his new kid/ family and needing to make some decisions if he wanted to move them around the country to figure out the NASCAR thing. IMO, it has more to do with that then finding sponsorships.
cloverdale
Profile picture for user cloverdale
Posts
383
Joined
6/20/2009
Location
Zionsville, IN, USA
cloverdale 11/12/2013 3:55pm
11/12/2013 3:55pm
put_chug wrote:
I wonder if he will be alright financially without nascar?
While it is true that Indy is not the Mecca for inside MX information...4 wheel inside information is another story. Travis never really had a ride...the money was his plus DC and Redbull helping out.... So bottom line is that he will be bettter from a financial situation. All this being said, he is one of the most respected individuals to every race a 2 wheeler or a 4 wheeler. Trav has gone out of his way to hide all the good things he has done to help others in life. He is a hero in my book..
oilman400
Profile picture for user oilman400
Posts
679
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
Winters, CA, USA
oilman400 11/12/2013 4:27pm
11/12/2013 4:27pm
That sucks, I was a huge truck fan when RC was in there. I got into the Nation Wide when TP was racing, its just not a fun unless you have an old MXer making a go at it!!
hasko158
Profile picture for user hasko158
Posts
874
Joined
8/14/2010
Location
Charlotte, NC, USA
hasko158 11/12/2013 4:37pm
11/12/2013 4:37pm
Results or not, he was used in more ads and commercials than the top Sprint Cup guys. Sponsors are stupid for not jumping on board with him. I know a lot of people, myself included, who never followed Nationwide but because of him we did.
GuyB
Profile picture for user GuyB
Posts
35722
Joined
7/10/2006
Location
Aliso Viejo, CA, USA
GuyB 11/12/2013 4:39pm
11/12/2013 4:39pm
davistld01 wrote:
Funny TP is the only ex-motocrosser ever to fail at car racing to have the balls to say "I sucked at it, and couldn't get enough...
Funny TP is the only ex-motocrosser ever to fail at car racing to have the balls to say "I sucked at it, and couldn't get enough sponsors." although that has been the case a lot of times. Gotta hand it to Travis for being the up front guy he is. I've had the pleasure to meet him once briefly, and he seemed like a genuinely cool guy. Props to him too for wanting to be a support to his wife now...and to concentrate on being a great father.
How many have there been?
motokiwi 11/12/2013 4:40pm
11/12/2013 4:40pm
Speaking of Travis' new endeavors, it would be nice to see him race:

Rally & select rounds of WRC
X Games Rally
Lucas Oil Offroad
Side by side rally racing (Do they have that in the USA?, with those oversize golf cart looking things)
RC Car racing


That would be a nice mix for an ADD fella with bad knees and a family
Crush
Profile picture for user Crush
Posts
21097
Joined
4/26/2009
Location
Sydney, AU
Crush 11/12/2013 4:44pm
11/12/2013 4:44pm
davistld01 wrote:
Funny TP is the only ex-motocrosser ever to fail at car racing to have the balls to say "I sucked at it, and couldn't get enough...
Funny TP is the only ex-motocrosser ever to fail at car racing to have the balls to say "I sucked at it, and couldn't get enough sponsors." although that has been the case a lot of times. Gotta hand it to Travis for being the up front guy he is. I've had the pleasure to meet him once briefly, and he seemed like a genuinely cool guy. Props to him too for wanting to be a support to his wife now...and to concentrate on being a great father.
GuyB wrote:
How many have there been?
RC... Didn't Wardy and RJ have some tests in stock stuff as well?
FastEddy
Profile picture for user FastEddy
Posts
14815
Joined
8/3/2008
Location
💀, FL, USA
FastEddy 11/12/2013 4:46pm
11/12/2013 4:46pm Edited Date/Time 11/12/2013 4:49pm
GuyB wrote:
How many have there been?
All I know of are...

Wardy - I thought he did good in Indy.

RC - he didn't live up to some peoples expectations - but I thought he did ok.

Didn't Clint Bowyer also race am's?
So he's a motocrosser also and he's awesome! Smile

TP - I thought he was an awesome rally car guy.
FastEddy
Profile picture for user FastEddy
Posts
14815
Joined
8/3/2008
Location
💀, FL, USA
FastEddy 11/12/2013 4:47pm
11/12/2013 4:47pm Edited Date/Time 11/12/2013 4:49pm
Crush wrote:
RC... Didn't Wardy and RJ have some tests in stock stuff as well?
I know RJ did good at truck racing on the dirt (whatever they call it).
I don't know about cars.
If he did,I don't remember it.
GuyB
Profile picture for user GuyB
Posts
35722
Joined
7/10/2006
Location
Aliso Viejo, CA, USA
GuyB 11/12/2013 4:49pm
11/12/2013 4:49pm
Crush wrote:
RC... Didn't Wardy and RJ have some tests in stock stuff as well?
RC, and yeah, RJ did take a crack at it for a while. I think Wardy was always more interested in open wheel.

Kevin Schwantz also took a crack at the junior series back when it was Busch.

Then there were a couple other ex dirt bikers by the name of Johnson and Bowyer who seem to be doing okay.
FastEddy
Profile picture for user FastEddy
Posts
14815
Joined
8/3/2008
Location
💀, FL, USA
FastEddy 11/12/2013 4:54pm
11/12/2013 4:54pm
GuyB wrote:
RC, and yeah, RJ did take a crack at it for a while. I think Wardy was always more interested in open wheel. Kevin Schwantz also...
RC, and yeah, RJ did take a crack at it for a while. I think Wardy was always more interested in open wheel.

Kevin Schwantz also took a crack at the junior series back when it was Busch.

Then there were a couple other ex dirt bikers by the name of Johnson and Bowyer who seem to be doing okay.
I forgot about all about Jimmy Johnson.

Drtbykr
Profile picture for user Drtbykr
Posts
2058
Joined
10/29/2006
Location
Fredericton, CA
Drtbykr 11/12/2013 5:21pm
11/12/2013 5:21pm
All the stuff he has done, he should get a nice lazy-boy and a big screen TV.

Had a DRZ400, this is brave and talented! "Baja on a stock DRZ400"
Grizz
Profile picture for user Grizz
Posts
3105
Joined
7/2/2012
Location
Los Angeles, CA, USA
Grizz 11/12/2013 7:08pm
11/12/2013 7:08pm Edited Date/Time 11/12/2013 7:08pm
Damn, reading this thread makes me miss 16-18 year old motocross racing Travis so much. He was just insane.

Edit: So happy to have YouTube!

Pit Row

See All »
TripleFive 11/12/2013 8:56pm
11/12/2013 8:56pm Edited Date/Time 11/12/2013 8:56pm
It makes me sad to think about the next 30 years of TP's life. He's likely going to be in constant and increasing pain and could potentially suffer from a brain degenerative disorder do to the number of time he has KO'd himself. I really hope the last decade of brilliance that was the Travis Pastrana story doesn't end up as a super depressing 30 for 30 episode on ESPN.
olds cool
Profile picture for user olds cool
Posts
4212
Joined
1/17/2010
Location
Claremont, NC, USA
olds cool 11/12/2013 9:52pm
11/12/2013 9:52pm
While there have been many interesting comments made here, and some are pretty valid, no one has addressed the elephant in the room on this topic. Before I do though, don't conclude after reading this that I am a hater or that "R word" thing, as I am neither. I am just a messenger. Nothing more, nothing less. That said, here's your clue guys: NASCAR has spent an ass load (and I mean a HUGE ass) of time, energy and dollars to promote it's NASCAR Drive for Diversity program (www.nascardiversity.com). NASCAR sees to it that the folks that make it into this program get the funding and support (affiliation with legit team) they need to go as far as their talent and potential will carry them. Everybody else, including all of the aforementioned ex-motocrossers, needs to have really deep pockets or bring someone with them (sponsors or whoever) that does. TP may be one of the best spoken, most articulate, exciting, energetic, interesting people to ever get behind the wheel but he's no Danica Patrick, Kyle Larson, or Darrell Wallace Jr. TP's best shot may have been for him to be gay, not that there's anything (you finish the sentence) . Like it or not, it is what it is.
kevingent55
Profile picture for user kevingent55
Posts
173
Joined
9/20/2010
Location
Maryville, TN, USA
kevingent55 11/13/2013 11:16am
11/13/2013 11:16am Edited Date/Time 11/13/2013 11:19am
BAMX wrote:
Trying to squeeze .1 of a sec out of one of those cars is a lot harder than most people around here will ever understand. It...
Trying to squeeze .1 of a sec out of one of those cars is a lot harder than most people around here will ever understand. It isn't just about the driving, it is mostly about being able to tell your crew what the car needs in changes. The sad part is that he had the best chance of any of the guys that moto has sent so far. I hope he gets enough support to stay in and get the seat time to get another chance.
Moto once sent a guy named Jeff Ward into open wheel cars, I seem to remember he did pretty well...I see I was a little late with that
Missing_Muffs 11/13/2013 11:37am
11/13/2013 11:37am
no more trips to roush racing for me.

well maybe to grab up what little Pastrana stuff they had there before its gone. wonder if they already took his bike out of the show room/
Markee
Profile picture for user Markee
Posts
3661
Joined
4/15/2013
Location
Suffolk, VA, USA
Markee 11/13/2013 11:46am
11/13/2013 11:46am Edited Date/Time 11/13/2013 11:48am
Some need results some don't, the don'ts = Danica Patrick, Dale JR, etc. Travis needs sponsors number one to have a chance to be successful. His number one sponsor left their two team NASCAR sprint cup effort after 2012. Red Bulll was TPs only real chance as i see it.

As i mentioned earlier, some need results and some dont, Dale Jr has Mtn Dew aka AMPed energy, he also is the sports most popular drive hands down, his fans would drink his piss daily before buying a can of red bull.

Red Bulls return on investment for such a tiny available market share with a new Travis Pastrana nationwide team effort just doesn't cut it, unless he was top fiving and beating the likes of kids that have been groomed since day one (Richard Childress boys austin and ty dylon), also top fiving beating Cup regulars like Kyle Bucsh, Casey Kayne, Carl Edwards, Brad K., Clint Bowyer, Martin Truex Jr., etc etc..

Very hard to step into NASCAR without the big guns like Red Bull. Unless he has another relationship big enough to make the effort, obviously not.
scott_nz 11/13/2013 11:57am
11/13/2013 11:57am
Markee wrote:
Some need results some don't, the don'ts = Danica Patrick, Dale JR, etc. Travis needs sponsors number one to have a chance to be successful. His...
Some need results some don't, the don'ts = Danica Patrick, Dale JR, etc. Travis needs sponsors number one to have a chance to be successful. His number one sponsor left their two team NASCAR sprint cup effort after 2012. Red Bulll was TPs only real chance as i see it.

As i mentioned earlier, some need results and some dont, Dale Jr has Mtn Dew aka AMPed energy, he also is the sports most popular drive hands down, his fans would drink his piss daily before buying a can of red bull.

Red Bulls return on investment for such a tiny available market share with a new Travis Pastrana nationwide team effort just doesn't cut it, unless he was top fiving and beating the likes of kids that have been groomed since day one (Richard Childress boys austin and ty dylon), also top fiving beating Cup regulars like Kyle Bucsh, Casey Kayne, Carl Edwards, Brad K., Clint Bowyer, Martin Truex Jr., etc etc..

Very hard to step into NASCAR without the big guns like Red Bull. Unless he has another relationship big enough to make the effort, obviously not.
I agree with you about Danica, she has some good sponsors that like the time she gets in the media, I thought Travis would have been able to pull something like this together as well,

but Dale Jr is not the best, but 19 top series wins, and in the chase again this year helps his cause a lot, he is the most popular driver in nascar, and his fan base would dwarf Travis's,

then you have a kid like Kyle Larson, gets the #42 drive in the sprint cup next year after only 1 season in the Nationwide series, he is an amazing driver, hopefully hes aloud to come down here to run the midget series over christmas new year again this year,
Markee
Profile picture for user Markee
Posts
3661
Joined
4/15/2013
Location
Suffolk, VA, USA
Markee 11/13/2013 1:08pm
11/13/2013 1:08pm
Markee wrote:
Some need results some don't, the don'ts = Danica Patrick, Dale JR, etc. Travis needs sponsors number one to have a chance to be successful. His...
Some need results some don't, the don'ts = Danica Patrick, Dale JR, etc. Travis needs sponsors number one to have a chance to be successful. His number one sponsor left their two team NASCAR sprint cup effort after 2012. Red Bulll was TPs only real chance as i see it.

As i mentioned earlier, some need results and some dont, Dale Jr has Mtn Dew aka AMPed energy, he also is the sports most popular drive hands down, his fans would drink his piss daily before buying a can of red bull.

Red Bulls return on investment for such a tiny available market share with a new Travis Pastrana nationwide team effort just doesn't cut it, unless he was top fiving and beating the likes of kids that have been groomed since day one (Richard Childress boys austin and ty dylon), also top fiving beating Cup regulars like Kyle Bucsh, Casey Kayne, Carl Edwards, Brad K., Clint Bowyer, Martin Truex Jr., etc etc..

Very hard to step into NASCAR without the big guns like Red Bull. Unless he has another relationship big enough to make the effort, obviously not.
scott_nz wrote:
I agree with you about Danica, she has some good sponsors that like the time she gets in the media, I thought Travis would have been...
I agree with you about Danica, she has some good sponsors that like the time she gets in the media, I thought Travis would have been able to pull something like this together as well,

but Dale Jr is not the best, but 19 top series wins, and in the chase again this year helps his cause a lot, he is the most popular driver in nascar, and his fan base would dwarf Travis's,

then you have a kid like Kyle Larson, gets the #42 drive in the sprint cup next year after only 1 season in the Nationwide series, he is an amazing driver, hopefully hes aloud to come down here to run the midget series over christmas new year again this year,
Not downing Dales results or ability, just the fact that if he ran 30th every race, his fans would still stay true and his sponsors. The only think that could rock that boat would be Austin DIlon running the black #3 in the sprint cup :D

Kyle Larson getting the 42 ride is a sign of the times, very similar to MX, making investments into younger talents early like JGR did a few years back with hamlin, bucsh and lagano. Sp?

REally hoped RC4 and TP199 could have got something going.
scott_nz 11/13/2013 2:09pm
11/13/2013 2:09pm
Markee wrote:
Not downing Dales results or ability, just the fact that if he ran 30th every race, his fans would still stay true and his sponsors. The...
Not downing Dales results or ability, just the fact that if he ran 30th every race, his fans would still stay true and his sponsors. The only think that could rock that boat would be Austin DIlon running the black #3 in the sprint cup :D

Kyle Larson getting the 42 ride is a sign of the times, very similar to MX, making investments into younger talents early like JGR did a few years back with hamlin, bucsh and lagano. Sp?

REally hoped RC4 and TP199 could have got something going.
agreed, the Larson full time ride this early suprised me as well, be interesting to see how he goes next year,

and with the Dillon boys coming up, the kids are coming again,

Interesting watching Harvick and Hendrick last week, still dont seem the best of mates after Harvicks outburst a couple of weeks ago,

best quote I saw about it, "you know Hendrick was close to taking his watch off again"
BobbyM
Profile picture for user BobbyM
Posts
21439
Joined
8/15/2006
Location
USA
BobbyM 11/13/2013 5:32pm
11/13/2013 5:32pm
Crush wrote:
RC... Didn't Wardy and RJ have some tests in stock stuff as well?
GuyB wrote:
RC, and yeah, RJ did take a crack at it for a while. I think Wardy was always more interested in open wheel. Kevin Schwantz also...
RC, and yeah, RJ did take a crack at it for a while. I think Wardy was always more interested in open wheel.

Kevin Schwantz also took a crack at the junior series back when it was Busch.

Then there were a couple other ex dirt bikers by the name of Johnson and Bowyer who seem to be doing okay.
joe leonard...old school.
Old-Man
Profile picture for user Old-Man
Posts
8019
Joined
10/21/2011
Location
Colorado springs, CO, USA
Old-Man 11/13/2013 6:18pm
11/13/2013 6:18pm
lot of people have advice or better yet what they think Travis would do good at~ thing is he really wanted to be good at Nascar so much so he went right to the second tier to prove he could. Everybody knows he lives on adrenalin and when your crashing or loosing there's no adrenalin.
He has done more in his 30 years than I would ever accomplish in 5 life-times, I would bet he finds something pretty quick that gets that big smile back on his face.

I bet it wasn't easy to right that, maybe shedding a tear or two while doing so.
Way to go Travis.

Post a reply to: Pastrana... no more Nascar?