Monday, November 11, 2013

BREAKING NEWS: Pastrana WIll Not Return To NASCAR In 2014

Travis Pastrana announced today that this will be his final season as a NASCAR Nationwide Series racer. 

“This past season of NASCAR has been an awesome experience,” said Pastrana on his personal Facebook page. “I have made a lot of great friends, had a lot of fun and gained a new appreciation for all aspects of this sport. Jack Roush and everyone at Roush Fenway Racing have gone above and beyond to try and help me succeed and I am truly grateful for their support. I would like to thank them and all of the other people who stuck behind me during the last two years as I tried to learn how to make a successful career in NASCAR. Its 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.

“My wife Lyn-z has been more than supportive of my foray into NASCAR, often times being my biggest source of encouragement and support,” he said. “But as my wife had to take a step back from being a professional skater to let me chase my goals in racing, I too need to take a step back and look at my situation as a father and husband. The NASCAR schedule is grueling and takes enormous sacrifices from those you love to make work. With a lack of funding next year, now is my opportunity to sit back and offer support as she chases her goals.

“I hate to quit and I hate to fail, but sometimes things work out as they should,” said Pastrana. “I've never been able to figure out the finesse required in pavement racing and that is disappointing, but I'm looking forward to driving more rally and racing more off-road trucks and there will be some announcements on those fronts shortly! My wife is excited to get back to skating on the Nitro Circus Live Tour and I'm excited to spend some quality time with my girls.

“Thank you to all my fans for the support and I hope to see each of you at an event in the near future.”

15 comments:

  1. Anonymous5:06 PM

    I hope he comes back and maybe start learning with arca and then trucks before coming back to Nationwide. Doing a part time schedule with arca might get him the experience and skills to make it in the higher levels of stock car racing

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  2. A loss for the sport. He may not have set the world on fire on the track, but off the track he is a winner.

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  3. Dennis5:35 PM

    As a man he told it as it is. Well thought out, honest, fair, and with love for his family.

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  4. Best wishes, Travis.

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  5. Bummer. He was sure fun to have around. Would that things have gone differently for him - he certainly deserved better luck.

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  6. Charlie7:03 PM

    We are losing too many colorful characters in NASCAR including Montoya. going to be full of robots soon.

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  7. luckyleo7:30 PM

    He was a fun guy to watch and listen to, enjoyed his enthusiasiam (sp), but just couldn't get it, wrecked too many cars.. good luck with your other sports.

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  8. Hard not to respect man who can stand up and say he couldnt cut it. Hopefully he will return when hes ready

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  9. Hate to see Travis leave...Classy act...always has been...

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  10. Hate to see him go and hate all the trouble he had he is one of those guys you just cant help but to like him and root for him

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  11. Class act. It makes me want to see him succeed in whatever he does. He is a fun driver to watch in whatever he does.

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  12. Anonymous11:59 PM

    NASCAR doesn't understand Pastrana and the fans he has, if they did, they would have spent more time publicizing him and putting his face on the tv instead of letting him 'grow' as is the old skool NASCAR way. Sadly, as much as you say no, the sport in in a downward spiral. Maybe competitive TV scheduling with FOX and NBC next year putting it mostly on broadcast will garner more interest, but NASCAR lost the Pastrana crowd before Travis even set down in a car. But they'll never figure it ou until they go the way of the NHRA.

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  13. Jeez what am I to do with all the new Tray of Pastrami material for Twitter on race day!

    Travis is a stand up guy, a fantastic ambassador for any sport, and truly a great sport.

    I wish things could have worked out for him as colorful and infectious his personality is. I hope you attempt a return at some point Travis.

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  14. Anonymous10:14 AM

    Nice when someone can admit when they have bitten off more than they can chew, to bad our president doesn't do the same!

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