If you think Danica Patrick came to NASCAR with lots of fans already in tow, get ready for a very interesting weekend in Phoenix. Travis Pastrana and his public relations juggernaut is chugging into NASCAR land.
It's only a K&N Series race, but Pastrana in his Boost Mobile Toyota out of the MWR shops looks to be a major story. When is the last time a K&N Series driver was interviewed by satellite on SPEED's Race Hub in only their second race? Pastrana will join host Steve Byrnes on Thursday at 7PM.
“I can’t wait to get back in the race car this week," said Pastrana in a press release. "We had a very successful debut at Irwindale last month and I learned a lot during the race. I don’t think our goals have change from our debut. We want to go out there and make laps and learn as much as we can. I haven’t been able to test at Phoenix so I am going to have to spend most of the practice time just learning the best way around the track."
Pastrana has been over in New Zealand performing with the Nitro Circus. Click here for a little taste of that extravaganza. It is from this background that Pastrana comes to NASCAR.
Now 27 years old, Pastrana has the ability to bring an entirely new group of fans to the sport and the PIR weekend should be interesting to watch. Although he will not make his official Nationwide Series debut until Indy in July, Pastrana is the same type of marketing machine as Danica.
When Ms. Patrick walked into the sport, it was TV that rushed to document her every move. Now that moment is long gone and Patrick looks a lot like just another struggling open-wheeler who doesn't get it. Even after a push to the front at Daytona, it was clear that Patrick hasn't come close to mastering the stock car skills needed at this level.
Pastrana has no such problems. Much like Trevor Bayne, Pastrana has no bad habits to break and no luggage from another series to carry as he arrives. An 11-time XGames gold medal winner, Pastrana's background is speed mixed with safety. He showed that in Irwindale, where he took home sixth place in the Toyota Shootout.
Click here to visit the Pastrana website, that will give you a much better overview of the successful and sophisticated athlete that has targeted NASCAR as his next goal. It should be interesting to see just how much media Pastrana generates and how often he appears on SPEED, ESPN and even FOX during the PIR racing weekend.
Please feel free to share your opinion on another high-profile star coming to NASCAR with money, a good car and a big marketing agenda. To add your opinion, just click on the comments button below. This is a family-friendly website, please keep that in mind when posting. Thanks for taking the time to stop by The Daly Planet.
I am so excited to see Travis compete. I hope he does well. Not thrilled that he will be working with Michael Waltrip but I cant do anything about that. I think Travis will do a whole lot better than Danica. He may even do better that the majority of open wheel people that have come into the sport in the last few years.
ReplyDeleteI just dont understand why I have to wait so long to see him compete in NW..
At least now we women have a hyped driver to drool over. LOL
ReplyDeleteI may be in the minority here, but I just don't find myself all that interested in Pastrana.
ReplyDeleteIf he brings more fans in and they like him, great, but for me this is just a yawn.
First appearance is another Waltrip
ReplyDeleteentremanureal project,i.e. lucky
dog, author, and assistant rodent
rooter.
Travis has the ability to add something to the sport if he doesn't get swallowed up by the
P. T. Barnums. Hopefully he will
follow Baynes example.
Gee, we will get to hear so much more from DW and MW about Toyota and once again the bias and favoritism will relace any neutral broadcast about someone who got the ride simply because he is a big star in another discipline. Just think, all this favoritism is being pushed on younger fans and they form their favorites according to the Waltrips.
ReplyDeleteNo wonder some of the real racers have a hard time advancing.
Corina
Guy kinda seems like a goofball. Acts kinda like a clown. Performs in something called the Nitro Circus. And is teamed up with MWR. What could go wrong?
ReplyDeleteJudging by the number of comments so far, seems like the hype is just that.
Don't forget, Pastrana finished well in his first ever stock car race last month at Irwindale, outscoring Steven Wallace. Just saying.
ReplyDeleteWell, I'd never heard of him before JD mentioned his partnership with Mikey last fall. I watched the Irwindale race and had a favorable first impression of the young man. I don't know (or frankly care) what 'Nitro Circus' is, but he pulled off a Top 10 finish against the best that level of racing has to offer. He handled himself well during interviews. Mikey's equipment is nothing to sneer at, even if his public face rubs the wrong way. Obviously none of that means Pastrana will advance beyond K&N; it's way too early to tell. Look at that motocross kid who's been trying for a few years now.
ReplyDeleteunderwhelmed to say the least...seems like a hotdog to me & quite full of hisself (LM lingo). But I'm not the group he's aimed at, so we'll see.
ReplyDelete