Travis Pastrana Qualifies for the Big One

X Games legend Travis Pastrana will make his debut in the Daytona 500 this weekend after an impressive qualifying  performance at the Daytona International Speedway yesterday, marking a major milestone in his career.  He will race the #67 23XI entry, while Jimmie Johnson makes his return after he was also able to qualify in his part-owned Legacy Motor Club #84 car.

Pastrana, who is known for his daredevil stunts on motorcycles and in rally cars, has previously raced in NASCAR’s Infinity Series back in 2012/13.  However, he makes the jump to the Cup Series for his first Daytona 500.  The race, which is set to take place on February 20, will see Pastrana joining some of the biggest names in American motorsports.

In an interview after the qualifying race, Pastrana expressed his excitement and gratitude for the opportunity to race in the Daytona 500. “This is a dream come true for me,” he said.  “I’ve always wanted to race in this event and to be able to finally make it happen is just incredible.”

Pastrana also talked about the challenges of the qualifying race and how he had to adjust to the conditions of the track.  “It was a tough race, but I just tried to stay focused and keep pushing through,” he said.  “The track was changing constantly, so I had to be very aware of what was going on and make adjustments on the fly.”

Many fans and fellow racers have taken to social media to congratulate Pastrana on his achievement.  One of his biggest supporters is fellow NASCAR driver and former Daytona 500 champion, Joey Logano.  “Congrats to my buddy Travis Pastrana on making the Daytona 500!” Logano tweeted.  “You’re going to kill it out there!”