Travis Pastrana?

SlicedBread22

SlicedBread22

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Im just wondering what everyone's take is on him?

I think he's doing alright.. well, not that great but he's getting better. If he stays serious about NASCAR I think he could be a contender for a NNS title within a few years and possibly fill a seat in Cup for a little while and maybe have some success. I always liked him in Moto X, Rally cars and the X Games.. I thought it was great when he decided to come to NASCAR full time and he has shown flashes of great driving. Usually followed by a wreck or quick decline through the running order but I think he'll be alright with another year or two under his belt. I don't really think he'll ever get to a Cup Champion level but I do remember reading an article where Roush asked him what he wants out of NASCAR. And he said "To be a Sprint Cup Series champion".. then Jack said something like .. "That's the right answer".. and now he's full time in NNS. He has the potential, dude can drive anything with wheels.. but Im not quite sure how I feel about him as a whole in NASCAR.

What do you guys think?
 
Thats what I mean. He's great in every other vehicle he's driven. But as a stock car driver has been less than impressive. I have seen some improvement. He just kind of seems like the kind of guy that will click one day and start puttin up good numbers. I really hope he does, I'd like to be able to follow him in the cup series.
 
Who'd of thought you can't take a driver with zero stock car experience and put him in a NNS car and expect anything but wrecked race cars?:confused:

There's absolutely nothing in his background to suggests he would be a successful NASCAR driver. Rally racing, motocross and monster trucks doesn't relate to a over powered 3500 lb race car.
 
Until Pastrana has nothing else going on in his life other than Nascar he will never go anywhere. He doesn't have the focus yet, maybe he can get it, but I have my doubts.
 
This guy has been at the top of the class at pretty much everything he has ever attempted. I hope this goes to show a little bit of how its not as easy as it looks. Almost everyone I know seems to be under the impression that no skill is involved in NASCAR. anyway, I think he is doing very well considering the lack of any 4 wheel racing background. He will probably compete for a NW championship in a couple years as long as he is not prematurely pushed into a cup ride, which seems to be the case lately.
 
He hasn't done as well as I had hoped, he has shown speed though. Look where he's been qualifying. I still hope to see him figure out how to race soon. If he becomes truly successful, it would be huge for the sport.
 
He seems to be racing a bit like JWT -- being way too agressive and tearing up a ****load of cars. Will he improve? Probably but the only race he will likely ever win is a Restictor plate race and he wont get a cup ride because of talent.
 
wrecked again, finished 18th. I can't get too excited about that. He is proving race by race where he is going. I am not seeing any improvement, and there needs to be some if he is going to make a go of it..
 
He don't impress me at all, and he's why behind the 8ball, cause of his age. He's more of a sideshow, then Danica.
 
Jeffrey00 said:
Give the kid time to learn. He is in his first full season of stock car competition. Got to remember he went from motor cross and rally cross to NNS.
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Kid? He's 29. Aside from Harry Gant, has anybody started stock car racing at this level this late in life and become successful at it?

He seems like a friendly outgoing charismatic guy who would have a lot of sponsor and fan appeal. I wish him luck, but like JimmieGordon said, I'm not convinced this isn't just a stunt of a motocross guy trying stock car racing for the laughs.
 
KevinWI said:
Kid? He's 29. Aside from Harry Gant, has anybody started stock car racing at this level this late in life and become successful at it?

He seems like a friendly outgoing charismatic guy who would have a lot of sponsor and fan appeal. I wish him luck, but like JimmieGordon said, I'm not convinced this isn't just a stunt of a motocross guy trying stock car racing for the laughs.
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If I am not mistaken didn't he give up the other sports to focus entirely on Nascar? That doesn't sound like just for laughs.
 
TchainT said:
This guy has been at the top of the class at pretty much everything he has ever attempted. I hope this goes to show a little bit of how its not as easy as it looks. Almost everyone I know seems to be under the impression that no skill is involved in NASCAR. anyway, I think he is doing very well considering the lack of any 4 wheel racing background. He will probably compete for a NW championship in a couple years as long as he is not prematurely pushed into a cup ride, which seems to be the case lately.
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Seriously? No disrespect , but compete for a championship in a couple of years? I just don't see it, he doesn't have the car control even close to being adequate to consistently finish in the top 15 in NW. I'd even say that I wouldn't be surprised if he doesn't have a decent finish to this year and a decent start to 2014 that Jack would release him from the 60. He needs to step it up substantially!
 
Mopardh9 said:
So does Stenhouse in Cup, jumped too soon should of stayed in NW one more year.
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No he shouldn't have. He barely wrecks in Cup. Stenhouse is ready for Cup, it's just his crew chief isn't doing him any favors. Neither is the fact that he's running Carl Edwards' crappy 2012 chassis. Stenhouse will get the hang of it when they start building stuff to compliment him. Remember, he has an entirely different driving style than the other guys at Roush.
 
For a guy that never drove a stock car until recently, he's doing fine. He has even a bigger learning curve then Danica but his age plays against him. He'll be lucky to make it to cup at this rate.
 
WhiningSmoke said:
No he shouldn't have. He barely wrecks in Cup. Stenhouse is ready for Cup, it's just his crew chief isn't doing him any favors. Neither is the fact that he's running Carl Edwards' crappy 2012 chassis. Stenhouse will get the hang of it when they start building stuff to compliment him. Remember, he has an entirely different driving style than the other guys at Roush.
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If you say so, just think he was rushed along and could of used another season down in NW. I haven't seen him up front much at all this year, seems he is always mid 20s.
 
Don't get me wrong I'm a huge fan of the guy, but again another famous face that should of drove a lot more races in the lower tiers, before even getting a NW ride. I'd love to see him do awesome, but sadly I just don't see it, he doesn't seem to be getting it, and the clock is ticking.
 
TexasRaceLady said:
Skinny kid from Kannapolis made good starting at age 28. Think he did pretty well.
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Dale had been racing stock cars since he was a boy. Pastrana didn't start competitively racing four wheelers until he was much older.
 
Jeffrey00 said:
If I am not mistaken didn't he give up the other sports to focus entirely on Nascar? That doesn't sound like just for laughs.
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He probably has enough money to do whatever he wants. He can screw around in 20th place in a stock car race without having to worry about putting food on his table. And he could go back to Motocross whenever he wants. Therefore, I'm not convinced he isn't racing NASCAR for fun.
 
KevinWI said:
He probably has enough money to do whatever he wants. He can screw around in 20th place in a stock car race without having to worry about putting food on his table. And he could go back to Motocross whenever he wants. Therefore, I'm not convinced he isn't racing NASCAR for fun.
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I would hope all drivers are racing Nascar for fun as it is their passion. If they aren't having fun then they don't belong.
 
JimmieGordon2448 said:
He don't impress me at all, and he's why behind the 8ball, cause of his age. He's more of a sideshow, then Danica.
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When he is getting in hissy fits and picking fights with 30th place cars he MIGHT be close to the sideshow Danica is.. Idk, maybe I'm a woman hater.. lol

and age doesn't mean squat, period.

That said, TP disappointed again today. Went to the back and the blown RF made the day official.
 
KevinWI said:
He probably has enough money to do whatever he wants. He can screw around in 20th place in a stock car race without having to worry about putting food on his table. And he could go back to Motocross whenever he wants. Therefore, I'm not convinced he isn't racing NASCAR for fun.
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Yeah I don't believe he's passionate about Nascar. I think he's just playing around.
 
KevinWI said:
Right, that's why Bobby and Terry Labonte are still winning races and championships.
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Hmm... I seem to remember Mark martin competing for the Cup 3 or 4 years ago.... I believe he was older than bobby.
 
Hell Mark can still drive, he didn't exactly stink the joint out in the 55.
 
Back to the Travis..He isn't considered a rookie, he raced enough last year to loose that, but Nascar puts a yellow stripe on his car because he is inexperienced. I get it, that he hasn't raced much give him time and all that. My point is how much time does he have? Performance wise, he isn't improving. Nowhere close to top ten or even top 15 driver. Economic side, he is tearing up expensive equipment, and not making enough prize money to cover it very well. I haven't seen sponsors lining up either. So he has two strikes and the pressure is on. He is not a natural, it isn't coming easy, and like many others that have tried, winners and champions in other forms of motorsport with very few exceptions, (Danica) they fail. I think he is circling the drain. If he doesn't show some improvement this year, he won't be back next year.
 
I agree that Travis needs to learn more quickly , but Nascar needs to have Junior , Danica and Travis in the race . They bring a new excitement from young fans . More Timmy Hills are not going to cut it . These people not only bring attention from young fans , but the media love to follow them , and that's good advertising . Personally , I think someone should be after Patrick Dempsey . I don't expect to see any of these celebs compete at the top ten level , it's not necessary.
 
Back on topic. Travis Pastrana isn't bringing any excitement unless you like to see a driver failing miserably. It is painful to watch if you wanted him to get into the show and do well. Personalty counts for a lot, and Travis has that part in spades. He gets interviewed almost every race because he is a good interview. But he is not thanking his sponsors because he doesn't have any. Costs too much to race at even N'wide level if you aren't running up front. He has only won 423 thou so far, that isn't enough to keep running in a Roush car. Start and park or ride less is looming larger each race. Quicker for some than others.
 
TchainT said:
Hmm... I seem to remember Mark martin competing for the Cup 3 or 4 years ago.... I believe he was older than bobby.
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Exception that proves the rule. Everybody else of Mark's vintage is stinking up the place or retired. Really doubt Pastrana will be the next Mark Martin or Harry Gant.
 
Lets face it -- if Pastrana had the talent he did now without paying for his own ride, he would be in Jo Cobb's #0. Because thats as low as it gets, kiddies.
 
StandOnIt said:
Back on topic. Travis Pastrana isn't bringing any excitement unless you like to see a driver failing miserably. It is painful to watch if you wanted him to get into the show and do well. Personalty counts for a lot, and Travis has that part in spades. He gets interviewed almost every race because he is a good interview. But he is not thanking his sponsors because he doesn't have any. Costs too much to race at even N'wide level if you aren't running up front. He has only won 423 thou so far, that isn't enough to keep running in a Roush car. Start and park or ride less is looming larger each race. Quicker for some than others.
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"won only 423 thou.........isn't enough............."
depends on how much ya start with ! ha!

he'll never do start/park...ride less ..............at this age.
 
StandOnIt said:
Back on topic. Travis Pastrana isn't bringing any excitement unless you like to see a driver failing miserably. It is painful to watch if you wanted him to get into the show and do well. Personalty counts for a lot, and Travis has that part in spades. He gets interviewed almost every race because he is a good interview. But he is not thanking his sponsors because he doesn't have any. Costs too much to race at even N'wide level if you aren't running up front. He has only won 423 thou so far, that isn't enough to keep running in a Roush car. Start and park or ride less is looming larger each race. Quicker for some than others.
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"won only 423 thou.........isn't enough............."
depends on how much ya start with ! ha!

he'll never do start/park...ride less ..............at this age.

oops!
 
hawg dawg said:
"won only 423 thou.........isn't enough............."
depends on how much ya start with ! ha!

he'll never do start/park...ride less ..............at this age.

oops!
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He is between Mike Bliss and Reed Sorenson right now. Sorenson has had 6 engine failures. So what part of heading to ride less or start and park do you not understand? BTW where is Ricky Carmichael these days. Last time I saw him he was behind a microphone.
 
BOWTIE GUY said:
Are you for real? Mark has no shot at winning anything. he needs to get a hobby other than racing.
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Check how Mark has finished in the 55, where he has qualified that car, and his winnings,then get back to me. And yeh I'm for real been coming to this forum since 2002, how long you been here dude?:rolleyes:
 
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