The extreme motorsports action legend puts together a solid drive at the General Tire Mint 400 presented by Polaris Rzr near Las Vegas.
Former AMA motocross/supercross racer, freestyle MX icon, rally racer and NASCAR driver Travis Pastrana can now add a successful debut at the pinnacle of off-road racing to his stellar race resume.
Driving the number 60 Red Bull/Menzies Racing Ford Trick Truck (same as SCORE Trophy Truck), Pastrana finished an extremely impressive fourth overall in his off-road truck driving debut at the General Tire Mint 400, presented by Polaris Razr and sanctioned by Best in the Desert, near Las Vegas, Nevada, on March 15.
Pastrana’s debut came amid a record-setting event that saw the highest number of Trick Trucks ever to start one race, 57, with another 42 Class 1 unlimited buggies also capable of claiming the race win. Pastrana qualified an impressive 19th in the short course timed qualifying that set the field on Thursday. He then put together a solid run all day during the brutal, 400-mile event to finish third at the line but credited with fourth overall, behind winner and multi-time Baja 1000 Champion Andy McMillin, former Baja 1000 winner Gustavo Vildosola Jr. Dan McMillin followed Pastrana to the finish line but claimed third overall on adjusted time.
Pastrana tackled his first full unlimited truck race while still healing from a leg injury, but although he was sore at the finish, he still displayed the enthusiasm that his made him so charismatic in the powersports world.
“I’ve just got to thank Bryce Menzies and the guys,” Pastrana said. “These guys put together such an awesome car, and we didn’t get one flat all day long, so that’s a testament to the BFGs. I raced against all my heroes. We saw Robby Gordon out there. Unfortunately, he had some trouble. Rick Johnson, a guy that I have idolized my whole life, a moto guy, was out there. And obviously, Bryce Menzies. He passed me, like, four times today, after every time he got a flat tire. I’m so pumped for the McMillins. They kind of took me under their wing and kept people from trying to kill me most of the time when we were pre-running down in Baja. But this was my first [Trick] Truck race and a top-five [finish].”
Pastrana’s co-driver Tyler Hall, who had only had about 50 miles of driving time in the truck with Pastrana prior to the race, said that Pastrana’s skills and his ability to read terrain were impressive.
“The fact that he just finished fourth out of 100 people that qualified says a lot about him,” Hall said. “There was a lot of doubt about his driving capability, but he just proved everyone wrong. We communicated well. When I told him to slow down because of rocks, he did, and we never got a flat tire all day. I would absolutely drive with him again, and hopefully we will get to do Vegas to Reno.”
Pastrana was equally complimentary of his co-driver after the race.
“Tyler was awesome,” Pastrana said. “He kept me safe out there and kept me going a nice, smooth and consistent pace. We stayed out of trouble. We weren’t the quickest by any means, but for my first race in a truck where I’m still figuring out where the limits are, I couldn’t be happier.”
Pastrana said that he hopes to race in the Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 in November, and the Best in the Desert Vegas to Reno race may also be a possibility.
“We just have to see if we can put it all together,” Pastrana said.
Judging by his performance at the Mint 400, we’re betting that Pastrana will be on the starting line for both races later this year.
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