Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Travis Pastrana
How Travis Pastrana built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.
Travis Pastrana is an American professional athlete celebrated for his achievements in freestyle motocross, rally racing, NASCAR, and stunt performance. He gained prominence in the early 2000s, securing numerous X Games gold medals and achieving milestones like landing the first double backflip in competition in 2006. Before his freestyle career, Pastrana excelled in motorcycle racing, claiming titles in the AMA Motocross and Supercross 125cc divisions in 2000 and 2001, respectively.
1999: Gold at X Games and Gravity Games
In 1999, Travis Pastrana clinched gold at the X Games and the inaugural Gravity Games.
1999: AMA Motocross Championship Debut
In late 1999, Travis Pastrana debuted in the AMA Motocross Championship.
2000: Youngest 125cc National Title Winner
In 2000, Travis Pastrana won the 125cc national title in AMA Motocross Championship, becoming the youngest to do so at 16 years old. He also competed in the AMA Supercross Championship 125cc East Coast class.
2000: AMA Motocross 125cc Title
In 2000, Travis Pastrana won the AMA Motocross 125cc national title, making him the youngest to do so at 16 years old.
2001: 125cc East Coast Title
In 2001, Travis Pastrana secured the 125cc East Coast title in AMA Supercross Championship.
2001: AMA Supercross 125cc Title
In 2001, Travis Pastrana won the AMA Supercross 125cc East Coast title, adding to his success in motorcycle racing.
2002: Best Season in 250cc Class
In 2002, Travis Pastrana ranked 16th which was his best season in the AMA Supercross Championship's 250cc class.
2003: Co-founded Nitro Circus
In 2003, Travis Pastrana co-founded Nitro Circus, an entertainment brand producing live shows, television series, and films featuring extreme stunts and action sports performances.
2003: Rallying Career Begins
In 2003, Travis Pastrana opened his rallying career at the Race of Champions.
2003: Winning Streak Ends
In 2003, Travis Pastrana's winning streak in the World Freestyle Motocross Championship came to an end.
2004: Drives for Vermont SportsCar
In 2004, Travis Pastrana began driving for the Subaru-backed Vermont SportsCar rally team.
2005: Final Year in 250cc Class
2005 was Travis Pastrana's final year competing in the AMA Supercross Championship's 250cc class.
August 5, 2006: X Games Rally Car Gold Medal
On August 5, 2006, Travis Pastrana won the gold medal in the first rally car competition at the X Games.
October 16, 2006: Monster Jam Debut
On October 16, 2006, Travis Pastrana debuted in Monster Jam, driving the "Pastrana 199" monster truck.
October 22, 2006: Rally America Championship
On October 22, 2006, Travis Pastrana and co-driver Christian Edstrom clinched the Rally America National series overall and open class championship, making him the youngest ever American rally champion.
December 13, 2006: World Rally Championship Plans
On December 13, 2006, Subaru Rally Team USA announced plans to enter Travis Pastrana in World Rally Championship events in 2007, 2008, and 2009.
2006: First Double Backflip in Competition
In 2006, Travis Pastrana became the first person to land a double backflip in competition, marking a significant milestone in his freestyle motocross career.
2006: Final Gravity Games Medal
In 2006, Travis Pastrana won his fifth and final gold medal at the Gravity Games.
2007: First World Rally
During March 9–11, 2007, Travis Pastrana competed in his first world rally at the 21º Corona Rally México, finishing fifth in the P-WRC class.
2007: World Rally Championship Events
In 2007, Subaru Rally Team USA announced plans to enter Travis Pastrana in World Rally Championship events.
March 15, 2008: Debut Representing Puerto Rico
On March 15, 2008, Travis Pastrana debuted with the Puerto Rico Motorcycle Association team, qualifying for the finals and finishing third overall in Costa Rica.
September 2008: Colin McRae Forest Stages Rally
In September 2008, Travis Pastrana participated in the Colin McRae Forest Stages Rally in Scotland.
2008: World Rally Championship Events
In 2008, Subaru Rally Team USA announced plans to enter Travis Pastrana in World Rally Championship events.
2008: Less Successful P-WRC Season
Travis Pastrana's 2008 season in the P-WRC was less successful, with one retirement and one thirteenth place finish.
August 29, 2009: Fourth Consecutive Rally America Title
On August 29, 2009, Travis Pastrana secured his fourth consecutive Rally America driver's title, the most in series history.
2009: Nitro Circus truck name change
During the 2009 World Finals, the "Pastrana 199" monster truck changed its name to "Nitro Circus".
2009: Nitro Circus premiered on MTV
In 2009, Nitro Circus, a television show of which Travis Pastrana is an executive producer, premiered on MTV.
2009: World Rally Championship Events
In 2009, Subaru Rally Team USA announced plans to enter Travis Pastrana in World Rally Championship events.
January 1, 2010: Set world record for ramp-to-ramp car jump
On January 1, 2010, Travis Pastrana set a new world record in a ramp-to-ramp car jump, achieving 269 feet with his Subaru rally car in Long Beach, California.
February 27, 2010: Nitro Circus Monster Truck Backflip
On February 27, 2010, Chad McQueen successfully executed a backflip in the Nitro Circus monster truck during a freestyle competition in Jacksonville, Florida, marking the first time this was done in competition.
June 2010: Entered Prelude to the Dream charity race
In June 2010, Travis Pastrana participated in the Prelude to the Dream charity dirt track race at Eldora Speedway, finishing 23rd after starting 15th.
September 2010: Set world record for Mount Washington ascent
In September 2010, Travis Pastrana set a world record for the fastest ascent of Mount Washington in a car, with a time of 6 minutes, 20.47 seconds, driving his Subaru WRX STi.
June 2011: Lost Mount Washington ascent record
In June 2011, David Higgins broke Travis Pastrana's record for the fastest ascent of Mount Washington in a car, achieving a time of 6 minutes, 11.54 seconds.
2011: Global RallyCross Championship
In 2011, Travis Pastrana began competing in the Global RallyCross Championship.
2011: Nitro Circus truck retired
The Nitro Circus monster truck made its final appearance and was retired after the 2011 Monster Jam season.
April 27, 2012: Nationwide Series Debut
On April 27, 2012, Travis Pastrana made his Nationwide Series debut, finishing 22nd at the Richmond 250. He also made one start in the Camping World Truck Series that year.
November 2012: Full-Season Ride for 2013
In November 2012, Travis Pastrana arranged a full-season ride for 2013 in the Nationwide Series with Roush Fenway Racing.
2012: Competed in the 24 Hours of Daytona
In 2012, Travis Pastrana participated in the 24 Hours of Daytona for AF Waltrip, finishing 35th overall and 22nd in the GT class with his team.
November 11, 2013: Leaving NASCAR
On November 11, 2013, Travis Pastrana announced he would be leaving NASCAR at the end of the 2013 season.
2013: Full Season in Nationwide Series
In 2013, Travis Pastrana drove in the team's No. 60 Ford during the season, posting four top-ten finishes with a best finish of ninth at Richmond International Raceway. He also won his first career pole position at Talladega Superspeedway.
2013: Third Place Finish
In 2013, Travis Pastrana had a third-place finish at Las Vegas in the Global RallyCross Championship.
October 3, 2014: Competed in Red Bull Straight Rhythm
On October 3, 2014, Travis Pastrana competed in the inaugural Red Bull Straight Rhythm competition on a custom Suzuki RM-Z 450 named RM-Zilla, but was eliminated early.
July 2017: Retook Mount Washington ascent record
In July 2017, Travis Pastrana retook the record for the ascent of Mount Washington, driving his Subaru WRX STi in 5 minutes, 44.72 seconds.
2017: Hurricane Maria
In 2017, Hurricane Maria led to an effort to raise money and awareness, and the reason why Travis Pastrana returned to the Motocross of Nations as part of Team Puerto Rico.
2017: Return to Truck Series
In 2017, Travis Pastrana returned to the Truck Series, driving the No. 45 Chevrolet for Niece Motorsports at Las Vegas.
July 8, 2018: Broke Evel Knievel's records
On July 8, 2018, Travis Pastrana paid tribute to Evel Knievel by breaking a few of his records, safely clearing jumps over 52 cars, 16 buses, and a fountain in Las Vegas.
2018: Americas Rallycross Championship
In 2018, Travis Pastrana entered round 2 of the Americas Rallycross Championship at Austin, finishing fourth.
2018: Return to Motocross of Nations
In 2018, Travis Pastrana returned to the Motocross of Nations as part of Team Puerto Rico with teammates Kevin Windham and Ryan Sipes.
September 17, 2020: Las Vegas Race Announcement
On September 17, 2020, it was announced that Travis Pastrana would run the Las Vegas race again with Niece.
2020: Circuit 199 and Nitro Rallycross Series
In 2020, Travis Pastrana announced plans to construct Circuit 199 and created the Nitro Rallycross series.
2020: Joined Miss GEICO Racing Team
In 2020, Travis Pastrana expanded his motorsport career into offshore powerboat racing, joining the Miss GEICO Racing Team to pilot a 47-foot catamaran.
August 2021: Surpassed Mount Washington ascent record
In August 2021, Travis Pastrana beat his July 2017 record by more than 16 seconds, achieving a time of 5 minutes and 28.67 seconds in his 862 hp Subaru WRX STI.
2021: Nitro Rallycross Champion
In 2021, Travis Pastrana became the Nitro Rallycross champion, claiming the tiebreaker over Scott Speed.
2022: Secured UIM Class 1 World Championship
In 2022, Travis Pastrana and Steve Curtis secured the Union Internationale Motonautique (UIM) Class 1 World Championship title with the Huski Chocolate Racing Team.
2022: Class 1 World Powerboat Championship
In 2022, Travis Pastrana became a world champion in the Class 1 World Powerboat Championship alongside British offshore powerboat racer Steve Curtis.
January 13, 2023: 23XI Racing Daytona 500 Teaser
On January 13, 2023, NASCAR Cup Series team 23XI Racing tweeted a video teaser announcing that they would field a part-time third car in the 2023 Daytona 500, with Travis Pastrana as the likely driver.
July 2023: Participated in Powerboat P1 Sarasota Grand Prix
In July 2023, Travis Pastrana drove for the Pothole Heroes/Alegra Racing team at the Powerboat P1 Sarasota Grand Prix, copiloted by John Tomlinson.
2023: Inducted into AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame
In 2023, Travis Pastrana was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame, marking a significant honor in his career.
February 2024: Signed as substitute driver for Extreme E
In February 2024, Travis Pastrana was signed as a substitute driver for Legacy Motor Club in the Extreme E racing series, partnering with Gray Leadbetter for the first two rounds of the season.
2024: Olympus Rally and Treatment for Injuries
In 2024, Travis Pastrana bowed out of the Olympus rally to undergo treatment for prior injuries.
2025: 10th Race of Champions Appearance
In 2024, Travis Pastrana confirmed his 10th appearance at the upcoming 2025 Race of Champions in Sydney, Australia.
