According to a recent report, Travis Pastrana will be adding a new form of competition to his list of motorsports activities – Pastrana is headed to NASCAR. Pastrana started out as a young Supercross and motocross racer, but he is mostly known for his freestyle motocross career that really took off with the success of ESPN’s X Games. In recent years, Pastrana has battled in the rally racing circuit, winning titles from 2006-2009 .

According to the report, Pastrana will compete in the Nationwide tour in 2011 as both a driver and team owner under Pastrana-Waltrip Racing.  Although he is technically not yet approved to race just yet (though there isn’t expected to be any issue with that), he plans to race in seven events in 2011 and jump up to at least 20 races in 2012.

Pastrana’s won 10 X Games gold medals, won four straight Rally American Series titles from 2006-2009, and is a 5-time U.S. Amatuer motocross champion. Regular readers of the Off-Road.com Blog might remember that he also recently set the record for the fastest ascent of Mount Washington in a car in September.

Travis Pastrana to Race NASCAR
Travis Pastrana recently ended his relationship with Subaru and plans to tackle NASCAR in 2011. Photo: Josh Burns

“I’ve been following NASCAR closely for years as a fan of the sport with competing in the sport a life-long dream,” Pastrana said a statement released today. “I decided it was time to try and turn that dream into reality and with the help of the Bechtel family, Michael Waltrip Racing and Wasserman media group I’m now one step closer!”

Although Pastrana’s number has not yet been chosen, Waltrip owns the number 99, which might be the closest thing do his standard 199 number.

It is not clear what his future will be in rally racing, as Subaru announced Wednesday that it ended its relationship with Pastrana. The ESPN report notes that he may race the 2011 X Games in a Toyota car.

“Travis brought rally to a whole new audience through the rally championship and of course through his spectacular appearances at X Games,” Tim Mahoney, CMO of Subaru of America, said in a press release. “We wholeheartedly thank him for his outstanding performances with Subaru Rally Team USA and wish him well in his future endeavors.”

This should be exciting to watch … move over, Danica.

Source: ESPN