Travis Pastrana has spent hours in the simulator that replicates driving a NASCAR Cup Series Toyota.

The Annapolis native and action sports legend has sat in countless meetings with established drivers Bubba Wallace and Tyler Reddick, his 23XI Racing teammates. He’s carefully reviewed aerodynamic reports and other key data along with his crew chief.

Pastrana has put in all the preparation work in advance of his attempt to qualify for the Daytona 500. The moment of truth came on Wednesday night.

At the wheel of the No. 67 Toyota for 23XI Racing, which is co-owned by Hall of Fame basketball player Michael Jordan and longtime NASCAR Cup Series driver Denny Hamlin, Pastrana, a rookie who drove a NASCAR Cup Series car for the first time Wednesday night, was the 25th fastest, sealing up his Daytona 500 debut.

“I am so very fortunate to be here,” said Pastrana, a versatile action sports star with a rich background in motocross and rally racing. “This is something that’s not about the money. It’s not about anything. It’s just about trying to be a part of the ‘Great American Race’ and to have an opportunity to qualify with such a great team and to be brought on with so many people around me that are helping me to do the best that I absolutely possibly can.

“At the end of the day, we’re in it to do the best that we can. Damage or no damage, my goal is to obviously not be the cause of any of it and try to do the best we can. But hey, I’m going for it. So we’ll see what happens.”

Learning a new discipline

Pastrana rose to prominence as a teenager on the motocross circuit. He became famous by wowing audiences and winning numerous X Games gold medals in freestyle motocross, becoming the first rider to ever complete a double backflip.

Nowadays, Pastrana is considered one of the world’s top rally car racers. He created the Nitro RallyCross series and is the reigning champion.

However, Pastrana is not a complete novice when it comes to stock car racing. He competed in 42 races on the second-tier Xfinity Series in 2012 and 2013, driving the full schedule in the latter season. He notched four top-10 finishes in 2013, finishing ninth at Richmond Raceway and winning the pole at Talladega Superspeedway.

Pastrana made two career starts at Daytona International Speedway while on the Xfinity Series, finishing 10th in the 2013 season opener and had a late crash in his second race.

Pastrana told The Capital he stopped racing on the Xfinity circuit after recognizing he wasn’t good enough to obtain the sponsorship necessary to compete in the NASCAR Cup Series.

“I never made it to the highest level, but I learned a lot about pavement, rear-wheel drive and drafting that I never understood with motorcycles and rally cars,” he said. “All-wheel drive cars are a lot different and the motto there is: When in doubt, throttle out. That does not apply at almost 200 MPH in a 900-horsepower stock car.”

However, the lifelong dream of one day racing in the Daytona 500 never extinguished.

When longtime sponsor Black Rifle Coffee Company asked Pastrana what wild pursuits he had in mind for 2023, he immediately mentioned the Daytona 500.

“Right now, I’ve got great sponsorship and great people surrounding me. I’m probably the best I’ve ever been as far as driving. I’m racing every weekend and have a lot of seat time,” Pastrana said. “I’m also not getting any younger. I felt like it was going to be now or never, so I called Black Rifle.”

Black Rifle Coffee Company officials were initially skeptical, but came around when realizing the publicity Pastrana would deliver with his mere presence at the Daytona 500. Pastrana is committed to doing everything possible during what is known as “Speed Week,” including driving in the third-tier Truck Series on Friday night.

“If we’re going to do down there, we’re going to make a splash. We’re going to do autographs every day and hold raffles and giveaways for the fans,” he said. “We’re going to go down there and have an absolute blast during Speed Week. If we can bring smiles to a bunch of people and have lots of fun, it will be a success.”

‘About the team’

Eric Phillips, director of track operations for 23XI Racing, will serve as crew chief for Pastrana’s Toyota Camry TRD. He’s been impressed with how Pastrana has performed in the simulator, which can be programmed to mimic specific race conditions.

Last week, Pastrana spent time at the 23XI Racing shop in Mooresville, North Carolina, to familiarize himself with the car he drove. Wednesday on the Daytona International Speedway oval was the first time he was behind the wheel.

Phillips felt good about his chances of qualifying against the clock or competition. He’s not concerned about Pastrana’s relative lack of experience in a NASCAR Cup car. He said the Severna Park resident has proven himself a talented racer on multiple platforms and is confident he can make the transition.

“At this level it’s about the team — driver, car, pit crew, mechanics. It’s our job to put Travis in a position to succeed,” Phillips said. “This team has a lot of experienced people who can help Travis as far as thoughts, ideas and strategies.”

Pastrana will have a familiar face as part of his pit crew — his cousin and longtime partner in crime Gregg Powell.

Powell was part of the Nitro Circus Live Tour for many years. When Pastrana started racing on the Xfinity Series, the former Annapolis High and University of Maryland football player wanted to work on his pit crew.

Powell got a tryout with Michael Waltrip Racing in 2010 and was assigned to its development program. He has since worked for Richard Childress Racing and Joe Gibbs Racing, serving on pit crews for such NASCAR Cup Series drivers as Danica Patrick and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Most recently he’s worked on Xfinity Series teams at JGR. Last season he was on Brandon Jones’ pit crew and this season he is slated to serve as tire carrier for John Hunter Nemecheck.

Powell has pit crew duties on Friday night for the Truck Series and Saturday night for the Xfinity Series. However, he normally does not work Sunday and thus was available for the Daytona 500. Pastrana’s younger cousin will play an integral role in pit stops.

“I’m on the edge of my seat as a stock car racing fan and as Travis’ cousin. I can’t believe he’s got an opportunity to get into the Daytona 500,” Powell said. “Travis is a racer through and through — the best of the best at his specialties. This is a new and difficult challenge, but I have never doubted Travis for one second with any adventure he’s attempted.”