By Anthony Caruso III
The Capital Sports Report Owner/Sr. Writer
Photo by Phil Wilgus
Travis Pastrana, a Motocross legend, X Games legend, and Rally Car driver, who is now going to be driving a NASCAR Nationwide car in 2011, recently took time to do a Q&A session with The Capital Sports Report at the US Rally Car Championship in Millville, New Jersey. His interview is about his sports career and views.
TJSR: who is your biggest role model outside of sports
TP: “Probably my dad. As far as outside of sports, my whole life consists of sports, so I can’t look far outside of that realm.”
TJSR: favorite motto
TP: “Under prepare and over enthusiastic. For me, it’s about not leaving anything left on the table.”
TJSR: how has sports impacted your life
TP: “Sports has give me confidence. I was really quite and shy at one time, but you would never know it, because I never shut up. It has helped me realize that I can be whoever I want to be. It allowed me to be accepted, which was pretty cool, as a kid.”
TJSR: racing as 199 in the motocross ranks
TP: “Racing is racing. All the top guys in each sport are competitors. For me, motocross gave me an outlet. I was really passionate about it. Every day I woke up, it made me more passionate about it.”
TJSR: racing against Ricky Carmichael and Jeremy McGrath at the motocross level (Carmichael and McGrath are top of the best ever. Now, James “Bubba” Stewart is in the same breathe with them)
TP: “It is pretty neat. Everybody has their own way on how to make it to the top. You had guys that were really nice and other guys, who were also nice, but hated their competition. Some people won, because they heated to lose and some people won, because they really enjoyed winning. I fell into the second category.”
TJSR: competing in the X Games
TP: “X Games is the biggest event for me. It puts action sports on a platform. Even my grandma watches X Games, and I think that’s pretty neat. A lot of the guys that compete in the X Games were told they were never going to make anything of themselves. But, now after riding a skate board, or riding a bike, they’re making a great living. We’re having fun doing it.”
TJSR: changing the game by doing the double back flip on a dirt bike in 2006 at the Staples Center when people thought it would never be done
TP: “It’s cool to be the first one to do something. I have been able to help take the sport to the next level, wherever that next level may be. There’s so many guys doing things that others thought would never be done. It’s truly an inspiration.”
TJSR: driving a Rally Car
TP: “Rally Car is basically motocross with a roll cage. I don’t get as much hurt in the Rally Car. It’s a lot of fun. We get to compete for the US Rally Championship, and then, now, we’re trying Rally Cross. I’m trying to figure out these new sports.”
TJSR: how driving the Nitro Circus Monster Truck is different than driving a Rally Car
TP: “The Monster Truck is a lot different. It’s basically a tractor with a 200 horse power motor. You can’t control it at all, while you can control the Rally Cars. The Rally Cars are spot on and exact. There’s a big difference.”
TJSR: are you going to be driving a Monster Truck in 2011
TP: “I have a problem with my back. I think it’s a bulging disk, and Monster Trucks will beat up your back. As soon as I get that fixed, I’ll be back out there. Maybe, hopefully, around 2013.”
TJSR: appearing on Nitro Circus with your friends on the MTV Networks
TP: “Nitro Circus is a show based on a whole bunch of friends. We push each other and we have fun with it. We travel around the world, and we’re blessed to have that opportunity. I would like to keep that going as long as we can.”
©2010 The Capital Sports Report. All rights reserved. Please honor copyright! Piracy hurts writers, devalues their works, and puts you and your employer at risk of lawsuits.
All original materials contained on this website are protected by United States copyright law and may not be re-produced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcasted without the prior written permission.
