Pastrana Racing Maintains High Level of Performance Despite Frequent Driver Changes

Perhaps the greatest test of a race team is to maintain a high level of performance when multiple drivers are rotating through its cars. If that’s the case, the Pastrana Racing team has every reason to pat itself on the back through the first seven races of this season.
Four drivers—team namesake and 11-time X Games gold medalist Travis Pastrana, off-road and short-course racing champion Bryce Menzies, defending European rallycross champion Timur Timerzyanov, and six-time World Rally podium finisher Henning Solberg—have shared seat time between the #99 and #199 Dodge Darts. Pastrana and Timerzyanov have split time equally between the #199, while Solberg substituted for Menzies on August 10 at Atlanta Motor Speedway due to a scheduling conflict.
That revolving door of drivers would break a lesser team down. Not so in the Pastrana camp.
Appearing in six of seven finals, one of only five cars to appear in at least six main events, the #199 car has scored an impressive 66 points thus far this season. That would put it sixth in the overall championship, a point ahead of two-time podium finisher Sverre Isachsen and three points ahead of X Games Brazil gold medalist Scott Speed.
Meanwhile, after an unlucky start to the season, the #99 car has begun to consistently fight for top 10s. Menzies scored a 10th place finish at Bristol on July 20, while Solberg’s lone start, despite being marred by mechanical issues, also produced a 10th place result.
Pastrana and Menzies are expected back in their respective cars for the final two races of the season, at Charlotte Motor Speedway on September 22 and in Las Vegas on November 7. Without having to worry about rotating drivers for the rest of the season, it will be interesting to see if the Pastrana Racing team can apply the lessons they’ve learned from their substitute drivers, and finish the season on a high note.
Photo credit: Matthew Kalish/GRC