Travis Pastrana has had a less-than-desirable 2022, to say the least. Taking his first win of the year this past weekend.
Travis Pastrana’s Year So Far
Travis Pastrana’s 2022 season has been different for him. As winning had seemed to become second nature for Pastrana. Pastrana would come into the year champion in both the American Rally Association and Nitro Rallycross.
American Rally Association
Travis Pastrana’s 2022 ARA season debut was delayed after an injury sidelined him for the Sno*Drift rally. Thus forcing him to start his season and title defence at the Rally In The 100 Acre Wood. Unfortunately for Pastrana, his season debut wouldn’t go the way it was intended. As he would place fourth overall at the event, 53.6 seconds behind Barry McKenna. Things would get slightly better for Pastrana at the Olympus Rally. As he would place second overall two in a half minutes behind teammate Brandon Semenuk. Unfortunately for Pastrana, this result wouldn’t be a result of his driving, but more a result of him finishing the rally. As both Ken Block and Barry McKenna would retire, making it near impossible for Pastrana not to finish top two, as long as he finished the rally. Pastrana still has yet to win a rally in 2022. Placing second three times, third three times and fourth once. Pastrana currently sits third in the ARA national standings, six points behind teammate Brandon Semenuk. Unfortunately for Pastrana, his chances of retaining the championship came to an end last month at the Susquehannock Trail Performance Rally.
Nitro Rallycross
Travis Pastrana would come into the 2022-23 Nitro Rallycross season as the one to beat. Unfortunately for Pastrana, everything over the off-season would change as international rounds would be added, as well as the new Group E class which became the main NRX, championship class. Thus meaning everyone would be on the same playing field regardless of the result in 2021. Pastrana would fail to take a win at either NRX event in Europe. Placing seventh overall at NRX Lydden Hill to open up the year. In Sweden, it would get worse as Pastrana would fail to qualify for the finals.
Breaking Through
Nitro Rallycross Minneapolis would see Travis Pastrana break his winless streak. As Pastrana would put up a dominant result in the final. Beating the fastest lap time multiple times. Pastrana would take home 53 points from the event. Moving into fourth overall in the NRX Group E Championship. Now sitting just 11 points behind Fraser McConnell. Now the question is can Pastrana transfer this over to rally. We will get that answer in 11 days at the Lake Superior Forest Rally. A Rally that is shaping up to be action-packed as Pastrana’s Subaru Rally Team USA teammate Brandon Semenuk will face Ken Block in an all-out battle for the 2022 ARA title.
My name is Joe Moore. I am a writer for Belly Up Hockey, Belly Up Racing, and Belly Up Sports. You can find me on Twitter.
