Extreme sports star Travis Pastrana will have to wait until next year to start his NASCAR Nationwide Series career due to injuries he sustained at the X-Games in Los Angeles last week.
The 11-time X Games gold medalist broke his right ankle and foot while attempting a Rodeo 720 with a back flip during the Best Trick competition in Los Angeles, forcing him to miss what was to be debut at Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis last Saturday.
His Pastrana-Waltrip Racing team said that he had surgery in Annapolis, MD. The surgeon, Dr. Tom Dennis, said the operation was a success.
Pastrana should make a full recovery following a strict healing process which will require he be immobilized in traction for at least one month. He will therefore be unable to apply weight on his right leg for another month.
“To give my ankle and foot time to heal properly we have decided to wait until 2012 to make my NASCAR debut,” Pastrana said. “I probably could have been ready for the final couple of races in 2011, but it just makes more sense to start fresh in 2012.
“We are already starting to talk about testing and what I need to do to prepare for next season. My sincere apologies go out to my NASCAR team, fans and sponsors for this delay. Thanks for all of the support. This will be a fun ride … eventually.”
Pastrana had run a number of stock car races in NASCAR’s touring series and had been scheduled for seven Nationwide Series races. The team did not say when Pastrana would be back in a race car.
The 11-time X Games gold medalist broke his right ankle and foot while attempting a Rodeo 720 with a back flip during the Best Trick competition in Los Angeles, forcing him to miss what was to be debut at Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis last Saturday.
His Pastrana-Waltrip Racing team said that he had surgery in Annapolis, MD. The surgeon, Dr. Tom Dennis, said the operation was a success.
Pastrana should make a full recovery following a strict healing process which will require he be immobilized in traction for at least one month. He will therefore be unable to apply weight on his right leg for another month.
“To give my ankle and foot time to heal properly we have decided to wait until 2012 to make my NASCAR debut,” Pastrana said. “I probably could have been ready for the final couple of races in 2011, but it just makes more sense to start fresh in 2012.
“We are already starting to talk about testing and what I need to do to prepare for next season. My sincere apologies go out to my NASCAR team, fans and sponsors for this delay. Thanks for all of the support. This will be a fun ride … eventually.”
Pastrana had run a number of stock car races in NASCAR’s touring series and had been scheduled for seven Nationwide Series races. The team did not say when Pastrana would be back in a race car.