Travis Pastrana will race at Daytona International Speedway for the first time in three years when he competes in Friday’s NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season opener, returning to the track where he made a one-off NASCAR Cup start in 2023.
Pastrana, a motocross and rally racing star, told Fox News Digital that the intensity of superspeedway racing at Daytona drove his heart rate above 180 beats per minute during the 2023 Daytona 500.
Travis Pastrana Daytona return comes in Friday night Truck Series race
NASCAR lists the Craftsman Truck Series opener as the Fresh From Florida 250 at Daytona, scheduled for Friday, February 13, 2026, with a 7:30 p.m. ET start time.
Pastrana is set to drive for Niece Motorsports, which is also entering YouTuber and part-time racer Garrett Mitchell, known as “Cleetus McFarland,” in the same event.
Sponsors pledge $100,000 to Boot Campaign tied to Daytona weekend
Black Rifle Coffee Company and BRUNT Workwear are sponsoring the Daytona effort, with the partners and Niece Motorsports announcing a combined $100,000 donation to Boot Campaign, a nonprofit that supports veterans and military families through individualized care and programs including mental health, housing and financial wellness.
Pastrana said the veterans focus is personal, citing military service in his family, while McFarland described Daytona as a high-intensity race that keeps drivers at full throttle for long stretches.
Why the Daytona start matters for Pastrana and McFarland
Pastrana’s return adds a high-profile crossover name to the Truck Series opener, while McFarland’s entry marks another step in his transition from online creator to NASCAR competitor, following a run of ARCA starts in 2025.
The Fresh From Florida 250 is the first points race of the 2026 Truck Series season, and the Daytona weekend will put both drivers and their sponsors in front of a national audience before Sunday’s Daytona 500.