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For the first time in three years, Travis Pastrana will compete at the famous Daytona International Speedway.
The excitement is real: Pastrana’s first time racing in the Daytona 500. Your average heart rate? More than 180 beats per minute.
“Sometimes I would run above 180 heart rate. For someone who, you know, was almost 40 years old at the time, to run that high, it was like a heart attack the entire race,” Pastrana said in a recent interview with Pak Gazette Digital.
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Driver Travis Pastrana of the #199 Subaru WRX ARA25L looks on after the podium ceremony for the 2025 ARA Ojibwe Forests Rally on August 23, 2025, in Bemidji, Minnesota. (Steven Garcia/Getty Images)
Pastrana won’t be in this year’s big race, but he will take part in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season opener at Daytona on Friday.
To make the event even more special, Pastrana, along with part-time Truck Series host and YouTuber Cleetus McFarland, has partnered with Black Rifle Coffee and BRUNT Workwear, who together are donating $100,000 to the Boot Campaign, which supports life-changing programs for veterans and military families, particularly in mental health, housing and financial well-being.
Black Rifle Coffee Company is a veteran-founded and mission-driven brand with a long-standing commitment to veterans, first responders, and those who serve. BRUNT Workwear makes tough, reliable gear for hard-working Americans, and this sponsorship marks a big step for the brand on the national motorsports stage.
For Pastrana, being part of the Black Rifle Coffee team is a huge success, as his father was a Marine, his grandfather was in the Navy and his father-in-law also served.
Driver Travis Pastrana of the No. 199 Subaru WRX ARA25L watches before Special Stage 1 at Soo Pass Ranch on August 21, 2025 in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota. (Steven Garcia/Getty Images)
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“My dad loves to bring veterans together, tell them stories and just be thankful for being able to live the American Dream. We like to support the American Dream,” Pastrana said. “But really, we’re trying to support veterans and first responders and give them a good time. It was about bringing people to this amazing experience in Daytona.
“BRUNT Boots said, ‘Hey, we all want to go (to Daytona). Like all the employees, all that kind of blue-collar team they have. We want to be a part of Daytona. Do you want to race?’ I thought, ‘Hell yeah, I want to run.’ That would be absolutely amazing.’ “I know I’m not the best at rear-wheel drive or on pavement, but this is going to be fun.”
“It’s the most intense race you can do because it lasts for hours,” McFarland added. “You’re speeding for hours, and I think BRUNT Boots and Black Rifle Coffee are cool brands and totally match the Daytona Speedway theme, bro, you know? I’m honored to be a part of that.”
These associations, Pastrana said, rejuvenate the love for racing.
“Sometimes you get into this rut where you think you just want to win. I get so caught up in something. And then you go and race the Freedom 500 and the stands are full and you feel like, why did you start racing in the first place?” said.
“And I think that’s why Black Rifle and BRUNT Boots have partnered with us because, look, win, lose and draw, we’ll have a group of people coming, we’ll have some veterans, we’ll show everyone that we’re having a good time and that these brands support the people that support the world.”
Honorary pace car driver Travis Pastrana poses for a photo on the grid before the NASCAR Cup Series Cook Out 400 at Richmond Raceway on August 11, 2024 in Richmond, Virginia. (Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
“I mean, obviously it matters if we win,” McFarland said. “But I think Black Rifle and BRUNT know that if Trav and I do something great, everything will be a success.”
