Travis Pastrana is returning to the NASCAR Truck Series later this month, with the No. 25 Kaulig Racing Ram truck at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The announcement came on Wednesday through the team’s social media channels, immediately drawing strong fan reaction.
Pastrana’s return adds to a program that has already featured a mix of veterans and specialists throughout the 2026 season, as part of its rotating free-agent program. The entry has already featured names like Tony Stewart, Ty Dillon, Colin Braun, Corey LaJoie, Parker Kligerman, and Carson Ferguson, with upcoming appearances from Jamie McMurray and Clint Bowyer.
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Pastrana now joins that list for Charlotte. His most recent NASCAR appearance came earlier this year in the Truck Series season-opener at Daytona, where he finished 15th driving for Niece Motorsports. Fan reaction to the announcement was largely positive.
One user summed up the mood online, writing on X:
“YEEEESSSS!! Welcome back, 125 Motocross CHAMPION 🐐.”
Another fan wrote:
“Travis is not a bad driver. He could finish top 12.”
Others kept it simple.
“Now they’re cooking.”
“OH HELL YEAH,” added another.
There were also suggestions for future entries, with one fan proposing that Robby Gordon and Carl Edwards should also get opportunities in the No. 25 truck.
The reaction highlights how effective the Kaulig Racing rotating model has been. For now, the rotation continues, with A.J. Allmendinger set to drive the No. 25 at Watkins Glen before Travis Pastrana takes over at Charlotte on May 22, 7:30 p.m. ET.
Travis Pastrana’s NASCAR return draws attention as Kaulig’s free agent program builds momentum
Travis Pastrana brings a unique background compared to most drivers in the Truck Series field. He is an 11-time X Games gold medalist with a career spanning motocross, rally racing, and stunt performance. In NASCAR, he has made 50 starts across national series, including 42 in the second tier, where he recorded a pole at Talladega and multiple top-10 finishes.
Pastrana’s Cup debut in the 2023 Daytona 500 resulted in an 11th-place finish. In the Truck Series, he has seven starts, with a best finish of 13th.
Following his return announcement on Wednesday, Pastrana said in a team statement:
“I love racing and competing at everything, and NASCAR is one of the biggest and most competitive stages on earth. Having the opportunity to hop in the No. 25 Ram truck with Kaulig Racing through the Free Agent Program is an amazing opportunity. These Ram 1500s are so much fun to drive. We’re going to go out there, put on a show for the fans and see what we can do.”
Travis Pastrana’s return fits cleanly into that approach, and based on early fan response, it is one of the more anticipated entries in the program so far.
Edited by R. Elahi
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