Pastrana Starts Where He Left Off

The past three seasons of the Rally America Championship have only known one man on the top step: Travis Pastrana. Sno*Drift Rally reinforced his dominance as Pastrana got 2009 off on the right foot.

Travis Pastrana has earned a decisive victory at Michigan's Sno*Drift Rally, round one of the 2009 Rally America National Championship at the wheel of his 2009 Subaru Impreza WRX STI. Pastrana, the three-time defending Rally America National Champion, controlled the rally from start to finish, winning eleven of the twenty competitive stages on his way to a margin of victory of nearly two minutes.

The Sno*Drift Rally was held on over 130 miles of snow and ice-covered roads in northern Michigan. Constantly changing weather and road conditions historically make this rally extremely challenging. The forest roads were covered with fresh snow over layers of ice each morning. Rally America rules also prohibit the use of spiked or studded ice tires at Sno*Drift, placing a premium on road traction.

The victory at SnoDrift is sweet redemption for Pastrana after being stripped of a likely win at last year's Sno*Drift Rally when he collided with a deer while leading the rally with just eleven miles to go. "It's a great way to start the season, coming away with maximum points under my belt," said Pastrana. "But every mailbox looked like a deer on that last stage!"

After spending a season sitting with former WRC champion co-driver Derek Ringer, Pastrana has re-united with his long time co-driver Christian Edstrom. Pastrana and Edstrom quickly got back to business together, winning five of the first eight stages to end Day 1 with a commanding lead of over fifty seconds. On Day 2, Pastrana was able to extend his lead dramatically with six more stage wins to finish over one minute and forty-nine seconds clear of rival Tanner Foust.

02.01.2009