Travis Pastrana Proves 3x NASCAR Truck Series Champ’s Condescending Claim Against Female Drivers Wrong With a Harsh Reality Check

Published 03/05/2024, 12:56 PM EST

For decades, there has been an age-old stereotype that motor racing is a male-dominated sport. However, as the years passed, this notion has been regularly challenged, across different racing formats. Despite that, there are still a few male racing drivers who believe that their female counterparts don’t have what it takes. Among them was 3-time NASCAR Truck Series champion, Matt Crafton. However, racer and stunt performer Travis Pastrana swiftly proved him wrong.

The 47-year-old ThorSport Racing driver once made a very bold claim. According to him, a female driver would not be able to beat him in a vehicle. Pastrana decided to challenge that statement with a bet on a rallycross race. Crafton was then up against 19-year-old Gray Leadbetter, and she soundly beat him, finishing in third place to his fifth.

Nascar Trucks driver Matt Crafton said a female cannot beat him in a vehicle
Travis Pastrana decided to bet against him in a rallycross race where he'll compete against Gray Leadbetter to prove him wrong
Leadbetter finished 3rd
Crafton 5th pic.twitter.com/JBQJQxsl0q
— Fifth Gear (@NotFifthGear) March 3, 2024

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Travis Pastrana had faith in Leadbetter’s talent behind the wheel

The 40-year-old pretty much knew what he was talking about, because he and Leadbetter are teammates. To be more specific, Pastrana and Leadbetter are competing in the final season of the Extreme E championship for Legacy Motor Club. Together, the duo managed to finish 6th in back-to-back races in Jeddah.

In the Extreme E season, there are 10 rounds at 4 different locations, and the first two races in Saudi Arabia are complete. Next on the hit list will be two races somewhere in Europe on the 13th and 14th of July. Admittedly, the location has yet to be confirmed, but there may be news in the coming days. After Europe, there is a double-header in Sardinia, Italy, meaning four races at the venue. Finally, the last two races will be held in Phoenix, Arizona, and those two will close out the championship.

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There are many female racing drivers who are pretty successful

Women have been in motorsport since 1954, thanks to Maria Teresa de Filippis. There were other female pioneers like Janet Guthrie, Lella Lombardi, and many more. Lombardi is also the first and only female driver to score points in Formula One. There are also drivers like Danica Patrick, who became pretty popular. Say what you will about her on-track prowess, but she knew how to excel in marketing.

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In the modern era of racing, there are innumerable examples. The biggest ones are IndyCar driver, Jamie Chadwick, NASCAR drivers Hailie Deegan, Natalie Decker and Toni Breidinger, F3 driver Sophia Florsch and many more. In the World Endurance Championship, there is also the Iron Dames racing team, an all-female driving team. That team comprises Sarah Bovy, Rahel Frey, Michelle Gatting, and Doriane Pin, and they have been hugely impressive. Last year, Bovy, Frey, and Gatting even won the 8 Hours of Bahrain, marking their first win. In all, Pastrana’s point has been justified and all these examples prove that the car doesn’t discriminate between genders.

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Written by:

Dhruv George is a Senior NASCAR Author at EssentiallySports, with an impressive record of over 14K articles. From F1 driver Pierre Gasly to Moto2 rider Tony Arbolino, Dhruv has interviewed several racers, establishing himself as an authoritative voice in the world of motorsports. He not only writes engaging content but helps connect readers with some of the biggest racing names thanks to his ability to churn out exclusive interviews.

Edited by:

Shreya Singh

Travis Pastrana Proves 3x NASCAR Truck Series Champ’s Condescending Claim Against Female Drivers Wrong With a Harsh Reality Check

Travis Pastrana had faith in Leadbetter’s talent behind the wheel

There are many female racing drivers who are pretty successful

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