Catchfence

Travis Pastrana, a fearless athlete known for going fast, began the process of learning how to go fast in a stock car this week.

Pastrana turned his first laps in a stock car Monday and Tuesday as he tested a K&N Pro Series East car at New Smyrna (Fla.) Speedway.

The supercross, freestyle motocross and Rally star plans to compete in seven Nationwide races in 2011 and hopes to make his NASCAR debut in an East car by qualifying for the Toyota All-Star Showdown next month at Irwindale, Calif.

“This is the biggest challenge that I’ve ever had,” Pastrana said in a teleconference with reporters Tuesday. “It’s going to take a lot of time. I’m willing to put the time in.

“There’s going to come a time when I need to focus on this more and that time is quickly approaching. I’m not taking it easy this first year, but to kind of understand and get a background of the entire sport.”

- Scene Daily