Pastrana Wins Rally Gold at X Games 14
August 3, 2008 – 10:55 pm PT by GregTags: Dave Mirra, Ken Block, Rally, Tanner Foust, Travis Pastrana, X Games —
Pastrana and Carolyn Bosley | cr. CHRISTIAN PONDELLA/SHAZAMM/ESPN IMAGES
As a rally car driver, you have to depend a lot on your co-driver. So when Travis Pastrana lost his co-driver Jim DeChamp after he crashed during his Moto X Best Trick contest appearance on Friday, he turned to one of the best. Carolyn Bosley was the co-driver to the late Rally Car legend Colin McRae, and no doubt she was a big part of why Pastrana was able to cinch the gold medal Sunday in the Rally Car Racing Super Special event.
Pastrana was up against last year’s winner, Tanner Foust, who gave a good fight and had the lead until hitting some safety barriers (though he was able to finish the race).
There was a tie for third-place after both racers, BMX rider Dave Mirra and DC Shoes founder Ken Block, could not drive in the match due to mechanical problems. A tie was called, and Mirra went home with a bronze medal and a record 23rd X Games medal.
Keep reading for more about the final…
Travis Pastrana and Co-Driver Carolyn Bosley Make a Great Team; Win the Rally Car Racing Super Special Final
Dave Mirra is Unstoppable as He Wins Yet Another Medal
LOS ANGELES – It was an electrifying head-to-head race against X Games veteran Pastrana and last year’s Rally Car Super Special champion Tanner Foust. Pastrana was forced to make an eleventh hour swap in his co-driver, choosing the late Rally Car legend Colin McRae’s former co-driver Bosley. The decision was ultimately fruitful as the two took the final and seized the gold.
“It’s tough because it’s single round elimination. You have to really push. It’s all about going for it,” Pastrana said about his winning rally.
Foust came out of the gate blazing and cleared the immense dirt jump with no problem, but ran into trouble as he exited the arena and drove onto the tarmac, sideswiping his car against the safety barriers. It was at that point Pastrana seized upon the moment to take the lead. Foust finished the course successfully, but still behind Pastrana to take home the silver medal.
“Now that we’ve had two years in this event we feel we can build a car that better suits this event and come back even stronger,” Foust said.
Perhaps one of the most unexpected occurrences in the Super Special final was Mirra tying for bronze with Ken Block. Both qualified into the bronze medal match, but both experienced mechanical problems that kept both of them from driving in the match. A tie was declared which subsequently awarded Mirra his 23rd X Games medal, a seemingly untouchable record for most medals ever won at X Games.
“Just to be here to try and do this is great. Medaling after less than a year of doing this is amazing,” Mirra said. Mirra began practicing and competing in rally in late 2007. This is his first X Games Rally Car Racing appearance and his 13th X Games.
RALLY CAR RACING SUPER SPECIAL
FINAL RESULTS Results from ESPN X GAMES 14 at The Home Center in Carson, Calf. on Sunday, August 3, 2008. (Final Standings)
Driver / Driver / Hometown / Hometown
1. Travis Pastrana / Carolyn Bosley / Annapolis, Md. / South Burlington, Vt.
2. Tanner Foust / Chrissie Beavis / Capistrano, Calif. / San Diego, Calif.
3. Dave Mirra / Alex Kihurani / Greenville, N.C. / Philadelphia, Pa.
3. Ken Block / Alex Gelsomino / Rancho Santa Fe, Calif / Los Angeles, Calif. /