BY ROGER SMITH
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
INEZ — Subaru Motorsports USA and global icon Travis Pastrana were in Martin County testing Team Subaru’s WRX ARA24 rally car series before heading to Missouri this weekend for the second round of the 2024 ARA National Championship.
They came because Erik Hubbard, executive director for Backroads of Appalachia, a nonprofit organization based in Harlan County, knew the perfect spot in Martin County.
“Our purpose is economic development through motorsports,” Hubbard said of Backroads of Appalachia. “I represent eastern Kentucky and the state of West Virginia. Today we’re in beautiful Martin County, Kentucky, one of my favorite places, for team Subaru with Travis Pastrana and Brandon Semenuk, two national champions, testing their new rally cars.”
Subaru contacted Hubbard about potentially coming to eastern Kentucky.
“We figured the best place for this testing is right here in Martin County,” he said. “It’s more of a straight, fast row, which is going to be similar to what they’ve got in Missouri. It’s going to be a great opportunity for the drivers and the team to hone in their cars more.”
Hubbard explained that the cars would run 2-6 miles, and while running, a computer would collect data.
“Their purpose all day is to make that car, from the first initial run, faster every time,” remarked Hubbard. “There’s a lot of tuning to this. We have 38 people, and 27 of them came from different countries to ensure that this car has the best capability to go out and dominate and win races.”
According to Hubbard, the team’s arrival in eastern Kentucky brings a significant economic boost. The economic impact of flights, rental car services, accommodations, contributions to volunteer fire departments, catering services, and other expenses over three days is estimated at approximately $2.7 million.
“It’s a very big influx of new cash and capital, but at the same time it’s bragging rights,” he said. “Eastern Kentucky, from the downturn of coal, was left with the byproduct of these beautiful roads, which is what they need to test and race upon. It’s a win-win. From the downturn of coal, it’s a win for new opportunities, possibilities for job creation and racing—and most importantly, economic development and bringing teams like this to Kentucky and building race cars. Do it here versus where they’re headquartered now.”
Subaru Motorsports USA is Subaru’s competition arm. Its mission is testing and proving the capabilities of Subaru vehicles in stage rally, rallycross, record attempts and beyond. Vermont SportsCar is the motorsports technical partner of Subaru of America, fabricating and prepping rally and rallycross vehicles and managing their team sponsors and athletes.
Randy Simpkins, assisting Backroads of Appalachia at the test course, said Subaru Motorsport USA was invited last year to come and take a look at Martin County.
“They’re hoping to expand out into Kentucky to get a racing series, and hopefully, this will be the beginning of that stage,” Simpkins said. “We’re glad to have them in Martin County with us. Hopefully they will be interested in what they see here today and come back into the area.”
Simpkins warned, “Stand back, watch for gravels. They’ll be running through here at 100-plus mph across these strip mine roads of Eastern Kentucky. It’s going to be very exciting to watch these cars go through here and see their suspension work.”
During a break Monday, Travis Pastrana, known for pushing the limits in motorsports, shared his enthusiasm for the Martin County test course.
“It’s awesome,” he said, praising the quality of the roads. “The whole county, town, and state have really welcomed us, which is fantastic. Subaru is excited to be here.”
Pastrana, a celebrated figure in extreme sports with accolades in rallycross, motocross and supercross, expressed his passion for rallycross.
“Rally is an amazing sport. It’s really passion-driven,” he remarked.
Turning his thoughts to the broader experience of testing with the team, Pastrana shared a personal connection to the importance of family and community in motorsports.
“Throughout the country the roads are getting straighter,” he said. “And it’s more and more difficult to get into the cars and get into hanging out with families. That’s kind of how I grew up with my dad, just working on vehicles—motorcycles for me as a kid and then cars as I got a little bit older. It’s just an awesome thing to see people come together and have a good time, talk cars and drive as fast as we can.”
Pastrana and co-driver Rhianon Gelsomino hope to be on pace in car #199 this weekend to challenge Subaru team members Brandon Semenuk and co-driver Keaton Williams in car #1.