Travis Kvapil | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() Kvapil atBristol Motor Speedway in 2016 | |||||||
Born | Travis Wade Kvapil (1976-03-01)March 1, 1976 (age 49) Janesville, Wisconsin, U.S. | ||||||
Achievements | 2003 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Champion | ||||||
Awards | 2001 Craftsman Truck SeriesRookie of the Year | ||||||
NASCARCup Series career | |||||||
271 races run over 11 years | |||||||
2015 position | 67th | ||||||
Best finish | 23rd (2008) | ||||||
First race | 2004Subway 500 (Martinsville) | ||||||
Last race | 2015CampingWorld.com 500 (Talladega) | ||||||
| |||||||
NASCARXfinity Series career | |||||||
13 races run over 5 years | |||||||
2016 position | 113th | ||||||
Best finish | 111th (2007) | ||||||
First race | 2001Outback Steakhouse 300 (Kentucky) | ||||||
Last race | 2016Ford EcoBoost 300 (Homestead) | ||||||
| |||||||
NASCARCraftsman Truck Series career | |||||||
197 races run over 17 years | |||||||
2019 position | 89th | ||||||
Best finish | 1st (2003) | ||||||
First race | 2001Florida Dodge Dealers 250 (Daytona) | ||||||
Last race | 2019TruNorth Global 250 (Martinsville) | ||||||
First win | 2001Silverado 350K (Texas) | ||||||
Last win | 2007Smith's Las Vegas 350 (Las Vegas) | ||||||
| |||||||
Statistics current as of November 18, 2019. |
Travis Wade Kvapil (/ˈkwɔːpəl/KWAW-pəl; born March 1, 1976)[1] is an American professional stock car driver. He last competed part-time in theNASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series, driving the No. 1Chevrolet Silverado forBeaver Motorsports.
He was the2003 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion.
Kvapil grew up working on cars in his father's garage, and racing was a natural progression for the Wisconsin native. Kvapil began racing in 1992 at the age of 16 atRockford Speedway, competing in theNASCAR Weekly Racing Series. He went on to win the American Short Tracker division track championship in 1994 at Rockford.[2] In 1995, he moved up to super late models atMadison International Speedway, "Wisconsin's Fastest Half-Mile", and was named the track Rookie of the Year. He also became the track's Late Model Champion a year later in 1996. This honor made Kvapil the youngest to ever capture the title at the track at the age of 20.
Kvapil moved to theARTGO Series, a Midwest asphalt short-track motor-racing touring series. He finished in the top-10 in points from 1998–2000.
In2001, Kvapil made his debut in theCraftsman Truck Series driving forAddington Racing in the No. 60CAT Rental Stores-sponsored Chevrolet.[3] In his 21st start, Kvapil won his first Truck Series race in theSilverado 350 atTexas Motor Speedway.[4] Kvapil's 18 Top 10's led him to finish fourth in the driver standings[5] and win theCraftsman Truck Series Rookie of the Year.[6] Kvapil also got to drive a race with powerhouseRichard Childress Racing at Kentucky in theBusch Series, but he ran poorly before flipping his car in a late crash.
In 2002, Kvapil managed to match his win total by winning the O'Reilly Auto Parts 200 at Memphis Motorsports Park. He finished the season with 14 Top 10's and finished ninth in the final driver points standings.
Funding issues at Addington caused Kvapil to switch to the No. 16IWX MotorFreight-sponsored Chevrolet forSteve Coulter'sXpress Motorsports team in 2003. He won one race during the season atBristol Motor Speedway in theO'Reilly 200 presented by Valvoline Maxlife. Kvapil finished the season with 22 Top 10's in 25 races (88 percent).[7] Kvapil passedBrendan Gaughan andTed Musgrave in points at the season finale atHomestead-Miami Speedway. Gaughan wrecked and Musgrave was black flagged during the race, giving the green flag to Kvapil as he was crowned the2003 Craftsman Truck Series champion.[7][8] He was recorded at 99.9 percent lap completion rate, only missing one lap throughout the 2003 season.[9]
Prior to the start of the 2004 season, Kvapil began a partnership with Alexander Meshkin to drive the No. 24 Line-X Spray-on Bedliners /eBayBang! Racing-sponsored Toyota. Kvapil came away with his first win of the season during the Line-X Spray-on Truck Bedliners 200 at Michigan International Speedway. The win gave Toyota their first win in the top-tiers of NASCAR. Two months later, Kvapil won at New Hampshire International Speedway. The same season, Kvapil won his firstBud Pole Award in the Craftsman Truck Series[10] at theAmerican Racing Wheels 200 atCalifornia Speedway. He finished eight in the final driver standings of the season.
During the 2004 NASCAR seasons, Kvapil signed for a driver development program with Roger Penske, in hopes of moving up to the Cup Series while bypassing theBusch Series. It was believed by many that Penske was planning to bring Kvapil to the Cup Series for 2005 while he had minimalBusch Series experience; Penske and Kvapil did not comment the truth or falseness of the rumors. However, at the end of the 2004 season, Kvapil made his firstNEXTEL Cup Series start atMartinsville Speedway. Kvapil drove the No. 06Mobil 1-sponsored Dodge, the fourth car on the track fromPenske Racing. He made three additional starts in the No. 06 in preparation for driving Penske Racing's No. 77 in 2005.[11] In 2005, Kvapil took over the Penske's No. 77Kodak-sponsored Dodge full-time, replacingBrendan Gaughan.[12]Kvapil scored his first ever Nextel Cup Series Top 10 at Bristol Motor Speedway when he finished seventh in theFood City 500.[13] He picked up another Top 10 atPhoenix International Raceway during theChecker Auto Parts 500. These two Top 10 finishes pushed Kvapil to finish 33rd in the point standings during his first season in the series. When the season ended, the Penske Racing No. 77 team temporarily disbanded when Kodak pulled out of the sponsorship deal.[14][15]
After his departure from Penske, Kvapil signed withPPI Motorsports for the 2006 NASCAR Sprint Cup season. He drove the No. 32Tide-sponsored Chevrolet for the2006 season.[16] He had his best finishes of the season atKansas Speedway,Pocono Raceway, andTalladega Superspeedway, where he finished 19th in all three of those events.[17][18][19] Kvapil finished the season 36th in points, and was forced to find a new ride for the next season as his PPI contract only lasted one year.[20] PPI eventually shut down after the 2006 due to the inability to find a sponsor to replace Tide. The team also did not have a manufacturer commitment for the 2007 NASCAR Sprint Cup season.[21][22]
In 2007, Jack Roush, owner ofRoush Racing, offered Kvapil a seat in the No. 6 Ford F-150 in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Kvapil replacedMark Martin in the truck, who moved toGinn Racing, andDavid Ragan, who was promoted to replace Martin in the No. 6 Ford in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.[23][24][25]Jack Roush, excited about signing with Kvapil, said, “We are pleased beyond measure that we were able to get a driver the caliber of Travis Kvapil. At only 30 years old with a Truck championship and two years of Sprint Cup experience under his belt, Travis brings great long and short term potential to and for Roush Racing.” He finished the season with four wins, three poles, eight Top 5s and 12 Top 10s. He finished the season sixth in the driver point standings. He returned to Roush Fenway Racing as a part-time driver in 2008 whenJoey Clanton was released from the No. 09 Ford.[26][27]
Roush recognized Kvapil's talents, and helped return to Cup with Yates Racing in 2008.[28] Kvapil drove the famous No. 28 Yates Ford Fusion.[29] Prior to the start of the season, Kvapil and teammateDavid Gilliland did not have a full-time sponsorship on their Yates Racing Fords.[30] While Gilliland's team found full-time sponsorship, Kvapil's team had to piece together sponsorship throughout the season.K&N Filters-sponsored Kvapil's team for theDaytona 500.[31] Two weeks later, Kvapil scored an eighth-place finish at Las Vegas Motor Speedway during theUAW-Dodge 400.[32] The finish at LVMS, which was in an unsponsored car, gave Kvapil his third Top 10 of his career. After the race, it was announced thatZaxby's would serve as a sponsorship for the No. 28 team in theKobalt Tools 500 atAtlanta Motor Speedway,[33] a race in which he finished 29th. With a one-race sponsorship deal withNorthern Tool and Equipment, Kvapil finished sixth in the Aaron's 499 atTalladega.[34][35] This gave him his career-best finish in the Sprint Cup Series. Kvapil picked up another Top 10 finish in theDodge Challenger 500 atDarlington.[36] Despite the lack of sponsorship for the year, Kvapil collected another four Top 10 finishes, finishing 23rd in the points standings. He also won the pole at the fallTalladega race, which turned out to be the last pole award for Yates Racing.[37]
In 2009, Kvapil returned to the No. 28, but the team was forced to close after six races due to lack of funding. Yates Racing ended up shutting down after the season. Kvapil qualified for several drivers through the rest of the year, but did not have a full-time ride.
In 2010, Kvapil returned to a full-time ride in theLong John Silver's-sponsored Ford forFront Row Motorsports. This car changed numbers throughout the year, using either No. 34, No. 37, or No. 38, depending on each number's position in points (with the goal being to get all three cars in the Top 35 for 2011). In 2011, Kvapil returned to FRM full-time in the No. 38 car, but signed up to compete for theCamping World Truck Series championship withRandy Moss Motorsports in their No. 5 Toyota. After 10 races, however, Kvapil was released in favor of defending Truck championTodd Bodine, whoseGermain Racing team partnered with RMM to continue running that driver for 2011. Kvapil stuck with FRM in the Cup Series, driving their No. 38 for most races, except in several late-season races,J. J. Yeley swapped rides with Kvapil several times, with the latter driving FRM's start and park No. 55.
Leaving FRM after the end of the 2011 season, Kvapil was signed byBK Racing to compete in the Sprint Cup Series for 2012. He drove the No. 93 Toyota starting with the second race of the year atPhoenix with Todd Anderson serving as crew chief;[38] At Darlington, whereDavid Reutimann drove the No. 93, Kvapil drove the No. 73 for BK Racing, though he drove the No. 93 for the remainder of the season.[39] He also drove forRAB Racing in the season-opening Camping World Truck Series event, replacing a suspendedJohn Wes Townley.[40] Kvapil ended the 2012 Cup season 27th in points, his second best finish in the points since his debut.
However, in 2013, both Kvapil and BK Racing struggled. Kvapil dropped to 31st in points, recording five Top 20 finishes but nine DNFs (including five blown engines). The team released Kvapil shortly before the start of the 2014 season.[41]
DuringSpeedweeks 2014, Kvapil announced that he had signed to drive in the Sprint Cup Series forGo FAS Racing on a limited basis,[42] as well as forMAKE Motorsports in the Camping World Truck Series.[43] On August 12, it was announced that Kvapil would replace Townley in the No. 05Athenian Motorsports Toyota for the Truck race at Michigan.[44] Kvapil also ran several late-season races forCircle Sport, tying his best career finish of sixth at Talladega. Also in the fall, he returned to BK Racing to run the No. 83 Toyota in several races after the team released rookieRyan Truex. Kvapil was scheduled to make a qualifying attempt for the 2015 Cup season at Atlanta, driving the No. 44 Chevrolet forTeam Xtreme, but was forced to withdraw when his car, hauler and truck were stolen from a hotel parking lot. For 2015, Kvapil mostly raced in the truck series driving the No. 1 Chevrolet forMAKE Motorsports. Later that season, Kvapil attempted some races forCurtis Key's team, but the team was struggling to qualify, and Kvapil DNQed in all of his attempts.
In 2016, Kvapil announced that he would run the fullCamping World Truck Series season with MAKE Motorsports once again.[45] In the season opener at Daytona, Kvapil scored a fifth-place finish. He also made his return to the Xfinity Series, driving the No. 15 Ford forB. J. McLeod Motorsports at Richmond and Talladega.
Kvapil continued to drive the No. 50 truck for MAKE, now known asBeaver Motorsports, in 2017.[46] He also drove forMB Motorsports andBolen Motorsports. Kvapil only attempted the first two races in 2018, making Daytona, where he finished last. He made just one start in 2019, which was at Martinsville. Kvapil has not raced in NASCAR since 2019.
Kvapil is married to his wife Jennifer,[47] and has three children: Kelsey,Carson and Caden. Carson drives forJR Motorsports in theNASCAR Xfinity Series as of 2024. The Kvapils reside inMooresville, North Carolina.[48]
Kvapil competed against fellow Wisconsin nativeMatt Kenseth atMadison International Speedway. Kvapil, like Kenseth, is an avidGreen Bay Packers fan. During the 2006 NASCAR Nextel Cup season, Kvapil and his No. 32 Tide fromPPI Motorsports appeared on an episode ofGuiding Light.[49]
On October 8, 2013, Kvapil was arrested by the Mooresville police department following a domestic dispute. Kvapil was charged with assault on a female and false imprisonment, and was released on $1,000 bail.[50] Kvapil was allowed to race in that weekend'sBank of America 500 atCharlotte Motor Speedway.[51] On January 30, 2014, it was announced that Kvapil had accepted a plea deal in the case, pleading guilty in exchange for having the case dismissed following two years' probation, community service, and attending an anger management class.[52]
(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time.Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)
Year | Team | Manufacturer | Start | Finish |
---|---|---|---|---|
2005 | Penske-Jasper Racing | Dodge | 25 | 19 |
2006 | PPI Motorsports | Chevrolet | 40 | 27 |
2008 | Yates Racing | Ford | 30 | 30 |
2009 | 41 | 42 | ||
2010 | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 35 | 29 |
2011 | 40 | 32 | ||
2013 | BK Racing | Toyota | 43 | 25 |
NASCAR Xfinity Series results | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Team | No. | Make | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | NXSC | Pts | Ref |
2001 | Richard Childress Racing | 21 | Chevy | DAY | CAR | LVS | ATL | DAR | BRI | TEX | NSH | TAL | CAL | RCH | NHA | NZH | CLT | DOV | KEN 28 | MLW | GLN | CHI | GTY | PPR | IRP | MCH | BRI | DAR | RCH | DOV | KAN | CLT | MEM | PHO | CAR | HOM | 115th | 79 | [64] | ||
2005 | NDS Motorsports | 77 | Dodge | DAY | CAL | MXC | LVS | ATL | NSH | BRI | TEX | PHO | TAL | DAR | RCH | CLT | DOV | NSH | KEN | MLW | DAY | CHI | NHA | PPR | GTY | IRP | GLN 25 | MCH | BRI | CAL | RCH | DOV | KAN | CLT | MEM | TEX | PHO | HOM | 115th | 88 | [65] |
2007 | JTG Racing | 47 | Ford | DAY | CAL | MXC | LVS | ATL | BRI | NSH | TEX | PHO | TAL | RCH | DAR | CLT | DOV 31 | NSH | KEN | MLW | NHA | DAY | CHI | GTY | 111th | 170 | [66] | ||||||||||||||
Roush Fenway Racing | 60 | Ford | IRP QL† | CGV | GLN | MCH | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
16 | BRI 21 | CAL | RCH | DOV | KAN | CLT | MEM | TEX | PHO | HOM | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2009 | RAB Racing | 09 | Ford | DAY | CAL | LVS | BRI | TEX | NSH | PHO | TAL | RCH | DAR | CLT | DOV | NSH | KEN | MLW | NHA | DAY | CHI | GTY | IRP | IOW | GLN | MCH | BRI | CGV | ATL | RCH 20 | DOV | KAN | CAL | CLT | MEM | TEX | PHO | HOM | 128th | 103 | [67] |
2016 | B. J. McLeod Motorsports | 15 | Ford | DAY | ATL | LVS | PHO | CAL | TEX | BRI | RCH 25 | TAL 25 | DOV 30 | CLT | POC | MCH | KEN 25 | NHA | IND | IOW | GLN | MOH | BRI 20 | ROA | DAR | RCH | CHI 33 | KEN | DOV | CLT | KAN | TEX | PHO | HOM 26 | 113th | 01 | [68] | ||||
Rick Ware Racing | 25 | IOW 23 | DAY | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
† - Qualified forCarl Edwards |
(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time.Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)
ARCA Re/Max Series results | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Team | No. | Make | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | ARSC | Pts | Ref | |||||||||||||||
2005 | Penske Racing | 27 | Dodge | DAY | NSH | SLM | KEN | TOL | LAN | MIL | POC 1* | MCH | KAN | KEN | BLN | POC | GTW | LER | NSH | MCH | ISF | TOL | DSF | CHI | SLM | TAL | 99th | 250 | [86] | |||||||||||||||
2007 | Roush Fenway Racing | 99 | Ford | DAY | USA | NSH | SLM | KAN | WIN | KEN | TOL | IOW | POC 33 | MCH | BLN | KEN | POC | NSH | ISF | MIL | GTW | DSF | CHI | SLM | TAL | TOL | 166th | 65 | [87] |
* Season still in progress
1 Ineligible for series points
Sporting positions | ||
---|---|---|
Preceded by | NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Champion 2003 | Succeeded by |
Achievements | ||
Preceded by | NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Rookie of the Year 2001 | Succeeded by |