Travis Kvapil
Encyclopedia
Travis Kvapil (ˈ ) is an American
race car driver. He currently drives for Front Row Motorsports
in the NASCAR
Sprint Cup Series.
, competing in the NASCAR Weekly Racing Series
. He went on to win the American Short Tracker division track championship in 1994 at Rockford. In 1995, he moved up to super late models at Madison 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 the ARTGO
Series, a Midwest asphalt short-track motor-racing touring series. He finished in the top-10 in points from 1998-2000.
In 2001, Kvapil made his debut in the Craftsman Truck Series
driving for Addington Racing
in the No. 60 CAT Rental Stores
Chevrolet. In his twenty-first start, Kvapil won his first Truck Series race in the Silverado 350
at Texas Motor Speedway
. Kvapil's eighteen top-10s led him to finish fourth place in the driver standings and win the Craftsman Truck Series Rookie of the Year.
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-10s and finished ninth in the final driver points standings.
Funding issues at Addington caused Kvapil to switch to the No. 16 IWX MotorFreight Chevrolet for Steve Coulter's
Xpress Motorsports team
in 2003. He won one race during the season at Bristol Motor Speedway
for the O'Reilly 200 presented by Valvoline Maxlife
. Kvapil finished the season with 22 top-10s in 25 races (88 percent). Kvapil passed Brendan Gaughan
and Ted Musgrave
in points at the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway
. Gaughan wrecked and Musgrave was black flagged during the race, giving the green flag to Kvapil as he was crowned the 2003 Craftsman Truck Series champion. He was recorded at 99.9 percent lap completion rate, only missing one lap throughout the 2003 season.
Prior to the start of the 2004 season, Kvapil began a partnership with Alexander Meshkin to drive the No. 24 Line-X-Benders and Ebay Bang! Racing 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 first Bud Pole Award
in the Craftsman Truck Series at the American Racing Wheels 200 at California Speedway. He finished eight in the final driver standings of the season.
At the end of the 2004 season, Kvapil made his first NEXTEL Cup Series start at Martinsville Speedway
. Kvapil drove the No. 06 Mobil 1
Dodge, the fourth car on the track from Penske Racing
. Prior to the 2005 Sprint Cup Series, Kvapil was chosen by Penske Racing to drive the No. 77 Eastman Kodak
Dodge, replaying Brendan Gaughan
.
Kvapil scored his first ever Sprint Cup Series top-10 at Bristol Motor Speedway when he finished seventh during the Food City 500
. He picked up another top-10 at Phoenix International Raceway
during the Checker Auto Parts 500
. The 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 disbanded when Kodak pulled out of the sponsorship deal.
After his departure from Penske, Kvapil signed with PPI Motorsports
for the 2006 NASCAR Sprint Cup Season. He drove the No. 32 Tide
Chevrolet for the 2006 season. He had his best finishes of the season at Kansas Speedway
, Pocono Raceway
and Talladega Superspeedway
, where he finished nineteenth in each event. 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. 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.
In 2007, Jack Roush, owner of Roush Racing, offered Kvapil a seat in the No. 6 Ford F-150 in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Kvapil replaced Mark Martin in the truck, who moved to Ginn Racing, and David Ragan
, who was promoted to replace Martin in the No. 6 Ford in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. 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 when Joey Clanton
was released from the No. 09 Ford.
Roush recognized Kvapil’s talents, and helped him move over to the newly formed Yates Racing in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in 2008. Doug Yates took control of the company from his father Robert, and had a solid goal for the 2008 season
. “By the 2008 Daytona 500, Yates Racing
wants to be in an elevated position where we are competing successfully against any race team in the sport.” Kvapil drove the No. 28 Ford Fusion after the No. 88 was given to Hendrick Motorsports
to be used for their new driver, Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
. Prior to the start of the season, Kvapil and teammate David Gilliland
did not have full-time sponsorship on their Yates Racing Fords. K&N Filters sponsored Kvapil’s team for the Daytona 500
. Two weeks later, Kvapil scored an eighth place finish at Las Vegas Motor Speedway during the UAW-Dodge 400. The finish at LVMS, which was in an unsponsored car, gave Kvapil his third top-10 of his career. After the race, Zaxby's
announced sponsorship for the No. 28 team for the Kobalt Tools 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway
. He finished 29th in the race at AMS. With a one-race sponsorship deal with Northern Tool and Equipment, Kvapil finished in the sixth position at the Aaron’s 499 at Talladega Superspeedway
. The finish gave him his career-best finish in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Kvapil picked up another top-10 finish at Darlington Raceway
at the Dodge Challenger 500. Despite the lack of sponsorship for the year, Kvapil collected four top-10 finishes, one pole and finished 23rd in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series points standings.
In 2009, Kvapil returned to the No. 28, but the team was forced to close after six races due to lack of funding. Kvapil qualified in place of Bob Jenkins and part-time off-road-racer Robby Gordon.
Kvapil returned to the seat of a full-time Sprint Cup ride, driving the No. 34, 37, 38 Long John Silver's
Ford for Front Row Motorsports
. Kvapil returned to FRM, but signed up to compete for the Camping World Truck Series championship with Randy Moss Motorsports in their #5 Toyota. However, after 10 races Kvapil was released in favor of defending Truck champion Todd Bodine
, whose Germain Racing
team partnered with RMM to continue running Bodine for 2011. Kvapil stuck with FRM in the Cup Series, driving their #38 for most races until J.J. Yeley swapped rides with Kvapil, with the latter driving FRM's start and park #55.
, North Carolina
.
Kvapil competed against fellow Wisconsin native Matt Kenseth
at Madison International Speedway
. Kvapil, like Kenseth, is an avid Green Bay Packers
fan. During the 2006 NASCAR Sprint Cup Season, Kvapil and his No. 32 Tide from PPI Motorsports appeared on an episode of Guiding Light
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
race car driver. He currently drives for Front Row Motorsports
Front Row Motorsports
Front Row Motorsports is a team that competes in the NASCAR Sprint Cup. The team began running part-time in 2004 as Means-Jenkins Motorsports under a partnership with Jimmy Means and restaurant entrepreneur Bob Jenkins, with Jenkins becoming the full team owner in 2005...
in the NASCAR
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
Sprint Cup Series.
Early career
Kvapil grew up working on cars in his dad’s garage, and racing was a natural progression for the Wisconsin native. Kvapil began racing in 1992 at the age of 16 at Rockford SpeedwayRockford, Illinois
Rockford is a mid-sized city located on both banks of the Rock River in far northern Illinois. Often referred to as "The Forest City", Rockford is the county seat of Winnebago County, Illinois, USA. As reported in the 2010 U.S. census, the city was home to 152,871 people, the third most populated...
, competing in the NASCAR Weekly Racing Series
Whelen All-American Series
The Whelen All-American Series is a points championship for NASCAR sanctioned local racetracks around the United States and Canada....
. He went on to win the American Short Tracker division track championship in 1994 at Rockford. In 1995, he moved up to super late models at Madison International Speedway
Madison International Speedway
The Madison International Speedway is a stock car racing oval in the town of Rutland in rural Oregon, Wisconsin a short distance off of Wisconsin Highway 138. The track is billed as "The Track of Champions" and "Wisconsin's Fastest Half Mile." The weekly program at the track runs on Friday...
, ‘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 the ARTGO
ARTGO
The ARTGO Challenge Series was a United States midwest late model short track racing series that ran from 1975 until 1998. Many race car drivers have used the ARTGO series as a stepping stone to get into ASA, ARCA, and NASCAR. A guy by the name of Art Frigo created the series with the help of Bob...
Series, a Midwest asphalt short-track motor-racing touring series. He finished in the top-10 in points from 1998-2000.
2001 - 2004
Craftsman Truck Series
The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series is a pickup truck racing series owned and operated by the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing...
driving for Addington Racing
Addington Racing
Addington Racing is a former NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series team. It was owned by Mike Addington and fielded Chevrolet Silverados from 1997 to 2002....
in the No. 60 CAT Rental Stores
Caterpillar Inc.
Caterpillar Inc. , also known as "CAT", designs, manufactures, markets and sells machinery and engines and sells financial products and insurance to customers via a worldwide dealer network. Caterpillar is the world's largest manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas...
Chevrolet. In his twenty-first start, Kvapil won his first Truck Series race in the Silverado 350
Silverado 350K
The WinStar World Casino 350K is a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race that takes place at Texas Motor Speedway. The 1999 race was 300 kilometers and the 2000 race was 400 kilometers. Starting in 2001, the race is now 350 kilometers. From 2001 through 2004, the races were 146 laps...
at Texas Motor Speedway
Texas Motor Speedway
Texas Motor Speedway is a speedway located in the northernmost portion of the U.S. city of Fort Worth, Texas – the portion located in Denton County, Texas....
. Kvapil's eighteen top-10s led him to finish fourth place in the driver standings and win the Craftsman Truck Series Rookie of the Year.
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-10s and finished ninth in the final driver points standings.
Funding issues at Addington caused Kvapil to switch to the No. 16 IWX MotorFreight Chevrolet for Steve Coulter's
Steve Coulter
Steve Coulter is a team owner in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. His team, Xpress Motorsports, won the Truck Series championship in 2002 and 2003, with Mike Bliss and Travis Kvapil, respectively. He has also fielded cars in the Busch Series and part-time in the Winston Cup series part-time. He...
Xpress Motorsports team
Xpress Motorsports
Xpress Motrsports was a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series team. The team won the Truck Series championship in 2002 and 2003 with Mike Bliss and Travis Kvapil, respectively. The team was owned by Steve Coulter until 2004, when he sold the team to then team manager Dave Fuge, who owned the team until...
in 2003. He won one race during the season at Bristol Motor Speedway
Bristol Motor Speedway
Bristol Motor Speedway, formerly known as Bristol International Raceway and Bristol Raceway is a NASCAR short track venue located in Bristol, Tennessee. Constructed in 1960, it held its first NASCAR race on July 30, 1961...
for the O'Reilly 200 presented by Valvoline Maxlife
O'Reilly 200 presented by Valvoline Maxlife
The O'Reilly 200 presented by Valvoline is a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race that takes place in August at Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tennessee. It is currently held on the Wednesday night prior to the Sprint Cup Series Saturday night race, the Irwin Tools Night Race. When first held...
. Kvapil finished the season with 22 top-10s in 25 races (88 percent). Kvapil passed Brendan Gaughan
Brendan Gaughan
Brendan Gaughan is an American stock car driver. Gaughan is the grandson of Vegas gaming pioneer Jackie Gaughan and son of Michael Gaughan, a hotel and casino magnate. Gaughan currently drives the #62 South Point Hotel & Casino Toyota Tundra for Germain Racing in the NASCAR Camping World Truck...
and Ted Musgrave
Ted Musgrave
Theodore Musgrave is an American race car driver.-Pre-NASCAR:Musgrave's father, Elmer, was a famous short-track racer in the Midwest who raced for over 25 years at Soldier Field, O'Hare, Waukegan, and Wilmot, Wisconsin before moving into asphalt late models in the American Speed Association and...
in points at the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway
Homestead-Miami Speedway
Homestead-Miami Speedway is a race track in Homestead, Florida southwest of Miami.Since 2002 Homestead has hosted the final races of the season in all three of NASCAR's series: the Sprint Cup Series, Nationwide Series, and the Camping World Truck Series...
. Gaughan wrecked and Musgrave was black flagged during the race, giving the green flag to Kvapil as he was crowned the 2003 Craftsman Truck Series champion. He was recorded at 99.9 percent lap completion rate, only missing one lap throughout the 2003 season.
Prior to the start of the 2004 season, Kvapil began a partnership with Alexander Meshkin to drive the No. 24 Line-X-Benders and Ebay Bang! Racing 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 first Bud Pole Award
Budweiser Pole Award
The Budweiser Pole Award was an award given to the fastest qualifier in each NASCAR NEXTEL Cup points paying race...
in the Craftsman Truck Series at the American Racing Wheels 200 at California Speedway. He finished eight in the final driver standings of the season.
2005–Present
Martinsville Speedway
Martinsville Speedway is an International Speedway Corporation-owned NASCAR stock car racing track located in Henry County, near Ridgeway, Virginia, just to the south of Martinsville. At in length, it is the shortest track in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. The track was also one of the first paved...
. Kvapil drove the No. 06 Mobil 1
Mobil 1
Mobil 1 is a brand name developed by the Mobil oil company and now marketed by ExxonMobil.It was introduced in 1974 as a 5w single viscosity fully synthetic motor oil advertised for use up to 25,000 miles. Later, the miles-specific recommendation was dropped and the product reformulated in other...
Dodge, the fourth car on the track from Penske Racing
Penske Racing
Penske Racing is a racing team that competes in the IndyCar Series and NASCAR. They also previously competed in road racing, and Formula One. Penske Racing is a division of Penske Corporation, and is owned and chaired by Roger Penske...
. Prior to the 2005 Sprint Cup Series, Kvapil was chosen by Penske Racing to drive the No. 77 Eastman Kodak
Eastman Kodak
Eastman Kodak Company is a multinational imaging and photographic equipment, materials and services company headquarted in Rochester, New York, United States. It was founded by George Eastman in 1892....
Dodge, replaying Brendan Gaughan
Brendan Gaughan
Brendan Gaughan is an American stock car driver. Gaughan is the grandson of Vegas gaming pioneer Jackie Gaughan and son of Michael Gaughan, a hotel and casino magnate. Gaughan currently drives the #62 South Point Hotel & Casino Toyota Tundra for Germain Racing in the NASCAR Camping World Truck...
.
Kvapil scored his first ever Sprint Cup Series top-10 at Bristol Motor Speedway when he finished seventh during the Food City 500
Food City 500
The Food City 500 is a 500 lap race NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held on the track at Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tennessee. This is one of two NASCAR races held at Bristol, the other being the Irwin Tools Night Race, and is considered one of NASCAR's best races...
. He picked up another top-10 at Phoenix International Raceway
Phoenix International Raceway
Phoenix International Raceway, also known as PIR, is a one-mile, low-banked tri-oval race track located in Avondale, Arizona. The track opened in 1964 and currently hosts two NASCAR race weekends annually. PIR has also hosted the Indycar Series, CART, USAC and the Rolex Sports Car Series...
during the Checker Auto Parts 500
Checker Auto Parts 500
The Kobalt Tools 500 is a NASCAR Sprint Cup stock car race held at Phoenix International Raceway in Avondale, Arizona. The race is sponsored by Lowe's through its Kobalt Tools brand.-Past winners:*1998: Race shortened due to rain....
. The 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 disbanded when Kodak pulled out of the sponsorship deal.
After his departure from Penske, Kvapil signed with PPI Motorsports
PPI Motorsports
PPI Motorsports was a race team which competed in CART, NASCAR, and various off-road racing circuits. The team had one of the few remaining single car operations in NASCAR.-Early years:...
for the 2006 NASCAR Sprint Cup Season. He drove the No. 32 Tide
Tide (detergent)
Tide is the brand-name of a popular laundry detergent manufactured by Procter & Gamble and first introduced to the United States consumer in 1946. It is also marketed in Canada, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, India and several other countries...
Chevrolet for the 2006 season. He had his best finishes of the season at Kansas Speedway
Kansas Speedway
Kansas Speedway is a tri-oval race track in Kansas City, Kansas. The speedway was built in 2001 and currently hosts two annual NASCAR race weekends. The IndyCar Series also raced at the speedway until 2011...
, Pocono Raceway
Pocono Raceway
Pocono Raceway also known as the Tricky Triangle, is a superspeedway located in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania at Long Pond...
and Talladega Superspeedway
Talladega Superspeedway
Talladega Superspeedway is a motorsports complex located north of Talladega, Alabama, United States. It is located on the former Anniston Air Force Base just outside the small city of Lincoln. It was constructed by International Speedway Corporation, a business controlled by the France Family, in...
, where he finished nineteenth in each event. 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. 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.
In 2007, Jack Roush, owner of Roush Racing, offered Kvapil a seat in the No. 6 Ford F-150 in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Kvapil replaced Mark Martin in the truck, who moved to Ginn Racing, and David Ragan
David Ragan
David Ragan, , is an American NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race car driver. He has previously driven the #6 Roush Fenway Racing ford, but is currently looking for a ride for the 2012 season...
, who was promoted to replace Martin in the No. 6 Ford in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Jack Roush
Jack Roush
Jack Roush is the founder, CEO, and co-owner along with John Henry of Roush Fenway Racing, a NASCAR team headquartered in Concord, North Carolina, and is Chairman of the Board of Roush Enterprises....
, 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 when Joey Clanton
Joey Clanton
Joseph Clanton is an American race car driver and businessman. He was the 2002 champion in the now-defunct American Speed Association stock car series. He is also the owner of two Zaxby's franchises.-Busch Series:...
was released from the No. 09 Ford.
Roush recognized Kvapil’s talents, and helped him move over to the newly formed Yates Racing in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in 2008. Doug Yates took control of the company from his father Robert, and had a solid goal for the 2008 season
2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
The 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season began on February 9, 2008 at Daytona International Speedway with the Budweiser Shootout, followed by pole qualifying on Sunday, February 10, 2008 for the 50th Daytona 500 on February 17...
. “By the 2008 Daytona 500, Yates Racing
Yates Racing
Yates Racing was an American stock car racing racing team that competed in NASCAR until the 2009 season when it merged with Richard Petty Motorsports. Previously known as Robert Yates Racing, the team was owned by Doug Yates, who has officially owned the team since his father Robert's retirement on...
wants to be in an elevated position where we are competing successfully against any race team in the sport.” Kvapil drove the No. 28 Ford Fusion after the No. 88 was given to Hendrick Motorsports
Hendrick Motorsports
Hendrick Motorsports , originally named All Star Racing, is a current American auto racing team created in 1984 by Rick Hendrick. The team currently competes in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with Chevrolet Impalas...
to be used for their new driver, Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
* NOTE: References to "Earnhardt", "he", and "him" refer to the subject of this article, unless otherwise specified. References to his father will include "Sr."...
. Prior to the start of the season, Kvapil and teammate David Gilliland
David Gilliland
David Gilliland is a NASCAR driver and he currently drives the #34 Taco Bell Ford Fusion for Front Row Motorsports. He is the son of former Cup and West Coast driver Butch Gilliland. He was born in Riverside, California....
did not have full-time sponsorship on their Yates Racing Fords. K&N Filters sponsored Kvapil’s team for the Daytona 500
Daytona 500
The Daytona 500 is a -long NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held annually at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. It is one of four restrictor plate races on the Cup schedule....
. Two weeks later, Kvapil scored an eighth place finish at Las Vegas Motor Speedway during the UAW-Dodge 400. The finish at LVMS, which was in an unsponsored car, gave Kvapil his third top-10 of his career. After the race, Zaxby's
Zaxby's
Zaxby's is a franchised chain of fast casual restaurants that operates primarily in the Southeastern United States with 500 locations. Zaxby's 500th location opened in Tifton, Georgia the summer of 2010. The first Zaxby's was opened in Statesboro, Georgia, near the Georgia Southern University...
announced sponsorship for the No. 28 team for the Kobalt Tools 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway
Atlanta Motor Speedway
Atlanta Motor Speedway is a track just outside Hampton, Georgia, twenty miles south of Atlanta. It is a quad-oval track with a seating capacity of over 125,000. It opened in 1960 as a standard oval. In 1994, 46 condominiums were built over the northeastern side of the track...
. He finished 29th in the race at AMS. With a one-race sponsorship deal with Northern Tool and Equipment, Kvapil finished in the sixth position at the Aaron’s 499 at Talladega Superspeedway
Talladega Superspeedway
Talladega Superspeedway is a motorsports complex located north of Talladega, Alabama, United States. It is located on the former Anniston Air Force Base just outside the small city of Lincoln. It was constructed by International Speedway Corporation, a business controlled by the France Family, in...
. The finish gave him his career-best finish in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Kvapil picked up another top-10 finish at Darlington Raceway
Darlington Raceway
Darlington Raceway is a race track built for NASCAR racing located near Darlington, South Carolina. It is nicknamed the "Lady in Black" and "The Track Too Tough to Tame" by many NASCAR fans and drivers and advertised as "A NASCAR Tradition"...
at the Dodge Challenger 500. Despite the lack of sponsorship for the year, Kvapil collected four top-10 finishes, one pole and finished 23rd in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series points standings.
In 2009, Kvapil returned to the No. 28, but the team was forced to close after six races due to lack of funding. Kvapil qualified in place of Bob Jenkins and part-time off-road-racer Robby Gordon.
Kvapil returned to the seat of a full-time Sprint Cup ride, driving the No. 34, 37, 38 Long John Silver's
Long John Silver's
Long John Silver's, Inc. is a United States-based fast-food restaurant that specializes in seafood. The name and concept were inspired by Robert Louis Stevenson's book Treasure Island. Formerly a division of Yum! Brands, Inc., the company was divested to a group of franchisees in 2011.-History:The...
Ford for Front Row Motorsports
Front Row Motorsports
Front Row Motorsports is a team that competes in the NASCAR Sprint Cup. The team began running part-time in 2004 as Means-Jenkins Motorsports under a partnership with Jimmy Means and restaurant entrepreneur Bob Jenkins, with Jenkins becoming the full team owner in 2005...
. Kvapil returned to FRM, but signed up to compete for the Camping World Truck Series championship with Randy Moss Motorsports in their #5 Toyota. However, after 10 races Kvapil was released in favor of defending Truck champion Todd Bodine
Todd Bodine
Todd Bodine is a NASCAR driver. Todd is the younger brother of former racers Geoff Bodine and Brett Bodine. Bodine is known for his bald head, which has given him the nickname The Onion...
, whose Germain Racing
Germain Racing
Germain Racing is an American NASCAR team. It is owned by the Germain brothers, Bob, Stephen, and Richard. The Germain family owns many car dealerships across the United States...
team partnered with RMM to continue running Bodine for 2011. Kvapil stuck with FRM in the Cup Series, driving their #38 for most races until J.J. Yeley swapped rides with Kvapil, with the latter driving FRM's start and park #55.
Personal life
Travis Kvapil is currently married to his wife Jennifer, and has three children: Kelsey, Carson and Caden. The Kvapils reside in MooresvilleMooresville, North Carolina
Mooresville is a large suburban town in southern Iredell County, North Carolina, USA. It is in the Metrolina metro area. The population was 32,133 at the 2010 United States Census...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
.
Kvapil competed against fellow Wisconsin native Matt Kenseth
Matt Kenseth
Matthew Roy "Matt" Kenseth is an American stock car driver. Kenseth currently drives the No. 17 Crown Royal Ford Fusion in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series for Roush Fenway Racing...
at Madison International Speedway
Madison International Speedway
The Madison International Speedway is a stock car racing oval in the town of Rutland in rural Oregon, Wisconsin a short distance off of Wisconsin Highway 138. The track is billed as "The Track of Champions" and "Wisconsin's Fastest Half Mile." The weekly program at the track runs on Friday...
. Kvapil, like Kenseth, is an avid Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
fan. During the 2006 NASCAR Sprint Cup Season, Kvapil and his No. 32 Tide from PPI Motorsports appeared on an episode of Guiding Light
Guiding Light
Guiding Light is an American daytime television drama that is credited by the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest running drama in television and radio history, running from 1937 until 2009...
.