Support » SCENE-please remove inappropriate photos of the dead/horrific
Meg, I liked the flowers, too! Especially the gold/yellow one. I would much much rather look at those than the wrecks. I opened one of the wrecks and ignored...
Travis Kvapil having hard time watching NASCAR Sprint Cup races
By Bob Pockrass - Associate Editor
Thursday, April 09, 2009
Yates Racing's Travis Kvapil has made 110 starts in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series during his career.
David Griffin
NASCAR Scene
Travis Kvapil went to Martinsville Speedway a couple of weeks ago and saw some of his friends in the NASCAR Sprint Cup garage, but it’s hard to be in the garage or even watch his fellow Cup drivers on television as his No. 28 cars sit parked at Yates Racing.
“It’s not doing me any good sitting on the couch on Sunday,” Kvapil said in a phone interview Wednesday.
Kvapil finished 23rd in the points last year on a Yates Racing team that had minimal sponsorship. He didn’t have sponsorship this year and has now found himself out of a full-time ride.
Yates Racing pledged to run the team the first five races (although Kvapil would not have any owners points from 2008 because of some internal team moves). Kvapil qualified for four events before Yates Racing suspended the team’s operations after the March event at Bristol.
“It’s just hard to not be a part of it,” Kvapil said. “I definitely want to be out there and my goal is to be to get back out there and hopefully it’s with the 28. … I’ve been spending some time at the shop, spending time with the family and the kids – it was spring break this week and I was just kind of hanging out.”
While his first goal would be to see Yates Racing revive the No. 28 car, Kvapil said he didn’t think the Yates Racing team would keep him from other opportunities.
“Obviously I want to be racing,” Kvapil said. “I don’t like sitting on the couch. I don’t like not being there, not competing. It’s really hard to watch it on Sunday just knowing that I feel like I should be out there. It has just not worked out.
“I want to race, and if there were other opportunities that came up, we’d have to look at them as they come and cross that bridge when it comes. The Yates group told me if something did come up, they wouldn’t necessarily hold me back from competing, we’d just have to work it out.”
Kvapil said he wouldn’t rule anything out, but would like to find something at the Cup level where he feels as if he still has a lot to prove. The 2003 Truck champion, Kvapil has 244 career starts in national NASCAR series, including 110 at the Cup level. He isn’t too concerned about sitting out as far as his abilities deteriorating while he is out of the seat.
“We didn’t do any testing in the offseason and we showed up at [Auto Club Speedway in] California and I felt comfortable with the car and we had good speed,” Kvapil said. “And that was just being out of the seat for a few months. [Missing] a couple of months, it wouldn’t be a real big deal.”
If Yates Racing does find sponsorship, Kvapil said the team wouldn’t need much time to get ready to get to the track.
“In a matter of two or three days we could probably be ready to go to the race track,” Kvapil said. “They took my handful of race cars and pushed them over in the corner and the hauler is all ready to go. They didn’t scavenge any parts or pieces from the 28 bunch to go to any other team. The 28 is ready to go. we’d have to hire a few people back right away, but a number of people we had on the 28 came from within the company already, so they’re there.”
Mentioned Drivers: Travis Kvapil
2009 Sprint Cup Race for the Chase Standings
Driver Standings after the AMP Energy 500
| 1 | Jimmie Johnson | 6248 |
| 2 | Mark Martin | -184 |
| 3 | Jeff Gordon | -192 |
| 4 | Juan Pablo Montoya | -239 |
| 5 | Tony Stewart | -279 |
| 6 | Kurt Busch | -312 |
| 7 | Greg Biffle | -340 |
| 8 | Ryan Newman | -402 |
| 9 | Kasey Kahne | -414 |
| 10 | Carl Edwards | -437 |
| 11 | Denny Hamlin | -448 |
| 12 | Brian Vickers | -556 |
Popular News
-
Hendrick Motorsports' Dale Earnhardt Jr. eager for return to Texas Motor Speedway
Comments (138) -
Richard Petty Motorsports' AJ Allmendinger charged with driving while impaired
Comments (73) -
JR Motorsports continues work on bringing Danica Patrick to NASCAR
Comments (69) -
NASCAR says bump-drafting rules not to blame for single-file Talladega racing
Comments (67) -
Dave Rogers to become Kyle Busch's new Cup crew chief at Joe Gibbs Racing
Comments (64)
Recent Headlines
-
Nationwide penalty likely for opening-day violation by Kyle Busch team
Comments (6) -
Kyle Busch pulls off Texas two-step by winning Nationwide race
Comments (9) -
Oklahoma teacher named Dickies American Worker of the Year
Post Comment -
Roush Fenway Racing's Donnie Wingo set to return to organization for 2010 NASCAR season
Post Comment -
Toyota executive addresses Formula One decision, Earnhardt Ganassi possibility
Comments (5)
Poll PositionView All
Which NASCAR Sprint Cup race winner from the past two seasons is most likely to earn his first victory of 2009 in the next three races?
Promotions
-
Play "WIX Filters' Pick 3" stock car fantasy and win prizes. Season 2 is now in session!
-
Tweet your thoughts about each race and join the conversation with other fans.
-
Drive an authentic NASCAR Sprint Cup car at the NASCAR Racing Experience.
-
Cast your vote for the NASCAR Illustrated 2009 Person of the Year, presented by Old Spice.
-
Make weekly pics for the Chase and be entered to win weekly SPEED Merchandise.
Comments
8 responses to "Travis Kvapil having hard time watching NASCAR Sprint Cup races ". Post a Comment.
David Hillier said:
Apr 9, 2009 at 12:27 PMTravis got hosed. He is sitting on the couch on sundays while other guys with less talented and big funded cars are out at the track wrecking every lap.
Report as AbuseReport Abuse
This feature is intended to allow you to report comments that are abusive in terms of foul/vulgar language, harassment, racial/religious prejudice and any words/phrases of a related nature. This feature should not be used to report users who simply make a comment about your favorite driver, with which you do not agree. Commenting is a forum in which we can all express our opinions. Reporting abuse of others should be done with this in mind.
» Confirm Abuse ReportPat Draper said:
Apr 9, 2009 at 1:05 PMI really feel bad for Travis. He is one of the good guys in nascar and i wish he had a ride this season. I doubt of Yates will find a sponsor for the number 28 car at this late date. I wish Travis all the best and hope to see him in a car or truck in the near future.
Report as AbuseReport Abuse
This feature is intended to allow you to report comments that are abusive in terms of foul/vulgar language, harassment, racial/religious prejudice and any words/phrases of a related nature. This feature should not be used to report users who simply make a comment about your favorite driver, with which you do not agree. Commenting is a forum in which we can all express our opinions. Reporting abuse of others should be done with this in mind.
» Confirm Abuse Reportdavid larison said:
Apr 9, 2009 at 2:55 PMHe doesn't have a rich daddy like Paul Menard.
Report as AbuseReport Abuse
This feature is intended to allow you to report comments that are abusive in terms of foul/vulgar language, harassment, racial/religious prejudice and any words/phrases of a related nature. This feature should not be used to report users who simply make a comment about your favorite driver, with which you do not agree. Commenting is a forum in which we can all express our opinions. Reporting abuse of others should be done with this in mind.
» Confirm Abuse ReportWerner Boehmert said:
Apr 9, 2009 at 4:29 PMremember a time when you didn't need a gizillion dollars to go racing...are these super teams all that good for the sport...just look at how many low buck teams could be running if they didn't have to spend money on wind tunnel time,7 post shakers,hi-buck pit crews, new tires every caution flag,testing, motorhomes and helicopters...ya don't need $25 million a year to go racing...
Report as AbuseReport Abuse
This feature is intended to allow you to report comments that are abusive in terms of foul/vulgar language, harassment, racial/religious prejudice and any words/phrases of a related nature. This feature should not be used to report users who simply make a comment about your favorite driver, with which you do not agree. Commenting is a forum in which we can all express our opinions. Reporting abuse of others should be done with this in mind.
» Confirm Abuse ReportTrisha Robertson said:
Apr 9, 2009 at 5:46 PMSomebody give Travis a ride!!! I walked with him at the NASCAR Foundation Track Walk in Atlanta last October and instantly became a fan. He's one of those nice, humble drivers we like to see. Why don't we throw him in the 20 and let Joey do Nationwide full-time until he's REALLY ready to be in the Cup series (no offense to Joey...I just don't think he's ready). Or replace Scott Riggs...maybe Travis could actually qualify that car for a race.
Report as AbuseReport Abuse
This feature is intended to allow you to report comments that are abusive in terms of foul/vulgar language, harassment, racial/religious prejudice and any words/phrases of a related nature. This feature should not be used to report users who simply make a comment about your favorite driver, with which you do not agree. Commenting is a forum in which we can all express our opinions. Reporting abuse of others should be done with this in mind.
» Confirm Abuse Reportsandra gresham said:
Apr 9, 2009 at 10:22 PMI agree with #4 & #6 I miss seeing Travis I work and don't get to see the truck or nationwide races. I want Travis back in the cup ,[but not in Scott's car].
Report as AbuseReport Abuse
This feature is intended to allow you to report comments that are abusive in terms of foul/vulgar language, harassment, racial/religious prejudice and any words/phrases of a related nature. This feature should not be used to report users who simply make a comment about your favorite driver, with which you do not agree. Commenting is a forum in which we can all express our opinions. Reporting abuse of others should be done with this in mind.
» Confirm Abuse Reportsandra gresham said:
Apr 9, 2009 at 10:23 PMI don't agree with #4. I agree with #2.
Report as AbuseReport Abuse
This feature is intended to allow you to report comments that are abusive in terms of foul/vulgar language, harassment, racial/religious prejudice and any words/phrases of a related nature. This feature should not be used to report users who simply make a comment about your favorite driver, with which you do not agree. Commenting is a forum in which we can all express our opinions. Reporting abuse of others should be done with this in mind.
» Confirm Abuse ReportJim Bayliss said:
Apr 10, 2009 at 12:26 AMI was hoping Roush would find at least a part time sponsor for Travis. Maybe something will come up yet.
Report as AbuseReport Abuse
This feature is intended to allow you to report comments that are abusive in terms of foul/vulgar language, harassment, racial/religious prejudice and any words/phrases of a related nature. This feature should not be used to report users who simply make a comment about your favorite driver, with which you do not agree. Commenting is a forum in which we can all express our opinions. Reporting abuse of others should be done with this in mind.
» Confirm Abuse Report