NASCAR Cup

Darlington: Travis Kvapil preview

No Backing Down at Darlington Kvapil to 'Get after It' in A&W All American Food Ford Statesville, N.C. (May 4, 2010) - There's no taking it easy at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway, and Travis Kvapil wouldn't have it any other way. The driver of the No.

Published: May 6, 2010, 4:37 AM

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No Backing Down at Darlington
Kvapil to 'Get after It' in A&W All American Food Ford

Statesville, N.C. (May 4, 2010) - There's no taking it easy at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway, and Travis Kvapil wouldn't have it any other way. The driver of the No. 34 Ford looks forward to the unique, challenging nature of the 1.366-mile, egg-shaped oval for Saturday night's Showtime Southern 500. And he's ready to attack it in the A&W All American Food Ford, the second time this season the colors of the iconic restaurant will adorn the No. 34 Fusion for Front Row Motorsports.

Saturday's race will be Kvapil's fourth Sprint Cup series start at Darlington. His best finish at the track known as "The Lady in Black" is eighth.

Comments from Long John Silver's Racing team driver Travis Kvapil on Darlington Raceway:

"Darlington is one my favorite racetracks we go to. It's a different racetrack from any of the other ones we race on. It's very unique and very narrow. It's really cool. They repaved it a few years ago so the track's got a lot of grip. In the past, Darlington would really wear out tires, and you'd really have a lot of different tire strategies going on throughout the race. But now it's a little bit different. It's a little bit normal where you come in and get your four tires and tire wear is not such a big deal as it used to be.

"It's a really cool racetrack. You've really got to be up on the wheel every lap there. You still run inches away from the wall. You go into Turn 1, and you actually kind of drive uphill towards the wall, and ride the wall, and then point it down and get a big run down the backstretch. Then Turn 3 is kind of a normal, long, sweeping corner, but you run right up by the wall through 3 and 4 as well.

"It's really narrow, really hard to pass, so track position is important. But, it's one of my favorite racetracks. From the very first time I went there and tested, I really liked how the track drove. You've really got to get after it every lap. It's just a neat racetrack.

"This history of the track and this race is really what makes it so special. Sure, it's not the Southern 500 on Labor Day, but it's still a grueling 500 miles at Darlington. And, to win at Darlington is still a big deal for anyone. You win and you are up there with the greatest of greats of this sport. David Pearson was always so great here. You just want to win here and prove that you can conquer this track. It's just a different feeling if you win at Darlington.

"We've got the A&W All American Food paint scheme back for Darlington, which is really cool. We ran it at Martinsville and got a lot of great comments, so we're happy to have it back. Hopefully we can run up front and give it a good showing."

-source: frm

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