Travis Kvapil preview

Texas

Kvapil Takes More Horses to Texas
Expects Big Impact from Newer, Stronger Engines

Travis Kvapil, Front Row Motorsports Ford

Photo by: Eric Gilbert

Statesville, N.C. (April 5, 2011) - Texas Motor Speedway stirs up fond memories for Travis Kvapil - it's where he won his first race in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series in 2001. As he fast-forwards to 2011, he expects to go forward fast in his No. 38 Long John Silver's Ford in Saturday night's Samsung Mobile 500. The team's FR9 motors from Roush-Yates Racing Engines will provide more horsepower than the team has had on previous visits to the fast track.

Kvapil has nine Sprint Cup career starts at Texas. His best finish is 18th. On Saturday, he'll look for his first top-15 finish in the Long John Silver's car, which will also carry associate sponsorship from TMone.

Comments from Long John Silver's driver Travis Kvapil on Texas:

"I think our newer cars and stronger engines are going to have a big impact. More than anything, our engines are going to have a lot more horsepower then we did last year. When you go to a place like Texas and other big tracks, the horsepower really shows up in the straight-aways when you're on the throttle for such a long time.

It's been a rough start for us, for sure, this year.

Travis Kvapil

"Texas is a place I really enjoy going to. It's a fast, high-banked, mile-and-a-half track, and it's got a lot of grip. It's going to be a night race on Saturday, which is kind of cool. Saturday night races are always fun, plus you get to be home with your family on Sunday. And night racing is a little more comfortable for the drivers because it's not so hot inside in the car, so that's a little more pleasant. It's probably more comfortable for the fans, too.

"Texas is kind of a special place for me. It's where I won my first truck race back in 2001. It's always nice to go to a place where you've had success in the past. Even though it was in the Truck Series and we're going there in a Cup car, it's still a place I have a lot of fond memories of.

"It's been a rough start for us, for sure, this year. We made some crew chief changes and all that already, and I'm excited to go to Texas with Jay (Guy). I've just been working with him for a few weeks now, but hopefully we can kind of settle in and hit our stride."