Kvapil, Bang team up for limited schedule in '05

MOORESVILLE, N.C. -- Bang Racing announced that Travis Kvapil will drive its Dodge in a limited schedule in next year's Busch Series.

Bang Racing owner Alex Meshkin and director of Dodge Motorsports operations John Fernandez made the announcement Friday.

Travis Kvapil

"This has been a year to remember," Meshkin said. "And (Friday) is another milestone as Bang Racing becomes a Dodge team. We are honored to enter the NASCAR Busch Series in 2005 with the intended goal of Nextel Cup racing with Dodge as our partner.

"This relationship will enable us to achieve our goals of entering NASCAR's highest echelon of racing."

"We are really pleased that Alex Meshkin, Travis Kvapil and Bang Racing have chosen to run Dodges for the 2005 season," Fernandez said. "We are looking forward to seeing Travis Kvapil show his talent in a Dodge next year."

Kvapil, a former Truck Series champion, also will drive Penske/Jasper Racing's No. 77 Kodak/Jasper Dodge in the Nextel Cup Series while contending for the Raybestos Rookie of the Year title.

"I am looking forward to the opportunity of running part-time in the NASCAR Busch Series with Bang Racing," Kvapil said. "I know the additional seat time will help me in my chase for the rookie of the year in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series.

"In 2004, my Bang Racing team captured a pole and won two races in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, and I am looking forward to surpassing those milestones during the 2005 NASCAR Busch Series season."

During their 2004 debut, as one of Toyota's inaugural factory backed teams in the Truck Series, Bang Racing and Kvapil became a part of motorsports history and broke numerous Truck Series records from their second-place showing at Daytona to the wave of the checkered flag in Homestead.

Kvapil's eighth-place finish in the standings was Toyota's best and the team scored the Japanese manufacturer's first two Truck Series wins.

"Entering the NASCAR Busch Series this year with Dodge will also enable us to provide a healthy team merchandising program," Meshkin said. "Our goals are to continue delivering excitement and wins while providing quality merchandise and online programs for all NASCAR sponsors and fans."