Travis Kvapil returns to the Truck Series in 2007 after two years in Cup. Credit: Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

Backed by Roush, Kvapil poised for seat up front

Former Truck champ seeks repeat success, ticket back to Cup

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- A quick check of the books may explain why Travis Kvapil decided to sign with Roush Racing for the 2007 season.

It might be because Roush Racing isn't likely to fold anytime soon.

Kvapil has the dubious distinction of driving for five teams in his career, and all five are no longer active: the No. 32 Chevrolet of PPI Motorsports; the No. 77 Dodge of Penske Racing; the No. 24 Toyota of Bang Racing; the No. 16 Chevrolet of Xpress Motorsports; and the No. 60 Chevrolet of Addington Racing.

TRUCK SERIES •   Kvapil posts top-three speeds during first day of testing

PPI still has the faint hope of bringing its Cup car to the track, but team owner Cal Wells had no choice but to let Kvapil sign with Roush to drive the No. 6 Ford in the Craftsman Truck Series in 2007.

"It has been a rough couple of years with me having teams close, sponsors going away, that sort of thing," Kvapil said. "When [Roush] presented this to me, I couldn't turn it down. It is going to be great for my career to get back to contending for wins and championships."

When Roush Racing found out that Mark Martin was defecting to Chevrolet, it immediately called Kvapil. Team president Geoff Smith requested a meeting with Kvapil, and Kvapil couldn't arrive at the team's shop quickly enough.

"I was really surprised," Kvapil said. "It was after Mark Martin announced his plans, [Roush] called me that next week and asked me if I would be interested, and I went and met with them the next day. I talked about it with my wife and decided that was definitely going to be the right thing to do for the long haul."

Kvapil made a lot of money while driving in the Nextel Cup Series in 2005 and 2006, but the results weren't there (just two top-10s). It was a lucrative job, but Kvapil openly wondered to himself how long he would remain employable when his results sagged week after week.

Enter Roush Racing. After Ford failed to win a Truck Series title for the sixth consecutive season, Roush, in particular, had enough. He didn't want a repeat of 2006, as Toyota dominated the series.

	Travis Kvapil drove the No. 16 Chevrolet to the Truck Series title in 2003. Credit: Autostock
	Inside the Numbers Travis Kvapil by series   Trucks Cup Starts 96 70 Wins 5 0 Top-5s 40 0 Top-10s 64 2 Poles 1 0 DNFs 2 0 Laps Led 450 40 Avg. Start 9.4 29.0 Avg. Finish 9.6 27.3 Earnings $2.3M $6.3M

"If anyone knows Jack, he is pretty loyal to the USA," Kvapil said. "He was about getting the Blue Oval and Ford back on top of the Truck Series. He wants to get the championship."

A lot of Kvapil's decision to move to Roush was made easier by Wells, who encouraged him to take the job.

"[Cal] said he would love for me to drive for him, but he didn't have anything for sure," Kvapil said. "After talking with him he told me it was something I needed to do. It was nice to talk to a Nextel Cup owner and he gives you the support to move to a different team. He assured me that I can win races."

Kvapil has won five times in 96 Craftsman Truck Series starts. He won the 2003 championship despite winning just one race; his 13 top-five finishes earned him the series title by a mere nine points.

Roush gave Kvapil the keys to a team that was statistically the best in 2006. Led by veteran crew chief Mike Beam, the team split the season between Martin and David Ragan, with Martin winning six of his 14 starts.

Kvapil got off to a fast start in preseason testing Friday at Daytona, easily posting the top-two times in the morning session. Roush Racing teammates Peter Shepherd and Erik Darnell were third- and fourth-quickest, respectively.

"We sat down [before the season] and [Roush] told me their plan and Ford's goal to win the championship," Kvapil said. "They want it back."

Kvapil openly admits that he expects to be rewarded with a return trip to the Nextel Cup Series if he can bring Ford that championship.

"Hopefully, it will present opportunities for me to move up down the road, to move back up to the Cup Series," Kvapil said. "To do that, you have to prove yourself at this level again."