One-on-one interview: 2003 Trucks champion Travis Kvapil looks to raise his game

There is a lot of uncertainty in the NASCAR garage right now. David Reutimann recently lost his job at Michael Waltrip Racing and Travis Kvapil, driver of the No. 38 Ford for Front Row Motorsports, is another driver whose ride is in limbo.

I had the opportunity to interview Kvapil at Martinsville on October 29. Kvapil hasn't had a Top 10 finish since 2008 while driving for Yates Racing, but the No. 38 team achieved a major goal two races ago with a 21st-place finish at Talladega, moving into the Top 35 in owners' points and guaranteeing the team a starting spot in future races.

The main goal for the team over the remainder of the season is to stay in the Top 35 in owners' points, guaranteeing them a Daytona 500 starting position. Kvapil gave the team a boost by finishing an impressive 16th and on the lead lap at Martinsville.

Of course, Kvapil isn't certain he'll even be with the team in 2012. He certainly hopes to be and he's giving the team his best effort in the meantime.

"Looking forward, I'm not sure how it's going to work out. I hope I’ll be with the team, but we don’t have plans worked out past this year," Kvapil said. "I think leading into 2012 the big priority for the 38 car is keeping it in the Top 35 in points...Obviously, to start the year off guaranteed a spot in the Daytona 500 and the first five races is a huge asset for this team, so that’s goal number one."

Kvapil discussed the challenges his underfunded team has faced throughout the season.

"We’ve had a lot of bad luck and misfortune and just odd things happen to us through the season to hold us back, but hopefully we got that all behind us and we’ve turned the page. The last month or so has gone really well, we’ve had some really good races, and so because of all that we got ourselves back in the Top 35 and we’re just maintaining through the rest of the year."

Kvapil has driven several seasons in NASCAR's Truck series, with nine wins and the 2003 championship to his credit. I asked him whether he'd consider moving back to the trucks if there was a good ride available.

"If there’s an opportunity, you’ve always gotta look at it," Kvapil said. "My goal personally is to be in the Sprint Cup series. I feel like I’ve proven myself at this level, and my biggest career challenge is to ultimately have success and to win races in the Sprint Cup series. I’ve been able to do that—win races, win the championship—in the truck series, so I kind of want to keep moving forward and accomplish the goals that I have."

Kvapil believes that his team is on the cusp of greater things, and hopes to stick around to reap the results of the labors during the past few seasons.

"Front Row Motorsports is a small team, but we’re growing. This is only its fifth or sixth year, and it’s made huge strides in all aspects from being a car that’s just there to a car that is competitive at times," said the 35-year-old driver. "We’re looking to make it a Top-20 car week-in and week-out, and I feel like our team, personnel-wise, is in place. Ford sounds like they’re possibly willing to help us out some more technically, and a few of those things fall into place, and this team can be pretty competitive. I’ve been here for two years now, and I’d like to stay with them and keep growing with them."

I asked Kvapil about the success of Regan Smith and the one-car Furniture Row Racing operation. Smith achieved his first career Cup series win at Darlington earlier this season. "That was really big for Regan. They have a great affiliation with Childress and engineering support, but still, they’re a single car team based out of Denver and doing their own thing. You look at Trevor Bayne, driving part-time in the Wood Brothers car, who was able to go out and win the Daytona 500.

"The way that NASCAR has the rules structured, everybody has a pretty small box to work in, and all the cars are as equal as they’ve ever been," explained the Wisconsin native. "Getting the right equipment, the right people around you, and maybe some sort of technical alliance with a bigger team, are the keys to the smaller teams finding success and having a chance to win races."

Kvapil isn't sure where whether he'll be returning to the No. 38 team in 2012, but with the success he has achieved in his NASCAR career, he should be able to find owners willing to offer him a ride at some level.

Jimmie Johnson's Title Streak Officially Over

The No. 48 waits to do battle at Martinsville on October 30.

Before Jimmie Johnson came along, no one had ever won five consecutive NASCAR championships.

 

Nor had anyone won four in a row.

 

In fact, only one other driver had ever won as many as three straight Cup titles—Cale Yarborough, back in 1976-78.

 

It's all over now. 68 points behind leader Carl Edwards and with only the finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway remaining on the Sprint Cup schedule, Johnson is mathematically eliminated from the possibility of winning a sixth consecutive title.

 

There will be time for Johnson digest his unprecedented title run's place in history during the offseason. But first, Johnson must deal with the reality that it has come to an end.

 

"There's definitely disappointment," Johnson said on pit road after Sunday's race at Phoenix. "I think that will be the emotion I deal with first. And then over the offseason, I'm sure it will kick in some and reflect. I'll reflect then, but in order for us to be where we want to be next year, we've got to work very, very hard during this offseason to understand what's up, and that's not going to make it all that relaxed. So, I'm up for the challenge. This team is. My guys work so hard, and we'll learn and grow from this."

 

2011 hasn't provided the results Johnson was hoping for. He was solidly in title contention after winning the Chase race at Kansas, but things have gone downhill since that race in early October. Johnson has only two wins this season, which would be his lowest total ever since becoming a full-time Cup driver in 2002.

 

Johnson finished fourth in the final standings in his rookie season of 2002, and has never finished worse than fifth since. The No. 48 is currently fifth in the points—just two points ahead of sixth-place Matt Kenseth. He'll need a strong run on Sunday to keep that streak of top-five points finishes intact.

 

Johnson is undoubtedly one of the greatest drivers in the history of NASCAR. Now that it is at an end, his incredible title run will begin to be put into perspective.

But one thing is sure. Whether or not Johnson wins another title—or another race, for that matter—his place in NASCAR history is secure.

Damage to Kevin Harvick's No. 29 after contact with Greg Biffle at Martinsville

At the end of Happy Hour at Martinsville Speedway on Saturday, October 29 (the only Sprint Cup practice all weekend due to rain), Greg Biffle and Kevin Harvick had an on-track altercation.

Biffle wasn't happy, and after the conclusion of practice he made it known as the cars moved through the pits area to their garage stalls. He nudged the No. 29 with his No. 16, causing the slight damage seen in the photo.

Gotta love the drama and tempers of NASCAR.

Provided, that is, you're not Ron Hornaday at the receiving end of Kyle Busch's ire at Texas.