Travis Kvapil's career average finish in the Truck Series is 9.6. Credit: Autostock

Kvapil looking forward to return to Truck Series

2003 champion expects big season in Roush Racing's No. 6 Ford

CONCORD, N.C. -- With a championship, five career wins, 40 top-five and 64 top-10 finishes in the Craftsman Truck Series, Travis Kvapil certainly has something to look forward to in 2007.

Piloting the No. 6 Ford F-150 for Jack Roush in 2007 will be no small task but Kvapil is up for it and knows he can contend for his second championship.

	Travis Kvapil won two Truck Series races in 2004. Credit: Autostock
	RETURN TO TRUCKS Travis Kvapil has accepted Jack Roush's offer to drive the No. 6 Ford in the 2007 Craftsman Truck Series.  •   Complete story, click here

"I definitely think that everyone's goal going into the year is to go for the championship and have a successful season," Kvapil said. "Everything that I'm told so far is that the team is sticking together and the same crew chief is going to be onboard.

"It's basically just plugging in a new driver, and with my experience -- I've raced in the Truck Series for four years -- I feel like I'm a better driver now than I was two years ago. I just feel that I've had to step up as a driver, and I'm looking forward to going back to the Truck Series where I plan to be successful."

In 2001, Kvapil won rookie of the year honors after claiming his first career Truck Series victory at Texas Motor Speedway and racking up 11 top-five and 18 top-10 finishes in just 24 starts. He also finished fourth in the overall point standings.

Kvapil won races in each of his four seasons in the series. In 2003 he had a championship year, winning at Bristol, chalking up 22 top-10 finishes in 25 starts and finishing all but one lap on his way to his first Craftsman Truck Series title.

After competing the past two years in the Nextel Cup Series, Kvapil, a 30-year-old Janesville, Wis. native, was approached by Roush regarding the opening he had in the No. 6 Ford, which was driven by Mark Martin and David Ragan in 2006.

"More than anything, for me, it was an opportunity to get with a good group and a good race team." Kvapil said. "I know given the right opportunity that I can still win races and run up front. We just did it two years ago.

"When Jack came to me and then asked me to drive that truck, I thought it would just open up so many doors. No. 1, it would just get me to running up front and winning races."

One of Kvapil's newest teammates, Carl Edwards, sees the addition of Kvapil to Roush Racing as a strong one.

"Travis is a great driver," Edwards said. "He's proven he can win not only races but championships. He's competitive in both the Truck and Cup series and I think he's going to be hard to beat next year.

	Jack Roush won a Truck Series-high six races in 2006 and finished second in owner points. Credit: Autostock
	Inside the Numbers No. 6 in '06 Starts 25 Wins 6 Top-5s 12 Top-10s 18 Points 3,636 Behind -30

"I think he'll be a great addition to Roush Racing and our truck program. He'll be able to pick right up where Mark Martin left off in the No. 6 Ford."

Roush echoed Edwards' excitement about the addition of Kvapil.

"Travis cut his teeth up in Wisconsin like Mark, and like Matt [Kenseth] did, and like Erik Darnell did," Roush said. "There are a lot of really good racers that have come out of that part of the Midwest. He has won a championship in the Truck Series so he's proved himself as a winner. It's real important to Ford Motor Company and it's important to me.

"The Mike Beam-led team with Hal Ralston as engineer, is a strong team that I think can win a championship. We're real excited to be able to come back and run for a championship with Mike, Travis and the guys."

Kvapil has started in 96 truck races and completed 97 percent (or 16,077 laps) of all the laps run between 2001 and 2004. He's started a truck at 28 raceracks and led laps at all but six of those for a total of 450 laps led in four years.