Homestead Race Report

Travis Kvapil, No. 38 Long John Silver's Ford

Starting Position: 40

Finishing Position: 22

Travis Kvapil ended the No. 38 team's season on a strong note, earning a top-25 finish in the Sprint Cup Series finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway.  The team started in 40th, knowing they had their work cut out for them.  But the 1.5-mile oval offers multiple grooves and lots of room for passing, so Kvapil knew he could cover plenty of ground over the course of the 400-mile event.

The race had barely gotten started when it had an early interruption.  Rains brought out an early yellow flag on Lap 12, allowing Kvapil to lead a lap and collect a bonus point under caution.  He told his crew chief he needed "drive," so the team went to work on subsequent pit stops to help give him that push off the corners.  With some positive adjustments, and some smart calls by Jay Guy atop the pit box, Kvapil was in 22nd by a Lap-87 restart.

The team was still running in the top 25 after the mid-race red flag, but slipped back several positions as the No. 38 Ford Fusion tightened up under the changing conditions.  Guy continued to call for changes to keep Kvapil competitive and on the lead lap for almost the entire race.

By the final restart of the race on Lap 230, Kvapil was in 26th.  Thanks to some fuel-saving efforts under caution, he had plenty in the tank to finish the race while others had to peel off for a splash of gas in the final laps. Kvapil gained four more positions in the final stretch of the race to finish 22nd.  The result cemented the No. 38 car's position in the top 35 in ownership points, guaranteeing the entry a starting spot in the first five races of 2012.
 

Comments from Long John Silver's Ford team driver Travis Kvapil after the Homestead race:

 

"Our Long John Silver's Ford wasn't bad today.  Our biggest issue was grip.  We were just sliding around a lot.  But I have to give my guys credit for sticking with it and getting us a decent finish to cap off the season.  It was a long, hard year for this team, being out of the top 35 early and having to qualify on speed for so many races.  I'm proud of everybody for fighting to get back into the top 35 and ending the season really strong."