Travis Kvapil

Kenseth captures third Cup race this season

August 17, 2015 By Bill Scott

Matt Kenseth

Cambridge, Wisconsin native Matt Kenseth led for 146 of 200 laps, winning Nascar’s Pure Michigan 400 on Sunday.

Kenseth started in the lead and stayed there for much of the race, earning his third Sprint Cup victory of the season and 34th of his career. It was also the fifth win in the last six races for Joe Gibbs Racing.

Kenseth led for 73% of the laps on Sunday, the highest percentage by anyone in a Sprint Cup race this year. He remains in 7th positions in the point standings.

Eau Claire’s Paul Menard finished 12th and Janesville’s Travis Kvapil was 40th.

Kvapil facing assault charges

October 10, 2013 By Bill Scott

Janesville, Wisconsin NASCAR driver Travis Kvapil, who captured the 2003 truck series title, was arrested on domestic violence charges on Tuesday.

According to reports, Kvapil was charged with assault on his wife and false imprisonment. He appeared in court on Wednesday and is free on bond.

Kvapil has raced in the NASCAR National series since 2001. He’s been a regular in the Sprint Cup Division almost every year since 2005.

Kenseth wins on 41st birthday

March 11, 2013 By Bill Scott

Matt Kenseth won on his 41st birthday for his new Joe Gibbs Racing team, holding off Kasey Kahne for his third victory at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Sunday.

The Cambridge, Wisconsin native earned his 25th career victory and his first for Joe Gibbs Racing after leaving Roush Fenway Racing in the offseason. It’s also the third win for Kenseth at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, adding to his victories in 2003 and 2004.

Following Kenseth and Kahne were pole sitter Brad Keselowski, Kyle Busch and Carl Edwards to round out the top 5.

Eau Claire’s Paul Menard finished 10th and Janesville’s Travis Kvapil ended 39th.

Crash ends Kenseth’s day

February 25, 2013 By Bill Scott

Matt Kenseth led 86 laps of Sunday’s Daytona 500. That’s more than any other driver in the field. But the defending Daytona 500 Champion saw his day end on lap 149 after transmission issues.

Two laps later, teammate Kyle Busch left after blowing his engine.

Jimmy Johnson returned to the winner’s circle at Daytona for the second time. Johnson took the lead with 6-laps to go and held off Dale Earnhardt jr., Mark Martin and Brad Keselowski for his first win at Daytona since 2006. It’s Johnson’s 61st victory in his 400th start. Danica Patrick started on the pole and finished 8th.

The two other Wisconsin drivers, Travis Kvapil (25th) and Paul Menard (21st) both fell victim to a last lap crash.

Twin Qualifying races on tap at Daytona

February 21, 2013 By Bill Scott

Danica Patrick and Jeff Gordon are already positioned on the front row for this weekend’s Daytona 500. The rest of the field will be completed today with the two Daytona 500 qualifying races.

Wisconsin drivers Matt Kenseth, Paul Menard and Travis Kvapil are all in the field today. Kenseth is the defending Daytona 500 champion.

Kenseth falls out of NASCAR point lead

July 30, 2012 By Bill Scott

A late crash during the Brickyard 400 left Matt Kenseth with a wrecked car, a 35th place finish, and most importantly, it knocked him out of the NASCAR Spring Cup Series points lead.

Kenseth couldn’t avoid a spinning Joey Logano after a restart with 27 laps to go.

Kenseth held the points lead for six weeks. He drops to second, 14 points behind Dale Earnhardt, who finished 4th. Earnhardt sits in the top spot for the first time since September of 2004.

Eau Claire’s Paul Menard finished 14th, while Janesville’s Travis Kvapil crashed early and finished 37th.