Catchfence

Lifelong Fan Hopes to Top His Favorite Packer Moment

Statesville, N.C. (February 2, 2011) - Next week, Travis Kvapil will be pulling on his racing helmet at Daytona International Speedway, but this weekend he’s headed to Texas with his cheesehead hat. The driver of the No. 34 Long John Silver’s Ford in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series will attend Sunday’s Super Bowl XLV in Arlington to cheer on his home-state team, the Green Bay Packers.

“I’ve been a Packers fan my whole life,” said the Janesville, Wisc., native. “Growing up in Wisconsin, you’d go to church on Sunday morning, then go home and watch the Packers game. When I was a kid, the Packers weren’t really good, but I still cheered for them every weekend and they were still my favorite team.”

Kvapil’s favorite memory as a Packer fan is going to Lambeau Field, Green Bay’s historic football stadium, for the first time.

“It’s just such a unique place,” described Kvapil. “It’s not like other big-city football stadiums. It’s in almost a residential neighborhood, so it’s not what you might expect. When I walked in, I just felt like I was part of something special.

“I thought back to Vince Lombardi and Bart Starr and guys who won the first championships back in the 60s. To think they were in that same place where I was, it was pretty cool.”

Of course, a win against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, would be pretty cool, too. It would be the fourth NFL championship for Green Bay, but the first Kvapil would witness in person. And it would come with a personal invitation to his favorite Packers – linebacker Clay Matthews, quarterback Aaron Rodgers and nose tackle B.J. Raji.

“I’ve never met any of them. But if they win the Super Bowl, they’re invited to Daytona with me.”

About Front Row Motorsports with Yates Racing:

Front Row Motorsports is a Statesville, N.C.-based race team in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Formed in 2005 by restaurant entrepreneur Bob Jenkins, the team has competed in NASCAR racing in each year since its inception, expanding full-time to the premier Sprint Cup Series in 2009. The team partners with Ford Racing and Roush-Yates Racing Engines to field the No. 34 Long John Silver’s Ford driven by Travis Kvapil and the No. 38 Taco Bell Ford driven by David Gilliland.

- Breaking Limits Marketing for Front Row Motorsports, Press Release