NASCAR’s Travis Kvapil set to race Saturday after arrest

Travis Kvapil plans to drive in Saturday night’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway despite his arrest on suspicion of assault in an alleged domestic dispute with his wife.

Kvapil practiced in his No. 93 Toyota as scheduled Thursday at Charlotte after his team, BK Racing, said it would not stop Kvapil from competing.

“BK Racing understands the severity of the situation and we don’t condone the actions that Travis has been accused of,” Ron Devine, co-owner of BK Racing, said in a statement.

“We feel it’s important to let the system take its course,” he said. “For that reason, we have elected to support Travis and his family and keep Travis in the car for this weekend’s race.”

Kvapil, 37, was arrested Tuesday night at his Mooresville, N.C., home on suspicion of assault on a female and false imprisonment, Mooresville police said.

He was released on $2,000 bond and has a Nov. 19 court date on the misdemeanor charges, according to media reports.

“There was a domestic situation with my wife and I,” the Sporting News quoted Kvapil as saying after practice Thursday. “I deeply regret what happened. However this is a personal, family matter and we would ask for privacy and respect as we work through this together as a family.

“I’m embarrassed,” Kvapil said, according to the Sporting News report. “I’m ashamed of the situation and what happened. I certainly understand the negativity that has been brought on and because of that, I apologize to NASCAR, my team, the supporters of BK Racing, my fans and anyone else who was impacted by the events of Tuesday night.”

NASCAR said the sanctioning body “does not condone the actions with which Travis Kvapil has been charged and we are disappointed to learn of this incident.”

“We have been in close communication with the race team and are in the process of gathering as much information as possible,” NASCAR said. “NASCAR takes this matter very seriously and will continue to monitor the situation as it moves forward.”

Kvapil, a former champion in NASCAR’s truck series, has never won in 240 career starts in the Sprint Cup Series and is 31st in this year’s point standings.

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