By: Tom Moody

Another week and, unfortunately, another NASCAR scandal. Even with the Chase for the Sprint Cup in full swing, it seems that lately there’s been more action happening off of the track than on it. This time the red-hot and uncomfortable spotlight is on 37-year-old Travis Kvapil, the driver of the No. 93 BK Racing Toyota in the Sprint Cup Series.

Photo by HomeDepotKid via Wikimedia Commons

Possible Domestic Abuse

Kvapil was arrested and charged on October 8, with assault and false imprisonment in what has been characterized as a domestic dispute involving his wife, Jennifer. In an unfortunate and awkward coincidence, Kvapil’s BK Racing team car was already displaying Domestic Violence Awareness Month decals in support of this October cause.

According to Sporting News, court documents show that Kvapil reportedly pulled his wife by her hair and also struck her in the head. There was apparently no alcohol or weapons involved in the incident.

Although Kvapil, who was released on $2,000 bond, was allowed to compete in the October 12 Charlotte Motor Speedway Sprint Cup race, NASCAR did release a statement saying that it did not condone his actions. Kvapil ended up finishing 35th in the race.

A Career-Ender?

With this incident, Kvapil may have placed his driving career in a precarious position. Because this is the time of the year when many drivers and teams are seeking new and better partnerships, there are a number of talented men and women who have been displaced and are actively seeking new rides. Although, Kvapil is a talented driver, who was the Craftsman Truck Series Rookie of the Year in 2001, a conviction on these types of charges will certainly spook many sponsors, who will not want to be associated with this type of behavior.

That “Other” Scandal

Sponsors have been scared off by less this year. In September, NAPA Auto Parts decided to drop its sponsorship of Michael Waltrip Racing after the team was caught manipulating the Richmond race — even though it still had two years left on a $16 million per year, three-year agreement. In a sport where sponsors are pouring tens of thousands of dollars per race into tires alone, negative publicity is not an option.

NASCAR teams have to use specific tires designed to work on particular tracks. According to TireBuyer.com, Continental Tire patented the first car tire with a tread pattern, and engineers have experimented with various tread patterns and compounds for traction and speed. These specific NASCAR tires cost more than $20,000 per car for each Sprint Cup Race, the Times Dispatch reports. Add to that the cost of paying a pit crew, transportation and the driver, and it’s not hard to see why team owners need the support of big-money sponsors.

Photo of Michael Waltrip by Freewheeling Daredevil via Wikimedia Commons

What Could Happen

If Kvapil is convicted or if his image is seriously damaged, he may end up losing his seat to an up-and-coming driver from the Nationwide series that hasn’t already found a seat, such as Blake Koch, who was the runner-up Nationwide Rookie of the Year in 2011. And in turn, talented young drivers such as Ryan Ellis, who has come up through NASCAR’s Continental Grand Am road racing series, could end up getting a full-time Nationwide series seat.

Best Possible Situation for Kvapil

Of course, if Kvapil is found not guilty, he could end up back in the No. 93 car next year. A number of NASCAR drivers who have had problems in the past, such as A. J. Allmendinger, have been successful at finding new rides. Allmendinger, who failed a drug test in July 2012, is already slated to drive the No. 47 JTG/Daugherty Racing car full-time next year.

Photo of A.J. Allmendinger by Royalbroil via Wikimedia Commons

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By:Tom Moody
Tom is a retired auto mechanic who blogs about cars from his California home.

The thoughts and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and not of The Final Lap.