Travis Kittleson was still in the running when Roush Racing narrowed the field to the final 25 candidates who will compete for a chance at NASCAR stardom.
Twenty-Five racers are one step closer to possibly realizing their dream of becoming a NASCAR star as Roush Racing has narrowed the field of over 1,600 applicants to just 25 lucky racers. Those chosen by Jack Roush, his crew chiefs and drivers will go on to compete for a fully sponsored ride in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series with legendary racer and team owner Jack Roush.
In early August the 25 finalists are expected to begin competing at Concord, North Wilkesboro and Hickory Motor Speedway.
Kittleson, well known to Florida Late Model fans, got national attention with the ASA during 2003 and 2004. In early 2005 Travis celebrated with a win on opening night at the FASCAR World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing at New Smyrna Speedway. Earlier in February he had the field covered in the Pete Orr Memorial, a race with deep meeting for the Merritt Island resident, until mechanical problems and a hard charging Jeff Choquette conspired to slip his special number 30 race car to third with four laps remaining.
Possibly Kittleson's biggest race of his young career was the NASCAR Busch race at Memphis Motorsports Park in late 2004, finishing in 25th position.
A Roush Racing press release states that the Roush Racing is teaming up with Discovery Channel "to capture all of the excitement and drama of the competition on film, with unprecedented access to the gong show. Candidates will compete on and off the track, testing their skills behind the wheel as well as their marketability and fan appeal. This high-energy 13-part series will debut on the Discovery Channel this fall."
“The turnout has been unprecedented,” said Jack Roush. “There is a tremendous amount of talent out there and now it is our job to select the best 25 drivers to audition. I believe through this process we will find a driver who will complement the Roush organization. And by granting Discovery Channel unprecedented access, from strategy sessions to driving competitions, viewers around the world will experience, for the first time, the selection process that could bring us our next top driver.”
Other racers chosen in select 25 are the CASCAR 2004 Super Series Rookie of the Year Pete Shepherd, and PASS champion Johnny Clark of Farmingdale, ME.
Roush has received applications from drivers participating in nearly every major racing series, including ARCA, USAC, USAR Hooters Pro Cup, NASCAR’s Busch North, Whelan Modified, Dodge Weekly Racing Series and Autozone Elite divisions.
Roush Racing is a subsidiary of Livonia, Mich.-based Roush Industries that operates 10 motorsports teams: five in NASCAR Nextel Cup with drivers Mark Martin, Matt Kenseth, Kurt Busch, Greg Biffle and Carl Edwards; three in the Busch Series with Martin, Kenseth and Edwards; two in the Craftsman Truck Series with drivers Ricky Craven and Todd Kluever.
Hopefully Travis Kittleson's Florida fans will get a chance to see him in July 23rd Florida State Championships at USA International Speedway in Lakeland.
Travis Kittleson was still in the running when Roush Racing narrowed the field to the final 25 candidates who will compete for a chance at NASCAR stardom.
