Profile On: Travis Rilat!
Monday, August 24, 2009
Another feature from Joanne Cram done during the 360 Nationals...
Travis Rilat, #29
By Joanne Cram
Travis Rilat returns to Knoxville’s 360 Nationals on a winning streak. He recently came off the National ASCS Northwest Speedweek with a Fred Brownfield Memorial Race win at Gray’s Harbor Raceway win July 18th, and a second in the preliminary race the previous night. He has been finishing the Northwest ASCS swing before heading east to hit the Knoxville Raceway with hopes of a win at the 360 Nationals.
Forney, Texas’ Rilat is no stranger to the half mile. He has raced at Knoxville in both a 360 and a 410, and even filled in for a few drivers over the years for the weekly shows. Rilat races as much as he can, between 50 and 60 races a season, but also owns his own business- All Star Auto Interiors. Juggling both a race career, owning a business, as well as his personal life can get hectic! Add to all that, Travis and his wife Mary Anna are expecting their first child the end of January.
Travis’ dad, Greg Rilat is responsible for Travis’ racing addictions. Travis’ grandfather took Greg and his brother to the races at Meyer’s Speedway in Houston when they were little boys. Greg was a huge race fan while Travis was growing up and took Travis to watch too. After Greg realized that racing for himself wasn’t so far out of reach, he bought a dwarf car to race. When Travis was 15, Greg stepped aside and put Travis in the car. They raced all over, including Houston, Phoenix, Kansas and Florida. When their local tracks started running IMCA sprints on a weekly basis, the Rilat’s bought one and began sprint car racing. Travis had just graduated high school and was ready to race. They also bought an ASCS motor so they could race at Devil’s Bowl, where he even won a few races.
Then in 1996, Bill White put a car together for Travis to go racing. Ronald Laney’s dad sponsored the car and Travis and Ronald traveled all over racing some ASCS races as well as Devil’s Bowl every Friday and Saturday nights.
In 1997, Travis went racing with the National ASCS Tour, where he received Rookie of the Year honors. He won his first ASCS race that year.
The next few years of 1998 through 2000, Rilat drove the 53 car as well as the Chris Archer 1A in a 410 with the NCRA, where he received Rookie of the Year, and finished 3rd in points. He ran as many ASCS races, both regional and national, as well as any World of Outlaws races that were within reach to get to.
In 2001, Rilat went All Star racing in the U2 for Archer, where he again received the Rookie of the Year title. He won a race that season with the All Stars and won two ASCS races at East Bay and Little Rock.
2002 found Travis back with the National ASCS Tour again with the 1A, as well as racing a few NCRA shows in the 410. When Travis was out for the Nationals that year, he decided to run the first ever non wing show over at Oskaloosa, and won it!
The season of 2003 would prove to be a lasting change for Rilat. He had moved to Forney, Texas, just down the road from Fred and Jo Threatt and their #29 car. They ended up partnering up for the season and dominated the National ASCS with 5 wins and the points championship. The team continued racing together throughout 2004 as well.
In 2005, Rilat ran with the ASCS, but also began driving the 35 World of Outlaws car of Rick Wright in May, June and July, finishing the season back in the 29 car. He ran the Knoxville Nationals in the 29 car, finishing just one spot shy of making the A Main.
2006 Rilat had another year behind the 29 car, racing as many races as the team could. The team ran the National ASCS races as well as about 50% of the National Sprint Tour, finishing out their season after Knoxville.
The past two seasons of racing have been with the ASCS mainly for Rilat, with a few 410 races mixed in. He has won a few of the regional ASCS races over the past two years.
This season seems to be going a lot smoother for Rilat, however. He already has four wins on the year and numerous top five finishes. The team is ready to get the XXX-Shark Racing Engines #29 car to the front at both the 360 and the 410 Knoxville Nationals. Rilat has realistic goals for the 2009 season: win as many races as possible, and be in the top 5 every night. He wants his team to have a good showing at both Nationals races and to make the A main at the 410 Nationals. Rilat also has his own #1 non wing car that he will be making an appearance with in Oskaloosa, and hopes to run some other Sprint Bandits races with as well.
Crew include Dennis and Chris Brown, also of Forney, Texas; and Tyson Perez of Australia, a veteran of 5 years with Rilat. Car owners of the #29 are Fred and Jo Threatt of Forney, Texas. Sponsors include F & J, Ten Hagen Excavating, Murray and Son Enterprises, Shark Racing Engines, XXX Chassis, and Smiley’s.
When Travis is on the road, many times you will find his Golden Retriever, Rosco accompanying him. When Travis’ wife Mary Anna is able to join him on the road, the rest of the “family” comes with her: Daisy, Duke, and Emmie, the Yorkie Terriers. Travis thanks his parents of Texas City, Texas for all their support-Greg (Grumpy) and Dorothy Rilat, as well as his sister, Ashley and her family- husband Truman, their daughter Analisa, and baby Graham on the way!
(Daniel Beard Photo)
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