Dale Earnhardt Jr. isn’t just a supporter of Carson Kvapil; he is determined to give the young driver every opportunity to shine in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts series next season. The North-Carolina native made his Xfinity debut with JR Motorsports last year, finishing fourth at Martinsville in the No. 88 car.

However, as of October 2024, JRM announced that he would drive full-time in 2025 in the No. 1 Chevy. With that, it was immediately marred with reports that he might share the car part-time in 2026 with Connor Zilisch, who will prepare for his full-time Series debut. But now, Dale Jr. has other plans for the 22-year-old.

Dale Jr. reveals the hard work that went into deciding Kvapil’s fate

Dale Earnhardt Jr. cleared up any doubt left about Carson Kvapil’s future. Taking to X, the NASCAR Hall of Famer said, “And we were talking on the podcast earlier today and alluded to the fact that got a little bit of news to share about your experience next year in the, in the Xfinity series, you’ll be running full-time.”

He added, “I know a lot of people were curious when we made the announcement that you and Connor were going to share a car. They were worried. ‘Hey, why is he not running full-time?’ We’ve been working really hard over the last couple of weeks, trying to put together all the pieces of the puzzle to make this announcement that you’re actually going to be full-time.” 

Kvapil, a rookie in the Xfinity Series behind the wheel of the No.1 Chevy, will compete for the championship this weekend at Phoenix Raceway. He will also return full-time with JR Motorsports next year, chasing victories and continuing his development under Junior’s guidance. Both Kvapil and Zilisch are expected to share the car, though Dale Jr. made it clear that Kvapil will remain in top-tier equipment throughout 2026. His advancement into the Championship 4 last weekend only helped solidify the plans that were already in motion.

That was the plan all along, even if the team’s series of announcements caught many by surprise. Back in September, JR Motorsports revealed the hiring of veteran crew chief Rodney Childers, who will oversee the No. 1 team. And Kvapil couldn’t have wished for a better pairing. He said, “Having Rodney and I think there’s gonna be a lot of good things coming next year, and just me having the experience of running this full-time season this year is going to really help us into next year, but winning races is the main goal.” 

Kvapil, the 22-year-old son of 2003 Craftsman Truck Series champion Travis Kvapil, came into the year with sky-high expectations. “The expectations were super high,” Dale Jr. admitted, recalling Carson’s impressive stretch last season, with four top 10s in just nine starts, including a year win at Dover and a strong run at Michigan before getting caught in a late-race crash.

Reflecting on this promotion, Carson said, “Yeah, it’s super exciting. Obviously, going into the final four here, we’re just trying to focus on winning the championship, but at the same time, looking ahead, super excited to go try to race for a championship next year too.” 

This season, however, hasn’t gone entirely to plan. Kvapil and crew chief Andrew Overstreet have struggled to find consistency, remaining winless with an average finish of 13.8. Despite that, Kvapil has defied the odds to reach the Championship 4, making him a dark horse in the 2025 title fight.

NASCAR Hall of Famer and JR Motorsports co-owner may have also hinted at more announcements coming soon. He teased, “Once we get beyond Phoenix, we’ll have more information about what those remaining races look like. So we’ll be sharing all that once we get through Phoenix. Can’t let all the secrets out right away.” 

Even without a win this year, the 22-year-old’s first full-time season has become one to remember. He has notched three runner-up finishes and four additional top fives, proving that his consistency and composure have earned him a rightful place in the championship spotlight. Despite Kvapil being disappointed with his Martinsville race, he remains in the Championship 4 mix, and things at the JR Motorsport camp are bound to heat up.

JR Motorsports’ championship battle heats up  at the Phoenix finale

The powerhouse organization has been the class of the field in the Xfinity Series. For the second time in four years, the camp has managed to claim three of the four Championship 4 spots. Leading the charge is Connor Zilisch, who has turned heads all season with 10 victories and now enters the finale at Phoenix Raceway as the man to beat.

However, the championship showdown features an intriguing mix of rising stars in seasoned veterans. Zilisch will go wheel to wheel with his JR Motorsports teammates, defending champion Justin Allgaier and rookie Carson Kvapil, while his best friend Jesse Love completes the all-Chevrolet lineup in the No. 2 Richard Childress Racing entry.

If either Zilisch or Kvapil manages to capture the title, they will join an elite group as only the fourth rookie champions in Xfinity Series history. Reflecting on that rare moment, Zilisch said, “It’s really cool to be in the Championship 4 with my teammates Justin and Carson. Before the season started, my crew chief, Mardy Lindley, had me fill out a points and win prediction. I had us winning four races, so to sit here today with 10 wins and winning the Regular Season Championship plus locking into the Championship 4 early, this No. 88 team has certainly outdone my expectations.”

But the stakes have never been higher, and while the drivers chase their individual titles, the tension and the competition within the camp have definitely risen as each driver focuses on their penultimate 2025 race.