By Seth Eggert, Associate Editor
JR Motorsports (JRM) continues their mission to aid up-and-coming drivers up the NASCAR ladder as Carson Kvapil will attempt his NASCAR Xfinity Series debut in the team’s No. 88 Chevrolet Camaro SS at Martinsville Speedway.
The team co-owned by Dale Earnhardt Jr. has aided the rise of Anthony Alfredo, Josh Berry, William Byron, and more recently Sam Mayer. All four drivers competed in the zMAX CARS Tour Late Model Stock Cars with the team. Each has made their way into the top echelons of NASCAR, competing in either the Cup Series or Xfinity Series full-time.
The two-time and defending CARS Late Model Stock Car champion will follow in the footsteps of Berry, Byron, and Mayer, as well as Richard Boswell, making his Xfinity debut with the organization. Mayer still races for JRM while Byron, the 2024 Daytona 500 winner, competes for Hendrick Motorsports, and Berry is in the midst of his Cup Series Rookie of the Year campaign with Stewart-Haas Racing.
In addition to the two CARS Tour championships with Kvapil, JRM also won the 2017 title with Berry as well as the 2019 ValleyStar Credit Union 300 at Martinsville, when he lead all 200 laps after starting from the pole. The pairing of Berry and Earnhardt went on to win the 2020 NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series championship, adding to the lengthy pedigree of the team’s Late Model program.
“Our Late Model program at JR Motorsports has been a huge part of the success we’ve had as a company,” said Earnhardt Jr. “We’re excited to be able to give Carson the opportunity to take the next step in his career. Helping young drivers with opportunities to climb the ladder is part of the foundation of JRM. Carson is part of a long list of drivers who deserve the chance to take that step forward in the sport.”
Kvapil already has one NASCAR start under his belt, finishing 12th at Bristol Motor Speedway in the Craftsman Truck Series for Spire Motorsports. The Mooresville, N.C. native also has a runner-up finish in his only career ARCA Menards Series (National Series) start at Kansas Speedway last year.
In addition to following in the footsteps of his JRM alum, Carson Kvapil is also following in his father, Travis Kvapil’s footsteps. The elder Kvapil won the 2003 Truck Series championship. He also made his Cup Series debut at ‘The Paperclip’ in 2004, finishing 21st while driving for Penske Racing South (now known as Team Penske).
“I’m really looking forward to making my NASCAR Xfinity Series debut at Martinsville,” said Kvapil. “My dad made his NASCAR Cup Series debut there back in 2004, so it’s cool to make my first Xfinity start at the same track. I’ve run there in the Late Models for JR Motorsports and done well, and hopefully I’ll be able to use that experience to hit the ground running again with JRM in April.”
While Carson Kvapil’s Xfinity Series debut is set, he will return to JRM in Late Model competition for the third consecutive season to defend his championship.
With JRM’s No. 88 Chevrolet team not competing full-time, Kvapil will have to qualify on time to make the field. Further details on sponsorship for the team will be announced at a later date. The team has featured a rotation of Miguel Paludo, Earnhardt Jr., and others in recent years.
The Xfinity Series race at Martinsville is currently scheduled for Saturday, April 6 at 7:30 p.m. ET on Fox Sports 1. The race will also be broadcast on the Motor Racing Network as well as SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, channel 90.