Carson Kvapil Loses Full-Time Ride at JR Motorsports

What’s Happening?

Xfinity Series Rookie of the Year Candidate Carson Kvapil will not return to his full-time ride in 2026; rather, the 22-year-old will share the ride with 2026 Cup Series Rookie of the Year candidate Connor Zilisch under new Crew Chief Rodney Childers.

• This shift is a surprise to many, as most expected Kvapil to return to the ride full-time in 2026. While he has yet to win this season, Kvapil has followed the lead of teammate Connor Zilisch throughout the year and made the 2026 Playoffs on points with ease.
• Kvapil, a two-time CARS Tour Late Model Stock Champion with JRM, earned this ride after an impressive part-time schedule in 2024. Though he has impressed as a rookie, on a May episode of The Dale Jr Download, Dale Earnhardt Jr stated the young drivers future is “not guaranteed.”
• While he maintains this ride, he will have to share it throughout the 2026 O’Reilly Auto Parts Series season with Zilisch, who is getting a full-time Cup Series promotion. This decision also marks the return of 2014 Cup Series champion Rodney Childers, who was released from Spire Motorsports earlier this season.
• Though this looks like a tough spot for Kvapil, he might have future in NASCAR, and it may not be with Chevrolet. Several rumors have claimed that Kvapil is under a developmental contract with Team Penske. However, neither the team nor the driver has confirmed such an arrangement.
• This is a developing story, and may be updated when or if new information is available.

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