During the latest episode of the Dale Jr. Download, Dale Earnhardt Jr. discussed why he thinks his rookie driver, Carson Kvapil, needs to find victory lane soon.
Despite leading the NASCAR Xfinity Series Rookie of the Year standings, Carson Kvapil has yet to find Victory Lane in his young career in the Xfinity Series. However, after the most recent episode of the Dale Jr Download, the pressure may be on for the former two-time CARS Tour Late Model Stock champion.
After a trying weekend for JR Motorsports at Texas Motor Speedway this past weekend, Dale Earnhardt Jr., owner of JRM, compared Kvapils’ tough day to that of his teammate, and reigning Xfinity Series champion, Justin Allgaier.
Though Kvapil finished higher than Allgaier, who wrecked out of the race, Earnhardt stressed that the pressure is still on for the young driver rather than the seasoned veteran.
The NASCAR Hall of Famer gave a debatably controversial, yet straightforward take on Kvapil, “I can move past Justin because Justin’s won a championship. He’s going to win races. Justin is fine. He’s established. Carson has to win. Carson’s future is not guaranteed.”
That’s not to say that Jr doesn’t think the 21-year-old has promise. “I think we can all agree that he’s got potential, and there’s something there,” Earnhardt said. And if the right things happen the right way, that he [Kvapil] could have a 20-year career, but it easily could go the opposite way.”
This past Silly Season, Earnhardt notably went out of his way to ensure the former JRM Late Model racer in an Xfinity Series ride after a solid part-time effort for JRM in 2024. However, he feels that winning will lock in the support Kvapil needs to make it in the sport’s highest levels.
This take on Kvapil was even shocking to his co-hosts, who pointed out how well Kvapil has run this season, with Earnhardt assuring them, “That’s not going to secure his future.” This is not Kvapil’s fault, of course; rather, as a driver who has worked his way from grassroots racing, Kvapil has a lot of pressure on him to prove he belongs at this level.
Notably, Kvapil’s performance this season has been better than that of his teammate, Connor Zilisch, who most see as the top prospect in all of NASCAR. Though Zilisch has one win compared to Kvapil, Kvapil has outperformed his fellow rookie and teammate so far this season.
This is a comparison made during the podcast, and one that Earnhardt gives his opinion on. Earnhardt says that Zilisch’s metaphorical leash is longer than Kvapil’s, as the road course racing prodigy has a more structured future as a Trackhouse Racing developmental prospect.
“Connor Zilisch has a runway in front of him. A plan, right? He’s got Trackhouse support. Everybody in this industry thinks that, golly, dude, this guy’s incredible with the road courses, [if] he figures the ovals out. It’ll be wildly popular, what he will be able to do going forward.” — Dale Earnhardt Jr.
In the eyes of veteran racers and team owners, this is a stark comparison to Kvapil, who, despite having a Cup Series name, has had to wait for this chance with JRM. Earnhardt says, “Carson, on the other hand, needs to get the runs and the finishes to be able to get that same excitement and momentum behind him.”
Another comparison often made of Kvapil, and for good reason, is that of Josh Berry.
Berry is currently the driver of the No. 21 for Wood Brothers Racing in the NASCAR Cup Series. Prior to this, Berry spent several years racing late models for JRM and eventually found his way to the Xfinity series, just like Kvapil. However, Berry proved his worth at the Xfinity Series level and found himself at the Cup Series level.
Even after a disappointing rookie season, one in which his team, Stewart-Haas Racing, closed, WBR felt Berry was talented enough for another shot this season. That has worked out so far, as Berry was the first Ford to win a Cup Series points race in 2025.
Earnhardt acknowledges Kvapils’ similarities to Berry, using Berry as an example of someone who had to excel to achieve what he has. Berry’s long-time friend and peer even said there is a world where Berry didn’t make it.
“I see a world where that would have never even been possible. Like, you know, that whole split, the whole SHR thing, and how badly he ran at the end of last year, he could be out of the sport entirely in another universe, right?” — Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Earnhardt’s stern hand in Kvapil’s development is not about having a successful driver, but rather his fear as an owner and mentor that Kvapil may not achieve his full potential, something that could have happened to Berry.
“That’s [Berry] what Carson Kvapil can be. My fear is that we may never get to realize that. And so we got to get these f***ing wins,” Earnhardt said. “We got to go to these races in this Xfinity car and make s*** happen.”
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