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,…
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JR Motorsports revealed another piece of their 2026 puzzle Wednesday, however, their lineup for the 2026 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts is still incomplete, so, what are their options for the coming season?
On Wednesday afternoon, JR Motorsports announced that Carson Kvapil will not drive the No. 1 full-time next season, and will instead share that ride with 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Rookie of the Year candidate Connor Zilisch.
This was far and away one of the biggest questions of the 2026 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts (currently known as Xfinity) Series Silly Season. While Kvapil has had an impressive rookie campaign, he, unlike Zilisch, is not officially affiliated with a major organization, and has not blown the competition away on track this season.
This also means that JRM has filled three of its usual four full-time rides for 2026, as veteran Justin Allgaier and Sammy Smith will return to their rides for their 11th and third seasons with JRM. The only question remaining is what will happen with the No. 9 and No. 88.
What’s Happening? Xfinity Series Rookie of the Year Candidate Carson Kvapil will not return to his full-time ride in 2026; rather,…
While this looks like a major shakeup at JRM, this is the second year in a row the team will see some form of significant change to its roster.
Last off-season, Smith and Allgaier were the only two to maintain their rides. This is because of the departure of full-time drivers Brandon Jones, who departed the No. 9 for Joe Gibbs Racing’s No. 20, and Sam Mayer, who departed the No. 1 for The Haas Factory Team’s No. 41.
While Kvapil would take over the No. 1 for this season, the No. 9 would swap places with the No. 88, becoming JRM’s Part-Time car, mostly driven by Trackhouse Racing’s Cup Drivers, with Zilisch taking the No. 88 full-time.
Now, entering the 2026 season, these two cars are once again the center of attention.
What’s Happening? The Haas Factory Team, the team owned by long-time NASCAR owner Gene Haas, will switch to Chevrolet in both…
While fans have had quite a few theories as to who could, or at least should, drive JRM’s fourth full-time car, the fact remains that JRM has yet to confirm any plans for either number’s future.
Some fans have pitched that Daniel Suarez, whom Zilisch is replacing at Trackhouse in 2026, should take over one of the two cars following his stellar audition at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez this summer. Another name often suggested by fans is Rajah Caruth, a Spire Motorsports driver with Hendrick Motorsports backing in the Craftsman Truck Series.
While JRM could opt to go with three full-time cars, and one part-time entry, this would break a longstanding tradition of a packed house for one of the series’ top teams. Nonetheless, there seems to be a chance neither car has one single full-time driver.
During the fallout of the Kvapil announcement, NASCAR insider Bob Pockrass of FOX Sports claimed that he expects the No. 88 to be full-time once again, but, much like the No. 1, with a rotating door of drivers. Furthermore, the No. 9 would serve the role of odd man out again, depending on Hendrick Motorsports’ Xfinity Series plans.
When it comes to part-time names, Suarez and Caruth are easy options to look at, while names like JRM part-timer and Truck Series driver Connor Mosack, or even Connor Hall, JRM’s current late model driver, who is confirmed to be looking for a Truck Series ride, also come to mind.
Nonetheless, if the team goes this route, it will be the first time since 2016 that JRM will have no more than two full-time drivers, while also continuing the tradition of JRM fielding at least four full-time cars.
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