Carson Kvapil Making Xfinity Debut At Martinsville

Carson Kvapil will make his NASCAR Xfinity Series debut with JR Motorsports in April at Martinsville Speedway. (JRM photo)

MOORESVILLE, N.C. – JR Motorsports’ esteemed late model pipeline will produce its latest graduate to the NASCAR Xfinity Series, in the form of two-time and defending zMAX CARS Late Model Stock Tour champion Carson Kvapil.

Kvapil, the 20-year-old son of 2003 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion Travis Kvapil, will make his Xfinity Series debut for JR Motorsports at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway on April 6 in the team’s No. 88 Chevrolet Camaro.

He’ll become the fifth driver in JRM’s history to make their Xfinity Series debut for the team after also driving for its late model program, joining Richard Boswell, now-Stewart Haas Racing Cup Series driver Josh Berry, recent Daytona 500 winner William Byron, and current Xfinity Series full-timer Sam Mayer.

“Our Late Model program at JR Motorsports has been a huge part of the success we’ve had as a company,” said team co-owner Dale 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 debuted at the NASCAR national series level last year, making his first Craftsman Truck Series appearance for Spire Motorsports at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway in September and charging from the 27th starting spot to a 12th-place finish.

He also earned a runner-up finish in the ARCA Menards Series at Kansas Speedway the week before his Truck Series debut, driving for Pinnacle Racing Group in partnership with Chevrolet’s Drivers Edge Development initiative.

Kvapil’s late model success needs little description. He earned the 2021 CARS Super Late Model Tour championship driving for his family-owned team and followed that with back-to-back titles in CARS Late Model Stock Tour action for JRM, tallying nine wins, seven poles, and 26 top-five finishes since 2022.

Now, the second-generation driver looks to make his Xfinity Series debut at the same track where his father Travis made his first Cup Series start two decades ago.

“I’m really looking forward to making my NASCAR Xfinity Series debut at Martinsville,” said Carson 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 Kvapil hasn’t won at Martinsville in late model competition, he has finishes of second and third, respectively, in the last two ValleyStar Credit Union 300s at the half-mile paper clip with JRM.

Sponsorship for Kvapil’s Xfinity Series debut will be revealed leading up to the Martinsville race.

Coverage of the Call811.com 250 at Martinsville Speedway is slated for 7:30 p.m. ET on April 6, live on FS1, the Motor Racing Network, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, channel 90.