Carson Kvapil Bio
Carson Wade Kvapil (born May 22, 2003) is an American professional stock car racing driver from Mooresville, North Carolina. He competes full-time in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, driving the No. 1 and TBA Chevrolet Camaro SSs for JR Motorsports. A graduate of the JR Motorsports Drivers Edge Development program, Kvapil has built a résumé that includes three consecutive touring-series championships before reaching NASCAR’s national level.
The son of 2003 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion Travis Kvapil, Carson grew up around race shops and short tracks in the Carolinas. He began racing go-karts and limited late models as a teenager, working his way through regional stock car tours before reaching the NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2024. By his early twenties, Kvapil had already established himself as one of the most decorated young stock car talents in the Southeast.
Early Life and Background
Carson Wade Kvapil was born on May 22, 2003, in Mooresville, North Carolina, a town widely regarded as a hub of American motorsports. Mooresville is home to dozens of race teams and engine shops, and the area’s short-track circuit gave Kvapil an early introduction to stock car racing. His father, Travis Kvapil, won the 2003 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series championship, which meant Carson was surrounded by professional racing from a young age.
Kvapil’s brother, Caden, also competes in stock cars, racing in the CARS Pro Late Model Tour. The Kvapil household was built around competition, and Carson spent his formative years traveling to short tracks across the Southeast. This environment gave him a steady stream of seat time and crew-chief mentorship well before he reached national touring-series competition.
Path to NASCAR
Kvapil’s path to NASCAR followed a classic short-track ladder. In 2017, he began running selected events in the Southeast Limited Late Model Series and the Challenger Division, winning two of three Challenger starts at Dillon Motor Speedway and Florence Motor Speedway. The following year, he entered the ARCA Midwest Tour and won his first career start at Golden Sands Speedway, signaling his potential on bigger stages.
In 2019, Kvapil was named CARS Super Late Model Tour Rookie of the Year after running three tour races, including a runner-up finish at South Boston Speedway. He captured the Carolina Pro Late Model Series championship in 2020, winning six of seven starts. He followed that with the 2021 CARS Super Late Model Tour title, edging Matt Craig by one point with a win in the season finale at South Boston Speedway. By the time he joined JR Motorsports in 2022, Kvapil had proven himself as one of the Southeast’s most promising young stock car drivers.
Carson Kvapil Career
Early Career (2017–2021)
Kvapil’s early career centered on regional Late Model tours in the Carolinas and Midwest. He made his CARS Late Model Stock Tour debut in 2018 at Tri-County Speedway and quickly added Super Late Model Tour starts. His breakthrough came in 2020, when he won six races in seven starts to claim the Carolina Pro Late Model Series championship.
The following year, Kvapil drove the No. 35 Chevrolet fielded by his father Travis on the full CARS Super Late Model Tour schedule. He clinched the 2021 championship by one point over Matt Craig with a victory in the season finale at South Boston Speedway. That title cemented his reputation and opened the door to a national NASCAR development opportunity.
CARS Late Model Stock Tour Breakthrough (2022–2023)
In 2022, Kvapil joined JR Motorsports through its Drivers Edge Development program, replacing Josh Berry in the team’s No. 8 Chevrolet for the full CARS Late Model Stock Tour schedule. He opened the year by winning the Old North State Nationals at Caraway Speedway after leading 59 laps. He added wins at Franklin County Speedway on his nineteenth birthday and at North Wilkesboro Speedway in the inaugural Window World 125, sealing his first Late Model Stock Tour championship.
Kvapil repeated as the CARS Late Model Stock Tour champion in 2023, collecting five victories and finishing in the top ten in all but one race. The 2023 season also marked his debut in the ARCA Menards Series, where he finished second at Kansas Speedway driving for Pinnacle Racing Group. He made his first NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series start that fall at Bristol Motor Speedway, finishing twelfth for Spire Motorsports.
NASCAR Xfinity Series Debut (2024)
On February 22, 2024, JR Motorsports announced that Kvapil would attempt his NASCAR Xfinity Series debut at Martinsville Speedway in the No. 88 Chevrolet. He impressed immediately, finishing fourth in his first start. Three weeks later at Dover Motor Speedway, Kvapil led fourteen laps in the closing stages and finished second behind Ryan Truex, showing race-winning pace in only his second Xfinity Series appearance.
JR Motorsports Full-Time Era (2025–Present)
On October 1, 2024, JR Motorsports announced that Kvapil would move to the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series full-time in 2025, driving the No. 1 Chevrolet and replacing Sam Mayer. The transition positioned him as a leading contender for rookie honors and a spot in the Xfinity playoffs. He has also made selected NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series starts, including a 2025 appearance at Richmond driving the No. 97 truck for CR7 Motorsports.
In September 2025, JR Motorsports initially indicated that Kvapil would share the No. 1 car part-time in 2026 with Connor Zilisch, but the team clarified on October 29, 2025, that he would continue driving the car full-time. As of the 2025 season, Kvapil’s résumé with the team includes 26 top-ten finishes and one pole position in NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series competition.
Driving Style and Strengths
Kvapil has shown particular strength on short tracks and intermediate ovals, the surface types that dominate the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series schedule. His regional résumé highlights consistent qualifying speed and a knack for winning season finales, traits that have translated into top-ten reliability at the national level. Working within the JR Motorsports infrastructure has allowed him to lean on experienced crew chiefs and engineering resources as he refines his race craft.
Notable Races and Milestones
Kvapil’s signature moments include the 2021 CARS Super Late Model Tour title-clinching win at South Boston Speedway, back-to-back CARS Late Model Stock Tour championships in 2022 and 2023, and the 2024 ValleyStar Credit Union 300 victory at Martinsville Speedway. His second-place run at Dover Motor Speedway in only his second Xfinity Series start remains one of his most dramatic performances at the national level.
Carson Kvapil Career Wins
Carson Kvapil has built his win list across regional touring series, with championships on the Carolina Pro Late Model Series, the CARS Super Late Model Tour, and the CARS Late Model Stock Tour. He remains in the early stages of his NASCAR national-touring career, where he has not yet recorded a national-series victory but has been a consistent top-ten performer.
Late Model Stock Tour Highlights
Kvapil captured the 2022 and 2023 CARS Late Model Stock Tour championships while driving for JR Motorsports. Standout wins from that stretch include the Old North State Nationals at Caraway Speedway, a Franklin County Speedway victory on his nineteenth birthday, and the inaugural Window World 125 at North Wilkesboro Speedway. His 2022 title run also included a suspension and $500 fine after a cooldown-lap incident at Tri-County, but he responded by clinching the championship the following race at South Boston Speedway.
Other Wins and Performances
Earlier in his career, Kvapil won six of seven starts to claim the 2020 Carolina Pro Late Model Series championship. He added the 2021 CARS Super Late Model Tour title, the 2019 CARS Super Late Model Tour Rookie of the Year award, the 2024 ValleyStar Credit Union 300 at Martinsville Speedway, and the 2024 Icebreaker 125. His 2022 victories at the Window World 125 and the Old North State Nationals remain marquee short-track wins.
| Series | Wins | Top Tens | Poles |
|---|---|---|---|
| NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series | 0 | 26 | 1 |
| NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| ARCA Menards Series | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| ARCA Menards Series East | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Carson Kvapil Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Kvapil comes from one of stock car racing’s well-known families. His father, Travis Kvapil, won the 2003 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series championship and later fielded cars for his sons through family-owned entries. Carson grew up immersed in the sport, learning the craft directly from a championship-winning driver and team owner.
Personal Life
Kvapil’s brother, Caden, competes in the CARS Pro Late Model Tour, continuing the family’s stock car tradition. Carson also has a sister named Kelsey. He was born and raised in Mooresville, North Carolina, the heart of NASCAR country, and continues to make his home in the region.
2025 Season Performance
Kvapil’s first full NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series season in 2025 has been a strong rookie campaign. Driving the No. 1 Chevrolet for JR Motorsports, he has been a regular presence inside the top ten and finished the year ranked fourth in the final series standings. His consistency has marked him as one of the leading contenders for the series’ Rookie of the Year award.
Outside the Xfinity Series, Kvapil has continued to gain experience in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, including a start at Richmond Raceway driving the No. 97 truck for CR7 Motorsports. The combined schedule has helped him sharpen his craft across different vehicle setups and team environments as he builds toward a long national-touring career.
Heading into the 2026 season, JR Motorsports has confirmed that Kvapil will continue driving the No. 1 Chevrolet full-time. With 26 top-ten finishes, one pole, and a fourth-place points finish already on his résumé, his 2025 campaign has laid a solid foundation for championship contention in the years ahead.
