Carson Kvapil Bio
Carson Wade Kvapil (born May 22, 2003) is an American professional stock car racing driver. He competes full-time in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, driving the No. 1 Chevrolet Camaro SS for JR Motorsports. He is the son of 2003 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion Travis Kvapil and older brother of Super Late Model driver Caden Kvapil.
Early Life and Background
Carson Kvapil was born on May 22, 2003, in Mooresville, North Carolina. He grew up in a racing family as the son of Travis Kvapil, who won the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series championship in 2003. Carson also has a brother named Caden and a sister named Kelsey, with Caden competing in the CARS Pro Late Model Tour.
Path to NASCAR
Kvapil began his racing career in 2017, running select events in the Southeast Limited Late Model Series and the Challenger Division. He won two of three starts in the Challenger Division that year at Dillon Motor Speedway and Florence Motor Speedway. In 2018, he made his debut in the CARS Late Model Stock Tour, driving the No. 35 Chevrolet, and finished 17th at Tri-County Speedway.
Carson Kvapil Career
Early Career (2019-2021)
In 2019, Kvapil ran three races of the CARS Super Late Model Tour, achieving a best finish of second at South Boston Speedway. The following year, he competed in all but one race of the Super Late Model Tour, finishing fifth in the standings with a best finish of fourth at both events at Hickory Motor Speedway. Also in 2020, he won the Carolina Pro Late Model Series championship, winning six races despite running in only seven of the nine scheduled events.
ARCA and CARS Breakthrough (2021-2023)
In 2021, Kvapil won the CARS Super Late Model Tour championship over Matt Craig by one point, securing the title with a win in the season finale at South Boston. He also ran three ARCA Menards Series East races for Cook-Finley Racing in the No. 41 Chevrolet but failed to finish all three events due to mechanical issues.
In 2022, Kvapil joined JR Motorsports in its Drivers Edge Development program and ran the full Late Model Stock Tour in the No. 8 Chevrolet. He won multiple races including the Old North State Nationals at Caraway Speedway, a race on his nineteenth birthday at Franklin County Speedway, and the inaugural Window World 125 at North Wilkesboro Speedway. He secured the championship that year despite a suspension following an incident with Zack Miracle.
In 2023, Kvapil won his second straight Late Model Stock Tour championship with five wins. He returned to ARCA, making his main series debut at Kansas Speedway for Pinnacle Racing Group, finishing second behind Connor Mosack. He also made his NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series debut at Bristol Motor Speedway for Spire Motorsports, finishing 12th after starting 27th.
JR Motorsports Era (2024-Present)
Kvapil made his NASCAR Xfinity Series debut on February 22, 2024, at Martinsville Speedway, driving the No. 88 Chevrolet for JR Motorsports. He impressed with a fourth-place finish. In just his second Xfinity Series start at Dover Motor Speedway, he led 14 laps in the closing stages but finished second behind Ryan Truex.
On October 1, 2024, it was announced that Kvapil would run full-time for JR Motorsports in the Xfinity Series in 2025, driving the No. 1 Chevrolet and replacing Sam Mayer. In 2025, he also competed for CR7 Motorsports in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, driving the No. 97 truck at Richmond.
Driving Style and Strengths
Kvapil has demonstrated consistent performance in late model competition, winning championships in multiple CARS series. His ability to adapt quickly to higher levels of competition was evident in his strong Xfinity Series debut. He shows strong race craft and ability to compete for wins on short tracks and intermediate tracks.
Notable Races and Milestones
Kvapil won the inaugural Window World 125 at North Wilkesboro Speedway in 2022, securing a victory on the newly repaved track. His Xfinity Series debut at Martinsville in 2024 resulted in a fourth-place finish. He nearly won his second Xfinity start at Dover, leading late laps before finishing second.
Carson Kvapil Career Wins
Carson Kvapil has achieved success across multiple racing series, with notable wins in CARS touring competition and milestone victories at historic tracks.
CARS Tour Highlights
Kvapil won the CARS Super Late Model Tour championship in 2021 and secured back-to-back CARS Late Model Stock Tour championships in 2022 and 2023. His notable CARS victories include the Window World 125 at North Wilkesboro Speedway in 2022, the Old North State Nationals at Caraway Speedway in 2022, and multiple race wins in the 2023 championship season.
Other Wins and Performances
In 2020, Kvapil won the Carolina Pro Late Model Series championship with six wins in seven events. He also claimed the 2019 CARS Super Late Model Tour Rookie of the Year award.
Carson Kvapil Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Carson Kvapil comes from a racing family as the son of Travis Kvapil, the 2003 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion. His younger brother Caden Kvapil competes in the CARS Pro Late Model Tour, continuing the family’s presence in motorsports.
Personal Life
Kvapil was born and raised in Mooresville, North Carolina, a hub for NASCAR teams and drivers. His family includes his parents Travis and Kvapil’s mother, along with his siblings Caden and Kelsey.
2025 Season Performance
Carson Kvapil entered the 2025 season as a full-time NASCAR Xfinity Series driver for JR Motorsports in the No. 1 Chevrolet. This marked his first full season at the national NASCAR level after successful part-time appearances in 2024. The season represents a significant step in his career as he transitions from late model competition to the Xfinity Series.
Throughout the 2025 season, Kvapil focused on building consistency and adapting to the Xfinity Series competition. His experience with JR Motorsports through the Drivers Edge Development program provided a foundation for his rookie season. The team partnership aimed to develop Kvapil into a competitive force in the series.
