Dale Earnhardt Jr. Confirms Carson Kvapil Full-Time NASCAR Xfinity Series 2026

Dale Earnhardt Jr. announced that Carson Kvapil will race full-time in the 2026 NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series, solidifying his position with JR Motorsports and reversing earlier plans for him to share the No. 1 car with Connor Zilisch. This decision comes after Kvapil's impressive rookie campaign in 2025, where he advanced to the Championship 4 without securing a win but showed consistent top finishes. Kvapil will be paired with veteran crew chief Rodney Childers, with the team aiming for victories and championship contention next season. The move reflects Kvapil's rising status in NASCAR and JR Motorsports' confidence in his potential, especially as Zilisch prepares to move to the NASCAR Cup Series in 2026. Dale Earnhardt Jr. emphasized the hard work behind finalizing this arrangement and teased further announcements about Kvapil's schedule after the 2025 season finale at Phoenix Raceway. Overall, this full-time opportunity marks a major milestone for the 22-year-old driver poised to build on his momentum in the series.