Dale Earnhardt Jr. is roping in another late-model talent. After he discovered Josh Berry from iRacing, the latter excelled under the JR Motorsports Late Model Stock banner before going on to compete in NASCAR’s national series. A similar process is underway for a young prodigy who is growing by leaps and bounds under Dale Jr.’s wings, Carson Kvapil.

The young speedster made some jaws drop this year, his official Xfinity debut season. It took only two to three races for people to realize the immense talent. Now Kvapil is ready to bid goodbye to his Late Model career for a brighter pursuit ahead, although the latter heavily contributed to this result.

Carson Kvapil tips his hat to two

After all, an amalgamation of experiences pushes us to our next destination in life. Similarly, Carson Kvapil acknowledges the invaluable treasure he gathered during his racing stints. After his 2021 CARS Super Late Model Championship, Dale Earnhardt Jr. roped him into his fold.

Next? Kvapil finished 4th in his debut and went on to win the 2022 Late Model title under JR Motorsports. A part-time Xfinity schedule this year saw Kvapil oozing gold—he again finished 4th at Martinsville and runner-up at Dover, the Monster Mile.

Clearly, Carson Kvapil‘s career promotion was well-deserved. Barely four months ahead of his official full-time Xfinity career, the 21-year-old racer hailed both Late Model and Xfinity for escorting him to this successful point. He said, “Honestly, I think it’s a little bit of both. I don’t think it’s one or the other, really.” 

However, as a true grassroots racer, Kvapil also emphasized his Late Model background. “Obviously, running the Late Model and having the success we’ve had…There’s a spotlight, giving the opportunity to a guy like me to run these Xfinity races that I ran this year. So I feel like all the success in the Late Models kind of propelled…got me opportunities in the Xfinity car.”

Being raised by his father, 2003 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion Travis Kvapil, Carson knows how to wheel any race car. His dedicated work ethic led him through dirt track championships and Late Model glory – and eventually his Xfinity success. Kvapil talked about his Xfinity debut: “Having good runs and contending for wins here and there just kind of grew into more and more. I guess it kind of proved that I’m ready…Just need to figure out how to go full-time, then we’ll be able to go do that.”

And Carson Kvapil saluted Dale Jr. for granting him this opportunity, just like Josh Berry did.

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Dale Earnhardt Jr. and his team are known for sniffing out talented racers. Back in 2010, he discovered Josh Berry in iRacing and asked him to do a test race. Berry ran quite well, finishing outside the top ten in the first test and inside the top ten in the second. He subsequently went on to win 21 victories in the CARS Late Model Stock Tour under JR Motorsports.

So Berry hailed Dale Jr. for discovering him: “I remember racing in his league a couple of times, and we just struck up a friendship…I can’t remember exactly how it all started, but I know Dale was asking me about my past, my history, what I raced and what I did.”

Carson Kvapil is on a similar path to progress under Dale Jr.’s guidance. Fans are already ecstatic to welcome another one of his pupils to NASCAR. And Kvapil oozed gratitude upon clinching the Xfinity ride: “I’m just super fortunate to be able to run this JR Motorsports car the last three years. From where I was before I got this ride to where I am now, I just never thought I would be in this position. I just can’t thank Kelley, Dale Jr. and L.W. and all the people at JR Motorsports enough. Without them giving me the opportunity at Florence (in 2021), none of this would be happening.”

The Martinsville Late Model race winner is now ready to rock the Xfinity Series. We cannot wait to see Carson Kvapil breathe fire in his Xfinity ride!