Dale Earnhardt Jr. and his team JR Motorsports have been at the forefront of silly season changes this year. It’s fair to say the current driver lineup hasn’t delivered the best results in the Xfinity Series. Therefore, changes were inevitable in the team going into 2025, but it looks like JRM isn’t waiting until the end of this year to get their house in order.

Having announced the arrival of talented young driver Connor Zilisch in the No. 88 car in 2025, they have initiated their next move. This time around, it isn’t a new signing, but rather a departure. This driver hasn’t been able to find his feet at JRM, and in 56 starts, he has failed to register a single win. In 2024, apart from his runner-up finish at Charlotte and a few top-10 runs, he has struggled, missing the playoffs for a second straight season with 132 points shy of the cutline with just three races left in the regular season.

Brand Jones, the driver of the No. 9 JRM Chevy, won’t be continuing with the team next year. Jones will return to Joe Gibbs Racing after 2022, running full-time as part of a multi-year deal in hopes of finding his winning touch. One of the significant highlights that probably made JR Motorsports hunt down the driver was when they could see potential at Martinsville Speedway in 2022. He was racing well into sealing a spot in the Championship 4 before teammate Ty Gibbs, who already had secured a berth in the finale, dumped him going into Turn 1 on the final lap. Sadly, it never materialized for JRM. Bob Pockrass reported on X, “Brandon Jones to race an Xfinity car for JGR next season as he moves from JRM to Gibbs.” 

However, there is one more aspect to consider here. Dale Jr. is planning to quit Xfinity Series races, and Jones’ departure would suggest that JRM is looking to add a new driver to their line-up. So, the next question is: Who takes Jones’s place? We might have the answer! The popular pick among followers, including Bob Pockrass, had their hunch on this JRM’s part-time driver.

Having refused to leap into NASCAR fold once in the past, will 2003 Craftsman Truck Series champion’s son accept an Xfinity seat in 2025?

The Mooresville native is a known figure in the late-model stock car racing scene. Impressed by his showing in the CARS Tour, Kvapil secured a part-time run with JRM in 2024. Truth be told, he has delivered the goods, albeit in a cameo role. Now that Jones is taking the exit route, the transition makes sense. JRM has been trying really hard to graduate Kvapil to an Xfinity seat, and considering his average finish of 10.7, three top-5, and one top-10 finish in the eight races he ran in part-time capacity this season, fans believe he is the right fit to lead the #9 team: “get ready to learn JRM Carson Kvapil.”

Considering how Kvapil has been around for JRM’s late model program since 2021, dedicating a stretch of 40 hours weekly and raking up his titles to his second straight Late Model Stock Tour championship. So, what’s the hold up for now? Insider Bob Pockrass seems to have the answer when a user pitched the possibility of Rajah Caruth to JRM in 2025. “Things still fluid but would expect another full year of trucks for Caruth. JRM working to find funding for Carson Kvapil.” However, the opportunity to jump into the NASCAR fold has presented itself before last fall which the Kvapils refused.

Driving for Spire Motorsports in the Truck Series, Carson debuted at Bristol Motor Speedway, finishing 12th. Offers knocked on the door but his father persuaded him to patiently wait for his turn after investing more than a decade in moving through ranks inside the JRM garage. “Carson and I have talked about it, what’s the rush?” Travis recalled. “You are driving for possibly one of the best late model teams in the country. Keep your nose down and keep digging and winning races, and these opportunities will come.”

Looks like the timing couldn’t be more perfect. And fans can’t stop predicting the new changes to the JRM driver lineup for 2025, this fan added, “@Carson_Kvapil full time next season? Hope Sammy moves to the 1 and Carson gets the 8 if so.”

There were a few who were happy to see Jones secure a move back to JGR. All five of his Xfinity Series wins came when he piloted the No. 19 Toyota from 2018 to 2022. Therefore, a reunion might allow him to regain his confidence and speed in 2025. “Good. Now he can start winning again.”

Carson Kvapil was the popular choice, but there were a few other notable mentions touted to take this role at JRM. Interestingly, a few of them felt that Ryan Truex deserves a full-time ride, winning two races already this season in the Xfinity Series. Only Shane van Gisbergen has more victories than him. “need ryan truex full time in xfinity.”

Given how Junior Motorsports is shaping up its roster for 2025, an addition of Carson Kvapil as a full-timer looks more and more likely.