Carson Kvapil’s narrow loss to JR Motorsports teammate Justin Allgaier earlier this month at Atlanta devastated the young driver, but team co-owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. told him after practice at Indianapolis Motor Speedway that his destiny was to win Saturday’s Pennzoil 250.
“After seeing what the car could do in practice, you’re supposed to win here, on this property, in front of this audience,” Earnhardt said he told the 23-year-old Kvapil.
On Saturday, Kvapil proved Earnhardt correct, winning the Pennzoil 250 by 0.643-second over Allgaier. In fact, JR Motorsports swept the first four positions, a first-time accomplishment in NASCAR’s O’Reilly Auto Parts Series. JR Motorsports has now won 14 of 22 races this year with six different drivers and four different cars. However, it was Kvapil’s victory that left Earnhardt extremely emotional, tearing up and unable to talk immediately after the checkered flag. He said his emotions stemmed from the years he’s worked with Kvapil, trying to help him realize his dream.
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Carson Kvapil (left) celebrates with Dale Earnhardt Jr.
“Watching his family sacrifice for Caden and for Carson to have the opportunities to race, knowing what they’re putting into it, knowing that (his father) Travis would love to be here for this, and he’s in Langley (Virginia) with Caden, working on his career and his chances to race,” Earnhardt said. “You get to working with these guys and you become family. You become like brothers, like father and son. They are as important to you as your own kin.”
Kvapil led 23 laps, including the final 22, taking the lead from Ross Chastain on lap 79 in the 100-lap race. Veteran crew chief Rodney Childers had won at Indy previously, kissing the bricks after the Brickyard 400 in 2019 and 2020 with Cup Series driver Kevin Harvick, but this was his first victory at the historic track in NASCAR’s O’Reilly Auto Parts Series.
The victory also occurred with a driver he watched grow up and progress in JR Motorsports Late Model program.
“Late Model Stock racing means everything to me,” said Childers, who has driven Late Model cars. “It’s always been important to me to see people that are Late Model Stock racers make it. To be able to win with Carson is just super special.”
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Carson Kvapil talks with his father Travis Kvapil at Darlington Raceway in 2024.
Both men came through the doors at Team Penske but at different ages. Kvapil was a toddler when his dad Travis, the 2003 NASCAR Truck Series champion, drove for Roger Penske.
“I kind of have faint memories of picking up lug nuts off the ground and running the lift gate up and down on the trailer out back (in the shop),” Kvapil said about the years his father drove for Penske. “Just winning my first race period is super cool, but to do it at this race track and… Roger’s track is even better.”
Childers was at Jasper Motorsports when Penske acquired that team before the start of the 2004 season. Childers worked with Brendan Gaughan in 2004 but moved to MB2 Motorsports the following year to become Scott Riggs’ crew chief.
While Saturday was a celebration, it capped a tough season for Kvapil who has moved between JR Motorsports No. 1 and No. 9 Chevrolets and DGM Racing’s No. 91 with crew chief Mario Gosselin. It was a tough situation for Childers as well.
“There’s other races that we could have won this year with Carson, and honestly, I didn’t do a good enough job,” Childers said. “These cars are just a little bit different. The races flow a little bit different. The way the balance changes throughout the race is different. There were races earlier this year he deserved to win and I didn’t make the right adjustments.”
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Carson Kvapil and crew chief Rodney Childers celebrate at the yard of bricks.
However, that’s changed now as Childers has become more comfortable with his situation. The team now has momentum and is flowing in the right direction.
Earnhardt also believes the Kvapil-Childers duo are on the right path.
“They’re in such a great position from this moment forward after this win to build momentum and confidence and really challenge for the championship,” Earnhardt said. “If he can win a couple more races, challenge for that championship, win that championship, the phone’s gonna be ringing. We’ll be filling opportunities left and right to try to keep his career going. I believe in him.”
A North Carolina native, Deb Williams is an award-winning motorsports journalist who is in her fourth decade covering auto racing. In addition to covering the sport for United Press International, she has written motorsports articles for several newspapers, magazines and websites including espnW.com, USA Today, and The Charlotte Observer. Her awards include the American Motorsports Media Award of Excellence, two-time National Motorsports Press Association writer of the year, and two-time recipient of the Russ Catlin award. She also has won an award in the North Carolina Press Association’s sports feature category. During her career, Deb has been managing editor of GT Motorsports magazine and was with Winston Cup Scene and NASCAR Winston Cup Scene for 18 years, serving as the publication’s editor for 10 years. In 2024 she was inducted into the NMPA Hall of Fame.