Carson Kvapil to Run JRM’s No. 8 Late Model in Florence CARS Tour Event

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (Oct. 1, 2021) — JRM Late Model kingpin Josh Berry will advance to a full-time schedule in the NASCAR Xfinity Series next season for JR Motorsports, leaving the seat in the No. 8 All Things Automotive/iRacing Chevrolet empty.

With an eye on developing the Late Model program-the foundation upon which JR Motorsports was built–for 2022, the team has tabbed 18-year-old Carson Kvapil to a one-race deal to drive in this weekend’s CARS Racing Tour LMSC event at Florence (S.C.) Motor Speedway to get that process started.

“I’m really excited,” Kvapil said. “I’ve been waiting, hoping an opportunity like this would pop up for me. My dad and I have been running our family Super Late Model, and we’ve been pretty good lately. We got some experience and figured out how to set up the car and we’ve done really well. It’s cool to drive for JR Motorsports and have an opportunity like this.”

Kvapil, son of long-time NASCAR driver Travis Kvapil, currently campaigns in the CARS Racing Tour’s Super Late Model division and is in a championship battle with Matt Craig as the season winds toward its conclusion. Kvapil, who won the SLM feature recently at Tri-County Motor Speedway, currently trails Craig by just eight points with just the Oct. 16 race at Virginia’s South Boston Speedway remaining.

Kvapil’s father is the 2003 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion and won the series’ Rookie of the Year title in 2001.

Stepping into the same car that won a national championship a year ago appeals to the young driver.

“It tells me I have a really good car to work with,” he said. “It adds a little pressure to it that Josh won the national championship with that car. I’ve run Florence once in a Super Late Model and we did all right.”

The key to winning at Florence, he said, was managing your tires. “That place wears out tires pretty bad, so you’ve got to be able to ride while still maintaining your track position. I’ve never driven a Late Model Stock Car there, but hopefully I can learn quickly. I need to keep my cool and not do anything stupid. I want to finish the race well, maybe come out in the top three.”

The difference between a Late Model Stock Car and the Super Late Model is not stark, but it is significant, the younger Kvapil said.

“The Super Late Model is lighter, has more horsepower and more left-side weight,” he said. “They have better brakes and it is probably a little more fun. The competition in Late Model Stock Cars is pretty crazy though.”