INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - JULY 25: Carson Kvapil, driver of the #1 Wilde Protein Crackers Chevrolet, celebrates with NASCAR Hall of Famer and JR Motorsports team owner, Dale Earnhardt Jr. in victory lane after winning the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series Pennzoil 250 Presented by Take 5 Oil Change at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 25, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) | Getty Images
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - JULY 25: Carson Kvapil, driver of the #1 Wilde Protein Crackers Chevrolet, celebrates with NASCAR Hall of Famer and JR Motorsports team owner, Dale Earnhardt Jr. in victory lane after winning the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series Pennzoil 250 Presented by Take 5 Oil Change at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 25, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) | Getty Images
#8 JR Motorsports NOAPS All News Carson Kvapil O'Reilly Auto Parts Series News

Carson Kvapil returning to JRM, moving to the No. 8

August 27, 2026 at 9:40 AM

JR Motorsports announced Thursday that Carson Kvapil will return to the organization for the 2027 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series season and move to the No. 8 Chevrolet.

Kvapil has primarily driven JRM’s No. 1 Chevrolet this season and currently sits second in the O’Reilly Series standings. He earned his first career series victory at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in July and followed that with another win in the next race at Iowa Speedway.

The move to the No. 8 comes after Sammy Smith announced Wednesday that he will leave JR Motorsports following the 2026 season. Smith has driven the No. 8 for JRM since 2024.