The year 2025 is already proving to be monumental for Dale Earnhardt Jr. and JR Motorsports (JRM). Following their debut at the Daytona 500 Cup Series where Justin Allgaier secured the 9th position, JRM is making waves with two rookies in their first full seasons in the Xfinity Series. One of these promising young drivers is Carson Kvapil, who has already begun to make a name for himself in NASCAR, thanks to his impressive performance in the Late Models.
Kvapil kicked off his NASCAR journey with a notable 4th place finish at Daytona. The Circuit of the Americas outing has only further cemented his position as a potential frontrunner for the 2025 season. Surprisingly, Kvapil found himself in a head-to-head competition with JRM’s rising star, Connor Zilisch. Zilisch, who dominated his Xfinity debut at Watkins Glen last season, was expected to face stiff competition from seasoned drivers like Ross Chastain or William Byron, but it was Kvapil who gave him a run for his money in his first-ever NASCAR road course race.
Following his Daytona debut, Kvapil maintained his momentum at the Superspeedway race in Atlanta, finishing in the top 5 in stage one. Despite dropping back in stage two, Kvapil climbed up to the top 5 in the final stage. Eventually, due to a series of accidents and cautions, he was pushed back in the field and finished 23rd. The same was the case at COTA, where he gave Zilisch a tough time in the final laps.
The thrilling race had everyone, including Dale Earnhardt Jr., on the edge of their seats. However, Kvapil’s promising performance was cut short when his right front tire locked too many times, eventually going flat. This brought an end to a nail-biting race that could have seen a photo finish for JRM. Disappointed but undeterred, Kvapil commented on his performance, “It is what it is. All these guys are super aggressive at this level…Same time we are all going for the win and doing our best.”
Despite his disappointment, Kvapil, at just 21, showed remarkable maturity and was quick to move on. He even expressed surprise at his own performance. Having run the track last year in the Trans Am 2 series, Kvapil was aware of the differences and challenges posed by the Xfinity car and the track’s layout. Yet, he managed to put up a commendable performance.
While Kvapil’s run was impressive, it was Zilisch’s journey from pole to the checkered flag that stole the show. Doing double-duty with the COTA Cup Series race next on his schedule, Zilisch is all set to make Cup Series history. Despite the challenges posed by the Cup Series, Zilisch remains unfazed and is eager to learn and race against his childhood heroes.
However, the upcoming race won’t be easy, especially with formidable drivers like Shane van Gisbergen, Chase Elliott, and AJ Allmendinger in the mix. Zilisch acknowledges this, stating, “I definitely want to be competitive and run inside the top 10, but wearing out the field is a whole different thing in the Cup Series.”
As the 2025 COTA Cup race approaches, all eyes will be on Zilisch. Will he make history in the race? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain – the future of JR Motorsports is looking bright with promising talents like Carson Kvapil and Connor Zilisch.