Featured Late Models Latest News Local Tracks NASCAR NASCAR Local Racing Series NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series

Kvapil Brothers Win Major Races In Indiana And Virginia In Same Day

by racerx55 July 26, 2026 0 comments

Story & Photo By Patricia McCormack/TheFourthTurn.com

Carson and Caden Kvapil spent Saturday at different racetracks racing different types of cars, both ending up in the same place: Victory Lane.

The sons of former NASCAR Cup Series driver, Travis Kvapil was proud as Carson and Caden won their respective races. He noticeably showed emotion as he watched an interview on his phone of team owner Dale Earnhardt Jr after his son Carson won the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Pennzoil 250 presented by Take 5 Oil Change at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Travis Kvapil is no stranger to the racetrack or what it takes to find Victory Lane. He raced in all three of NASCAR’s top series, finding success in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series with nine wins and the 2003 championship. He knows what it takes to win and is passing his knowledge to his boys.

Travis was serving as Caden’s crew chief on Saturday for the Hampton Heat at Langley Speedway, which featured the most talented Late Model Stock Car drivers in the country.

“Both these boys continue to amaze me every time we go racing,” Kvapil said. “They’ve developed into incredible race car drivers. There’s been so much work to get to this point, but more so, I’m super blessed to have car owners that give these kids opportunities.”

As of late, Travis has had to focus more on son Caden’s Late Model racing as Caden’s serving as the crew chief. Carson is now on his own racing at JR Motorsports in the NASCAR O’Reilly Series, and Travis is helping prepare Carson for a hopeful career in NASCAR’s national series.

“With Carson, it’s like ‘you’re on your own big boy you guys have got to figure it out, we’ve done everything we can for you, it’s time for you to step up and figure it out’” said Travis on older son Carson, “With Caden, it’s me and him, obviously we have Brian and Slim and Ernie and all the guys at the JRM shop to lean on and notebooks to look back at, but at the end of the day, it’s me and him (Caden) making decisions and turning the wrenches on the car.”

Twenty-three-year-old son Carson started the day off by competing in the JR Motorsports No. 1 Chevrolet at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. He started the race on the front row in second place and quickly fell back to fourth. He stayed in the top-five for the majority of the race and took the lead from teammate Ross Chastain with 21 laps to go, hoping there wouldn’t be any cautions.

“I was just waiting for the yellow that I thought was gonna come out, to be honest,” Kvapil said. “Seems like there’s been races where we’ve had a really good shot at winning and something always happens. I wanted it to stay green.”

Carson’s younger, 19-year-old brother Caden was at Langley Speedway competing in the 18th annual Hampton Heat 200, part of the Virginia Triple Crown in the JR Motorsports No. 88. Caden started the Hampton Heat in 11th working his way into the top-10, taking the lead with 74 laps remaining in the race. Like his brother, Caden was hoping that the race would stay green with no late cautions.

Between driver introductions and the start of the Late Model race, Caden had the opportunity to watch older brother Carson take the checkered flag in Indianapolis before climbing in his car to do the same at Langley.

“I feel like there was a lot of pressure for me to win but at the same time I feel like Carson’s win was definitely a lot more looked on and kind of overlook mine if I did win tonight and now that I did,” said Caden, “I don’t know, I’m sure a lot of people saw this and are watching but, such a cool night for him and honestly couldn’t be more proud of him. I probably wouldn’t tell it to him in person but over the phone I’ll say it. Such a cool night for both of us.”

Both Carson and Caden drive for JR Motorsports in their respective series.

“I believe in them.” said Earnhardt Jr. “Watching this family sacrifice for Caden and Carson to have the opportunity to race, knowing what they’re putting into it…you get to working with these guys and you become family”.

Earnhardt was present in Indianapolis to watch Carson capture his first win in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series and ultimately “kissed the bricks”, with the rest of the No. 1 team in celebration. The Kvapil family gets to celebrate and relax as both boys enjoy an off week in their respective series.