Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s Rising Star Locks Full O'Reilly Season Schedule in Stunning DGM Deal

Carson Kvapil will race part-time for DGM Racing while chasing the O'Reilly Auto Parts Series title with JR Motorsports.

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s rising star, 22-year-old Carson Kvapil, has officially completed his 2026 season schedule. DGM Racing announced that Kvapil will pilot the No. 91 Chevrolet in four NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series races, including events at Circuit of The Americas, Watkins Glen International, Charlotte Motor Speedway, and Sonoma Raceway. Kvapil's primary home remains at JR Motorsports, where he is slated to run 24 races in the No. 1 Chevrolet and an additional 5 races in the No. 9 car, sharing driving duties with rising talent Connor Zilisch.

Why it matters

This deal positions both DGM Racing and Kvapil favorably as the 2026 season takes shape. For DGM, landing a driver of Kvapil's caliber for four strategic road-course and marquee oval events adds credibility and competitive firepower to its program. For Kvapil, the deal removes any uncertainty about his championship eligibility and keeps him sharp across different team environments and car setups as he aims to win his first O'Reilly Auto Parts Series title.

The details

Kvapil's first start under the DGM banner comes as early as Feb. 28 at COTA, a technically demanding road course. He will then return to the No. 91 at Watkins Glen on May 9, Charlotte on May 23, and wrap up his DGM commitments at Sonoma on June 27. The partnership between Kvapil and JRM's new crew chief, Rodney Childers, a longtime Cup Series veteran, has reportedly been intense and deliberate since the offseason began, with the two visiting the simulator eight or nine times already to work on races months in advance.

  • Kvapil's first start under the DGM banner comes on February 28 at Circuit of The Americas.
  • Kvapil will return to the No. 91 car at Watkins Glen on May 9.
  • Kvapil will race the No. 91 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 23.
  • Kvapil will wrap up his DGM commitments at Sonoma Raceway on June 27.

The players

Carson Kvapil

A 22-year-old rising star driver who will race part-time for DGM Racing while chasing the O'Reilly Auto Parts Series title with JR Motorsports.

Dale Earnhardt Jr.

The co-owner of JR Motorsports, the team that Kvapil will be primarily racing for in the 2026 season.

Rodney Childers

The new crew chief at JR Motorsports who has been working intensely with Kvapil since the offseason began.

DGM Racing

The team that Kvapil will be racing part-time for in the 2026 season, competing in four key events.

JR Motorsports

The team co-owned by NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt Jr. that will be Kvapil's primary home for the 2026 season.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We've been to the simulator probably eight or nine times already.”

— Rodney Childers, JR Motorsports Crew Chief (profootballnetwork.com)

“This year was good and I was proud of what we did, but I was hoping to win a couple of races, which we weren't able to do.”

— Carson Kvapil (profootballnetwork.com)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This deal highlights the rising star power of Carson Kvapil, who has locked in a full championship-eligible schedule by combining his primary role at JR Motorsports with strategic part-time races for DGM Racing. Kvapil's intense offseason preparation with new crew chief Rodney Childers suggests he is poised to take the next step and capture his first O'Reilly Auto Parts Series title in 2026.