Carson Kvapil Scores Dramatic First Career Win at Indianapolis in JRM 1-2-3-4 Sweep

RPW EXCLUSIVE COLUMN BY: Steven Brien / RACE PRO WEEKLY – SPEEDWAY, IN – Carson Kvapil held off JR Motorsports teammate Justin Allgaier to earn his first career win in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Pennzoil 250 presented by Take 5 Oil Change at Indianapolis Motor Speedway Saturday evening.

“It means the world to me,” Kvapil said after climbing from his No. 1 Chevrolet. “Gonna try not to cry too much.”

Kvapil had finished second five times previously before breaking through and leading 23 laps en route to his first career win.

“I knew we were gonna get one,” he added. “I’m hoping we could chase some more towards the end.”

Team owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. was emotional in victory lane after seeing his driver pull off the win.

“This has been a long time coming, he’s like a son almost,” he said. “I’m just so happy for him.”

Allgaier finished second after chasing down Kvapil in the closing laps.

“Just came up a little bit short,” he said after exiting the No. 7 Chevrolet. “So happy for Carson.”

Ross Chastain finished third after leading 31 laps.

“The stage end of stage two I definitely would have done different,” Chastain said. “I’d be happy for Carson, if I can’t win I wanted him to win.”

2014 O’Reilly Series Champion Chase Elliott rebounded from starting at the rear to complete the JR Motorsports sweep of the top four positions.

“I got stuck in traffic and kind of stopped my momentum going forward,” he said after exiting his No. 88 Chevrolet. “Got me a little too far behind for the last run.”

William Sawalich finished fifth, followed by Brent Crews, Corey Day, Sheldon Creed, Brandon Jones, and Austin Hill to complete the top ten.

After passing polesitter Creed late in the stage, Jeremy Clements scored his first stage win of the season, and the second of his career.

Chastain was second, Kvapil third, Sawalich fourth, and Sam Mayer completed the top five. Allgaier was sixth, whilst Creed, Taylor Gray, Crews, and Sammy Smith also earned stage points.

J.J. Yeley pulled his No. 38 Ford into the garage with fuel pump issues on lap 41 and would not finish.

On lap 54, Garrett Smithley spun in turn two to bring out the first caution for incident on the day.

Rajah Caruth would stay out and snag a crucial stage two win to boost his hope of making the chase, holding off JR Motorsports teammate Allgaier.

Chastain was third, Creed fourth, Kvapil fifth, and Dean Thompson was sixth after staying out on old tires. Mayer, Sawalich, Hill, and Elliott, after starting at the rear for unapproved adjustments, rounded out the top ten.

With six to go, Clements pulled his car into the pits with mechanical issues while running in the top 20, relegating him to a 37th place finish.

Kvapil, Creed, Day, Jones, and Hill all clinched their spots in the Chase after their strong performances.

The NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series returns in two weeks at Iowa Speedway. 

NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Race – Pennzoil 250 presented by Take 5 Oil Change

Indianapolis Motor Speedway

Speedway, IN

Saturday July 25, 2026

1. (2) Carson Kvapil, Chevrolet, 100.
2. (13) Justin Allgaier, Chevrolet, 100.
3. (8) Ross Chastain (i), Chevrolet, 100.
4. (7) Chase Elliott (i), Chevrolet, 100.
5. (9) William Sawalich, Toyota, 100.
6. (15) Brent Crews (R), Toyota, 100.
7. (11) Corey Day, Chevrolet, 100.
8. (1) Sheldon Creed, Chevrolet, 100.
9. (6) Brandon Jones, Toyota, 100.
10.  (19) Austin Hill, Chevrolet, 100.
11.  (17) Parker Retzlaff, Chevrolet, 100.
12.  (5) Taylor Gray, Toyota, 100.
13.  (3) Sam Mayer, Chevrolet, 100.
14.  (20) Anthony Alfredo, Chevrolet, 100.
15.  (12) Jeb Burton, Chevrolet, 100.
16.  (26) Jesse Love, Chevrolet, 100.
17.  (14) Ryan Sieg, Chevrolet, 100.
18.  (24) Harrison Burton, Toyota, 100.
19.  (10) Sammy Smith, Chevrolet, 100.
20.  (23) Nick Sanchez, Chevrolet, 100.
21.  (25) Dean Thompson, Toyota, 100.
22.  (16) Rajah Caruth, Chevrolet, 100.
23.  (18) Patrick Staropoli, Chevrolet, 100.
24.  (22) Kyle Sieg, Chevrolet, 100.
25.  (30) Garrett Smithley, Chevrolet, 100.
26.  (21) Mason Maggio, Chevrolet, 100.
27.  (31) Lavar Scott (R), Chevrolet, 100.
28.  (27) Blaine Perkins, Chevrolet, 100.
29.  (28) Brennan Poole, Chevrolet, 100.
30.  (29) Preston Pardus, Chevrolet, 100.
31.  (36) Nathan Byrd, Chevrolet, 100.
32.  (33) Ryan Ellis, Chevrolet, 99.
33.  (32) Josh Bilicki, Chevrolet, 99.
34.  (37) Blake Lothian, Chevrolet, 99.
35.  (38) David Starr, Chevrolet, 99.
36.  (35) Joey Gase, Chevrolet, 99.
37.  (4) Jeremy Clements, Chevrolet, 97.
38.  (34) J.J. Yeley, Ford, Fuel Pump, 39.