SPEED with Harvick and Buxton
SPEED with Harvick and Buxton

The 88 is Back on Top! Caden Kvapil’s CARS Tour Championship | SPEED

October 21, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

The 88 Is Back on Top

Caden Kvapil won the 2026 CARS Tour late model stock championship with four victories, a season-long average finish around 4.0, and only one finish outside the top ten all year. He also captured the Hampton Heat at Langley, the ValleyStar Credit Union 300 at Martinsville, and the Virginia Triple Crown in the same season. But what stands out most in the conversation is how he managed the weight of driving the iconic No. 88 car for JR Motorsports—and how his family relationships, particularly with his father and brother, shaped both his season and his approach to racing.

Managing Pressure Through Consistency

Stepping into the 88 car meant following his brother Carson Kvapil and Josh Berry, carrying what Kevin Harvick described as "a lot of responsibility" and pressure to uphold the JR Motorsports legacy. Caden acknowledged that pressure was real: "I put a lot of pressure on myself no matter what I race. It's kind of tough and it kind of gets me sometimes."

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What you'll learn

  • 1 (00:26) **Introducing Caden Kvapil, 2026 CARS Tour Champion** - Harvick and Buxton welcome Caden Kvapil, the 2026 CARS Tour Late Model Stock champion.
  • 2 (01:18) **Breaking Down the Championship Season** - Caden walks through his dominant year, including wins and a remarkably consistent average finish.
  • 3 (02:22) **Carrying the Weight of the #88 and JR Motorsports** - Caden discusses the immense pressure of driving the iconic #88 car for Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s team.
  • 4 (03:58) **The Father-Son Crew Chief Dynamic** - Caden details the intense but productive relationship with his dad, who serves as his crew chief.
  • 5 (06:19) **Falling into Racing Naturally** - Caden explains how he got started in racing, revealing he didn't feel pressured by his family's legacy.
  • 6 (07:49) **Why the CARS Tour is the Premier Training Ground** - Caden explains what makes the series so competitive and effective at preparing drivers for the next level.
  • 7 (10:03) **The Crown Jewel: Winning at Martinsville** - Caden calls winning the ValleyStar Credit Union 300 at Martinsville his proudest achievement of the year.

+ Full timestamped outline available in the app

Guests on this episode

Kevin Harvick

Show Notes

CARS Tour Champion Caden Kvapil joins Kevin Harvick and Will Buxton to reflect on his 2026 season, navigating the pressure of carrying on the JR Motorsports legacy, and following in the footsteps of his brother, Carson.
Caden opens up about what it’s really like having his father, Travis Kvapil, as his crew chief, the mentorship dynamic with Dale Earnhardt Jr., and whether growing up in a iconic racing family made competition come naturally.


Plus, he breaks down his most meaningful win of the year, how competitive the Late Model Stock division really is, and the one bucket-list race he dreams of running in the future.


Chapters
00:00 - Intro
01:18 - 2026 Season Recap
02:22 - Carrying the JR Motorsports Legacy
04:03 - Working with Dad Travis as Crew Chief
06:19 - Did Racing Come Naturally?
07:51 - Competitiveness of Late Model Stock Races
10:04 - Win Caden is Most Proud Of This Season
11:25 - Goals & Expectations for Next Season
12:27 - Future Race Caden Wants to Compete In
13:22 - Relationship with Dale Earnhardt Jr.
14:27 - Following in Brother Carson’s Footsteps
17:28 - 24/7 Racing
18:59 - Rewatching Dad’s Old Races

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