The NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Chase is officially ON, kicking off with the Fleetio 200 at Darlington today, September 5. Carson Kvapil leads the entire field from the pole position, and seriously, this is already shaping up to be a wild ride. Get this: every single one of the 12 drivers in the Chase qualified inside the top 15. That’s a championship battle ready to explode from lap one.
The Grid Is Set, Weather on Watch
Carson Kvapil, driving the No. 1 JR Motorsports Chevrolet, earned that pole spot. Justin Allgaier, in the No. 7 JR Motorsports Chevrolet, is right there on the front row next to him. That’s a strong start for JR Motorsports, putting two cars right at the sharp end. The rest of the top ten is no joke: Brandon Jones in the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, Jesse Love in the No. 2 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet, Sam Mayer for Haas Factory Team, Austin Hill in another Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet, Taylor Gray for Joe Gibbs Racing, Brent Crews, Rajah Caruth in the No. 88 JR Motorsports Chevrolet, and Parker Retzlaff completing the top ten. All the major teams are in the mix, meaning fierce competition right out of the gate. Oh, and keep an eye on the sky, because Cup Series practice and qualifying got hit by weather earlier today. Unpredictable conditions might be coming as race time gets closer in South Carolina.
The Chase Heats Up With Earnhardt Jr.’s Shadow
This is the Chase, people! It’s the start of the championship push, and every position counts. All 12 contenders packed into the top 15 means nobody can afford an early mistake. How much are legends of the sport watching? Dale Earnhardt Jr. has his hands in a ton of things this year. His team, JR Motorsports, has Kvapil and Allgaier at the very front of the grid. We just saw him celebrating Caden Kvapil’s win in the CARS Tour at Nashville back in April, where Kvapil drove Earnhardt’s No. 88 to victory. Earnhardt Jr. also celebrated with Justin Allgaier when Allgaier won the NFPA 250 at Martinsville in March. Dale Jr. isn’t just a team owner, he’s a huge presence. He’s also back in the broadcasting booth for TNT’s Cup Series coverage later in 2026, starting at Sonoma. He even raced his No. 8 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet in the CARS Tour himself! His impact on the sport, both on track and off, is huge.
So, yeah, the Fleetio 200 is shaping up to be a must-watch. With the Chase kicking off and every championship contender starting strong, this race will be packed with drama. You can catch all the action live on the Motor Racing Network, which has affiliates everywhere, plus on NASCAR.com, the NASCAR app, or tune into SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, channel 90. Get ready, because the Chase is here, and it’s going to be a wild ride all the way to the end!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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