JR Motorsports kicked off the 2026 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series season on a high note at Daytona International Speedway. While the team did not secure a victory, all four of its cars finished within the top ten, earning valuable early season points.
Austin Hill of Richard Childress Racing took the win, leading 78 laps and holding off a late charge from Justin Allgaier, who finished as the runner-up. The noticeable achievement for JR Motorsports was the consistent performance demonstrated across their lineup.
In addition to Allgaier’s second-place finish, Sammy Smith came in fifth, Carson Kvapil ended up seventh, and rookie Rajah Caruth finished tenth. Co-owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. expressed satisfaction with the overall execution of the team, emphasizing the importance of consistency in the current NASCAR points structure.
“We came out of here with all our cars in the top 10 and picked up some stage points,” Earnhardt Jr. remarked. “Obviously, we’re trying to win the race, but if you can’t win, you’ve got to be satisfied with a day like today.”
Despite encountering some challenges, with a few cars sustaining damage during the race, the team managed strong finishes that allowed all four entries to leave Daytona positively positioned for the remainder of the season.
Earnhardt Jr. also highlighted the development of the younger drivers within the squad. During Stage Two of the race, the JR Motorsports entries displayed notable coordination and speed in the draft, a promising sign of their growing capabilities on superspeedways. He praised the performances of Caruth and Kvapil, as well as Smith’s dedication to improvement.
“Rajah Caruth looked great and did some things I was pleased to see,” he noted. “Carson looked like he learned a lot. Sammy’s been studying and working really hard to get better, and I’m seeing good things from him.”
Despite their commendable effort, JR Motorsports was still in pursuit of Hill, who displayed mastery at Daytona. Earnhardt Jr. acknowledged Hill’s experience and the strength of the Richard Childress Racing program, stating that while JR Motorsports is closing the gap, there remains a challenge ahead.
“We’ve caught up a little bit,” he shared. “We’re improving, and we’re getting closer. But he’s extremely talented, so you’ve got to give him a lot of credit.”
As the season progresses, JR Motorsports leaves Daytona with no win but with renewed optimism, strong finishes, and proof that all four teams are competitive, laying a solid foundation for the races ahead.