Carson Kvapil walked away unharmed after a frightening high-speed flip during the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts 250 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course on April 18, 2026, according to multiple verified reports from the scene and official NASCAR communications.
The incident occurred on Lap 42 of the NASCAR Xfinity Series race when Kvapil’s No. 91 Chevrolet lost traction exiting Turn 7, struck the inside curb, and became airborne before completing a full barrel roll and landing upside down on the track’s runoff area. Safety crews responded immediately, and Kvapil exited the vehicle under his own power after being evaluated at the infield care center.
NASCAR officials confirmed that Kvapil showed no signs of injury and was released from medical evaluation shortly after the crash. “He’s been cleared and is doing well,” said NASCAR Xfinity Series safety director Mike Nelson in a post-race statement. “The car did exactly what it’s designed to do — absorb the impact and keep the driver safe.”
The crash brought out a yellow flag that lasted for over eight minutes as track workers righted Kvapil’s vehicle and cleared debris. Replays showed the No. 91 Chevrolet catching significant air after hitting the rough transition between the curb and the paved runoff, a known challenge at Mid-Ohio’s Turn 7 where elevation changes and limited runoff have historically increased the risk of airborne incidents.
Kvapil, a 20-year-old driver in his second full Xfinity Series season, had been running inside the top 15 before the incident. He was driving for DGM Racing in the No. 91 Chevrolet, a team that has consistently fielded entries for developing drivers in the series. His crew chief, Mario Gosselin, said the team would inspect the chassis thoroughly but expected no lasting damage to their program.
“We’re just thankful he’s okay,” Gosselin said. “The car took a hard hit, but the safety features worked. We’ll go over everything, but our focus is on Carson being healthy and ready to go next week.”
The O’Reilly Auto Parts 250 was won by Riley Herbst, who led a race-high 63 laps to secure his second Xfinity Series victory of the season. Herbst drove for Stewart-Haas Racing and held off a late challenge from Justin Allgaier to take the checkered flag. The result moved Herbst to fourth in the Xfinity Series standings, 28 points behind leader Cole Custer.
Mid-Ohio’s road course layout has produced several notable crashes in recent years due to its combination of high-speed sections, abrupt elevation changes, and limited runoff areas. Turn 7, where Kvapil’s accident occurred, has been the site of multiple airborne incidents since the track returned to the NASCAR calendar in 2021, prompting ongoing discussions about safety modifications.
NASCAR has not announced any immediate changes to the Mid-Ohio layout following Kvapil’s crash, but the series continues to evaluate track safety across all venues. The next Xfinity Series event is scheduled for April 25, 2026, at Dover Motor Speedway.