The only driver to win both NASCAR’s K&N Pro Series East & West championships back-to-back is Dylan Kwasniewski. He’s also one of several drivers in NASCAR’s Next program that identifies and promotes the up-and-coming talent for the future of NASCAR’s top-three series. This year straight from the K&N Pro Series, Kwasniewski is driving a full-time schedule in the Nationwide Series with Turner Scott Motorsports and is contending for series’ Rookie of the year honors.
Along with Kwasniewski’s ability to attract a younger NASCAR audience, some of NASCAR’s top-series teams are noticing Kwasniewski’s talent, making him highly sought as a development driver. But only one team made the offer Kwasniewski accepted and that team is Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates. At Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Chip Ganassi and Felix Sabates announced Kwasniewski as their newest development driver.
“This young man has impressed us from the moment we saw him. His poise, skill and determination on the race track are remarkable for someone so young.” said Chip Ganassi. “I am really looking forward to seeing him grow as a driver with each increase of competition. I think Dylan has a big future ahead of him in NASCAR.”
The Ganassi/Sabates organization has already signed NASCAR Next driver, Kyle Larson to race full-time in the Sprint Cup Series this season.
Kwasniewski made his début in the Nationwide Series at Daytona International Speedway on February 22, 2014, after winning the pole position and finishing eighth in his first start in any of NASCAR’s top-three national touring series. He became the youngest Nationwide pole-sitter in Daytona history.
With Bristol next on the schedule, Kwasniewski heads to the track with some confidence. He won his first race in the KNPSE at Bristol Motor Speedway en route to a series’-high six race wins for the season in 2013.
In 2012, competing in the KNPSW, Kwasniewski earned the championship, becoming the youngest series champion at the age of 17 years, 5 months and 10 days. In 2011, he finished second in his series’ debut at All-American Speedway and became the youngest pole winner in KNPSW history at Colorado National Speedway en route to Rookie of the Year honors.
Kwasniewski has competed in several forms of racing including IKF, STARS and SKUSA karts along with Bandoleros, Legend Cars and ASA Super Trucks before making the move to NASCAR. In 2007, he won 88 percent of the Bandolero races he entered at Las Vegas Motor Speedway Bullring track and won his first championship in 2002 in Phoenix Kart Racing Association Kid Kart division at the age of seven.
For Kwasniewski, signing as a development driver with Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates is a dream come true.
“I am extremely happy right now and thrilled to be getting this opportunity with Chip and the whole team. I have wanted to do nothing but race for as long as I can remember so this is a dream come true. I look forward to being a part of Chip’s organization and will hopefully be a key contributor to its future success.”
The Nationwide Series races at Bristol Motor Speedway, Saturday, March 15th with television coverage on ESPN2 beginning at 1:30 pm ET with a Green Flag start at 2 pm ET. Radio coverage is also available on PRN and Sirius XM on channel 90.