Dylan Kwasniewski

Dylan Kwasniewski

Kwasniewski at Road America in 2015
Born (1995-05-31) May 31, 1995
Norwalk, Connecticut
Achievements 2012 NASCAR K&N Pro Series West Champion
2013 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Champion
Awards 2011 NASCAR K&N Pro Series West Rookie of the Year
NASCAR Xfinity Series career
39 races run over 2 years
2015 position 42nd
Best finish 11th (2014)
First race 2014 DRIVE4COPD 300 (Daytona)
Last race 2015 DAV 200 (Phoenix)
Wins Top tens Poles
0 3 1
Statistics current as of November 14, 2015.

Dylan Kwasniewski (KWAS-ness-KEY;[1] born May 31, 1995) is an American professional stock car racing driver. A champion in both the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East and Pro Series West. He is a developmental driver for Chip Ganassi Racing.

Racing career

Born in Norwalk, Connecticut,[2] Kwasniewski started his career driving go-karts at the age of four, and later moved to Phoenix, Arizona, competing in the Phoenix Kart Racing Association's Kid Kart division and winning the championship in 2002. The following year, Kwasniewski moved to the Cadet Junior 1 class, and finished third; he continued karting by racing in the IKF, STARS and SKUSA, winning the SuperNats championship in 2005. Having moved to Las Vegas, Nevada, in 2007 Kwasniewski raced in Bandoleros, and won 88 percent of the Bandolero races he entered at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway's Bullring track. In 2008, Kwasniewski began racing Legends cars, before joining the American Speed Association Super Truck Series in 2009.[3] The same year, Rockstar Energy Drink, based in Kwasniewski's hometown of Las Vegas, Nevada, signed on as his sponsor.[4]

Touring series

Kwasniewski's No. 98 on pit road prior to the K&N Series East race at Richmond International Raceway

In 2011, Kwasniewski entered the K&N Pro Series West series driving for Gene Price Motorsports in the No. 03 Rockstar/Royal Purple Chevrolet,[5] and finished second in his debut at All American Speedway.[6] At Colorado National Speedway, Kwasniewski won the pole position and the race, becoming the youngest driver to win a series pole and race.[1][N 1] He won again during the season at Montana Raceway Park, and ended the season fifth in the points standings, along with nine top tens.[1] Kwasniewski subsequently was named Sunoco Rookie of the Year.[3] In 2012, Kwasniewski won three times at Stockton 99 Raceway, Iowa Speedway and All American Speedway, along with recording 15 top tens. Entering the season finale at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Kwasniewski led teammate and 2011 series champ Greg Pursley by two points, and with a second-place finish, beat Pursley for the title by six points, and at 17 years, 5 months and 10 days, Kwasniewski became the youngest champion in series history, surpassing Chuck Bown's record set in 1976 at 22 years, 7 months and 11 days.[8]

In 2012, Kwasniewski announced talks with Joe Gibbs Racing to field a car in the K&N Pro Series East for the 2013 season,[9] but eventually joined Turner Scott Motorsports, driving the No. 98.[10] On January 7, 2013, Kwasniewski was named to the NASCAR Next program, which documents the potential future stars in NASCAR.[11] In his first East race at Bristol Motor Speedway, Kwasniewski led 96 of 125 laps en route to the win. Kwasniewski added to his win with victories at Iowa, Langley Speedway, Virginia International Raceway and Greenville-Pickens Speedway.[1] At the season-ending Road Atlanta race, Kwasniewski held the points lead over Brett Moffitt by five points, but transmission problems eliminated Moffitt from championship contention, as Kwasniewski led every lap to win the East championship, becoming the first driver to win both East and West titles.[12] During the year, Kwasniewski also ran an ARCA Racing Series race at Kansas Speedway, winning the pole and finishing fourth.[13]

Xfinity Series

Kwasniewski racing in the No. 42 at Road America in 2014

On February 3, 2014, Turner Scott Motorsports announced that Kwasniewski will enter the Nationwide Series for the 2014 season driving the team's No. 31 Rockstar Chevrolet.[14] In a press release regarding the news, Kwasniewski stated:[15]

“ "I'm thankful for Harry Scott and Steve Turner for giving me this opportunity, as well as Rockstar for moving up with us. Racing in the Nationwide Series is going to present a lot of challenges and it won't be easy, but I look forward to taking it all on, learning from the other competitors and hopefully winning some races." ”

Kwasniewski was the fastest during the second day of Nationwide testing at Daytona International Speedway,[16] and later entered the ARCA Racing Series' Lucas Oil 200 with TSM, and won the pole position.[13] He finished 14th in the race.[16] On February 21, Kwasniewski clinched the pole for the Nationwide season-opening DRIVE4COPD 300, becoming the eleventh driver in series history to win the pole in his first series start, and the youngest Nationwide pole-sitter at Daytona.[17]

In March 2014, Kwasniewski was signed to Chip Ganassi Racing's driver development program.[18] On May 12, Turner Scott Motorsports announced that Kwasniewski will run standalone Nationwide Series events in the team's No. 42, in which Kyle Larson will be unavailable, with Target continuing to sponsor the car.[19] Kwasniewski ran the No. 42 with Rockstar at Iowa in August. Kwasniewski ended 2014 with three top-10s and an 11th-place points finish.[20]

Kwasniewski was scheduled to return to Turner Scott, now HScott Motorsports, for 2015 on a part-time basis in the No. 42.[21] However, he and Rockstar failed to reach an agreement to continue sponsoring the car, and with Brennan Poole joining the team, his future with the team became uncertain. As a result, Kwasniewski stated he plans to raise sponsorship money to fund a car for the 2016 season.[20] In 2015, Kwasniewski was picked up by Obaika Racing to make his debut in 2015 at Mid-Ohio.

Personal life

Kwasniewski is a graduate of Faith Lutheran Middle School & High School.[22] His late father, Randy Kwasniewski, was the former CEO of the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino.[23]

Motorsports career results

Career summary

Season Series Team Races Wins Top 5s Top 10s Poles Points Position
2011 K&N Pro Series West Gene Price Motorsports 13 2 8 9 2 1856 5th
2012 K&N Pro Series West Gene Price Motorsports 15 3 12 15 5 622 1st
K&N Pro Series East Steve DeSouza 3 0 1 2 0 103 31st
2013 K&N Pro Series East Turner Scott Motorsports 14 6 8 10 3 536 1st
ARCA Racing Series Venturini Motorsports 1 0 1 1 1 480 56th
2014 NASCAR Nationwide Series Turner Scott Motorsports 33 0 0 3 1 867 11th
ARCA Racing Series Turner Scott Motorsports 1 0 0 0 1 180 88th
2015 NASCAR Xfinity Series Obaika Racing 6 0 0 0 0 89 42nd

NASCAR

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

Xfinity Series

K&N Pro Series West

* Season still in progress
1 Ineligible for series points

References

Notes
  1. ↑ The current youngest K&N Pro Series winner is Gray Gaulding, winning at Phoenix International Raceway.[7]
Citations
  1. 1 2 3 4 "Dylan Kwasniewski". NASCAR Home Tracks. Retrieved February 8, 2014.
  2. ↑ Weaver, Kristin (August 19, 2011). "Meet Dylan Kwasniewski, the youngest winner in NASCAR". Skirts 'n Scuffs. Retrieved February 17, 2014.
  3. 1 2 "Dylan Kwasniewski". Turner Scott Motorsports. Retrieved February 8, 2014.
  4. ↑ Associated Press (February 4, 2014). "Kwasniewski to Run Nationwide Series With Turner". ABC News. Retrieved February 9, 2014.
  5. ↑ Kantowski, Ron (November 27, 2011). "NASCAR's future on fast track". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved February 9, 2014.
  6. ↑ "2011 NASCAR K&N Pro Series West Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved February 8, 2014.
  7. ↑ Hardin, Ed (February 7, 2014). "Gaulding, 15, ready to go racing". News & Record. Retrieved April 1, 2014.
  8. ↑ Green, Kevin (November 10, 2012). "Dylan Kwasniewski wins the 2012 NASCAR K&N Pro Series West championship". Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Retrieved February 8, 2014.
  9. ↑ Boone, Jerry (April 5, 2012). "Rock Star In The Making". NASCAR Home Tracks. Retrieved February 9, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Dylan Kwasniewski to Race in K&N Pro Series East for Turner Scott Motorsports". Turner Scott Motorsports. January 16, 2013. Retrieved February 8, 2014.
  11. ↑ Associated Press (January 7, 2013). "NASCAR Next roster announced". ESPN. Retrieved February 28, 2014.
  12. ↑ Christley, Jason (October 18, 2013). "Kwasniewski Captures K&N East Title". NASCAR Home Tracks. Retrieved February 8, 2014.
  13. 1 2 Utter, Jim (February 14, 2014). "Dylan Kwasniewski, 18, zooms into Daytona spotlight by winning pole for ARCA season opener". The Charlotte Observer. Retrieved February 14, 2014.
  14. ↑ Associated Press (February 3, 2014). "Kwasniewski into Nationwide Series". ESPN. Retrieved February 9, 2014.
  15. ↑ "Dylan Kwasniewski, 18, to run full Nationwide season for Turner Scott". Fox Sports. February 3, 2014. Retrieved February 9, 2014.
  16. 1 2 Caraviello, David (February 17, 2014). "KWASNIEWSKI AIMS TO SEPARATE PERCEPTION, REALITY". NASCAR. Retrieved February 18, 2014.
  17. ↑ Jensen, Tom (February 21, 2014). "No raining on this parade: Group qualifying makes big debut". Fox Sports. Retrieved February 21, 2014.
  18. ↑ Cain, Holly (March 9, 2014). "KWASNIEWSKI SIGNS DEVELOPMENT DEAL WITH GANASSI". NASCAR. Retrieved March 10, 2014.
  19. ↑ "KWASNIEWSKI TO DRIVE TSM'S NO. 42 CAR AT STANDALONE NATIONWIDE RACESCHASE PISTONE BEHIND THE WHEEL OF THE NO. 31 AT IOWA SPEEDWAY". Turner Scott Motorsports. May 12, 2014. Retrieved May 12, 2014.
  20. 1 2 Anderson, Mark (March 4, 2015). "Las Vegan Kwasniewski searches for ride in NASCAR Xfinity Series". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved March 7, 2015.
  21. ↑ Anderson, Mark (January 7, 2015). "Kwasniewski joins Xfinity Series racing team, but only part time". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved March 7, 2015.
  22. ↑ Brewer, Ray (June 1, 2012). "Teenager Dylan Kwasniewski on his way to racing stardom". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved February 9, 2014.
  23. ↑ Fryer, Jenna (September 18, 2013). "NASCAR series tracks young Dylan Kwasniewski". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved February 9, 2014.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Dylan Kwasniewski.
Sporting positions
Preceded by
Greg Pursley		 NASCAR K&N Pro Series West Champion
2012 		Succeeded by
Derek Thorn
Preceded by
Kyle Larson		 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Champion
2013 		Succeeded by
Ben Rhodes
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