Tag: dylan kwasniewski

  • Kwasniewski crashes as qualifying ends for Nationwide race at Bristol

    Kwasniewski crashes as qualifying ends for Nationwide race at Bristol

    Turner-Scott Motorsports rookie driver, Dylan Kwasniewski, made the final round of qualifying Saturday at Bristol Motor Speedway. As the final session drew to a close, however, Kwasniewski, crashed his No. 31 Rockstar Energy Chevrolet.

    Kwasniewski, who won the 2012 K&N Pro Series West championship and followed that up with the 2013 K&N Pro Series East championship, is competing for Rookie of the year honors n the NASCAR Nationwide Series this season.

    Kwasniewski currently sits eighth in the standings, with one top-10 finish and has an average finish of 15th.

    It was also announced earlier this week, that the Las Vegas, Nevada native, has signed with Chip Ganassi Racing as a development driver. Chip Ganassi Racing driver, Kyle Larson, was also signed as a development driver two years ago, and is now competing for Rookie of the year honors in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

    The Turner-Scott Motorsports team decided to not bring out a back-up car, therefore, Kwasniewski will be starting 11th in Saturday’s Drive to Stop Diabetes 300.

  • Dylan Kwasniewski Snatches Daytona Pole After Gerhart Fails Tech

    Dylan Kwasniewski Snatches Daytona Pole After Gerhart Fails Tech

    Dylan Kwasniewski continued his impressive resume after capturing the pole for Saturday’s Lucas Oil 200 presented by MAVTV American Real at Daytona International Speedway.

    Kwasniewski, 18, garnered the pole after Bobby Gerhart failed post-qualifying inspection. Gerhart, after his time was disallowed, will begin the event dead last. Gerhart has witnessed victory lane in the ARCA Racing Series at Daytona four times before, including three consecutive from 2010-2012.

    Grant Enfinger, after a multitude of driver’s failed post-qualifying inspection, will inherit the second starting position. Enfinger, 29, recently finished second in the Snowball Derby.

    Buster Graham, like Enfinger, moved up the starting lineup after other competitor’s times were disallowed. Graham will begin the 200 mile event in the third position.

    Chase Elliott, NASCAR Nationwide Series driver, and Mark Thompson rounded out the top five. This will be Elliott’s first ARCA event at the famed Daytona International Speedway.

    Leilani Munter, Justin Boston and Spencer Gallagher were among the other drivers that failed post-qualifying inspection. Gallagher, after the penalty, removed himself from the entry list.

    The season opener for the ARCA Racing Series takes the green flag at 4 PM Eastern Time tomorrow, and can be viewed live on Fox Sports One with timing and scoring on the ARCA Racing Series web site.

  • Sprint Cup, Nationwide Rookies Show Promise In Testing

    Sprint Cup, Nationwide Rookies Show Promise In Testing

    The cars are on the track, the teams are meticulously preparing their race cars for the beginning of the 2014 season, and the rookies are outshining the veterans, at least in testing. Starting with the Sprint Cup Series, Austin Dillon, the 2013 Nationwide Series Champion, had the fastest car in Sprint Cup Preseason Thunder Testing at 195.109 mph. He was followed by his RCR teammate and fellow rookie Brian Scott.

    Fans were delighted to see the eldest Dillon brother rise to the top of the speed charts since his car carries the prestigious number 3 on the doors. Fellow rookie competitor Kyle Larson was fifth quickest at 193.411 mph.

    As for the Nationwide Series, the story remains the same. The rookies are showing a lot of promise and one driver has shown that he is the clear favorite for the pole if not the win: Dylan Kwasniewski. In the Saturday morning test at Daytona, Kwasniewski was had the fastest car, posting a speed of 183.408 mph. He was also fastest in Sunday’s morning test and was the only driver to break the 190-mph barrier. Kwasniewski, who was the 2013 K&N Pro Series East Champion, was also ninth in the Saturday evening session. Fellow Nationwide rookies Chase Elliott and Chad Boat paced the Saturday and Sunday afternoon sessions respectively.

    So the question remains: What does this all mean? In reality, not much, other than the fact that Austin Dillon and Dylan Kwasniewski are major threats to win the pole in their respective series. Other than that, it’s too early to determine whether or not Dillon or Kwasniewski (or any other rookie) will actually win a couple of races in 2014.

    However, I will predict that Austin Dillon will win a race in 2014, which will most likely come on a restrictor plate track. How will much-hyped Kyle Larson fair in 2014? It’s very difficult to say, but something tells me that his season might be statistically similar to Ricky Stenhouse’s season last year. So, are these test speeds foreshadowing great things to come for the 2014 NASCAR Rookie Class? Only time will tell.