He’s a two-time back-to-back champion in two of NASCAR’s development series, the NASCAR K&N East and West division, but Dylan Kwasniewski has admirations to be a lot more.
The Las Vegas, Nevada native showed it Saturday and Sunday at Daytona International Speedway testing for Turner Scott Motorsports driving the No. 31 Chevrolet Camaro that was manned by Justin Allgaier the past three seasons. Kwasniewski led Saturday morning’s session pacing the field at 49.071 seconds at 183.408 miles per hour. In drafting, he ranked ninth Saturday afternoon, but rebounded to quickest overall Sunday morning posting the fastest time of the weekend at 47.363 seconds at 190.022 miles per hour, the only car to break into the 190 miles per hour barrier.
And while it’s unknown whether the Royal Purple and Rockstar Energy Drink-backed driver will return to Speedweeks in six weeks to make his NASCAR Nationwide Series debut for the DRIVE4COPD 300 on February 22, the 18-year old driver has played his cards right to earn a shot to return and make his biggest NASCAR start yet.
“Yeah, it was awesome (the test), definitely a learning experience and a dream come true all in one,” said Kwasniewski. “I’m just happy to be out here, the weather was perfect, we skipped out from the rain, so that’s good, we got some practice in. It’s just getting used to these cars, tracks and definitely getting used to the draft. I’m all new to all of it, so whatever I can soak in and whatever I information I can get, I’ll take it.”
Even though the 11-time NASCAR K&N winner doesn’t have any firm plans yet when it comes to NASCAR at Daytona, the likeable young-gun feels he’ll be participating in the Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) season-opener, a week before the Nationwide race on February 15. Kwasniewski made his ARCA debut last October at
Kansas Speedway driving for the potent Venturini Motorsports earning the pole and finishing fourth.
“I’m not really sure yet what’s next, we’ll take it from here, but whatever is thrown at us, we’ll take it,” Kwasniewski remarked. “We don’t have our 2014 plans figured out. Hopefully, we’ll get some stuff going. Like I’ve said (before) we’re going to try and do the ARCA race. If some stuff does come up, we’ll do it. That’s our goal right now.”
If that stuff does fuse together, Kwasniewski is expected to be entered in a Turner Scott Motorsports car, something similar to what the team fielded for Kyle Larson last year, who finished second in his restrictor plate debut. With little hesitation, the humbled teenager should be a factor in the Lucas Oil 200 presented by MATV American Real if he can avoid the carnage.
Pending the outcome of that race, Kwasniewski, now a North Carolina resident could earn his license to compete in the Nationwide Series. TSM wasn’t afraid to shy away from the fact that they utilized their driver this weekend to help with that approval process.
But whether the Sprint Cup hopeful competes in the ARCA race or not, his somewhat clouded future appears to have beam of light shining through. The buzz in the garage is that Kwasniewski’s season is all but set as the second full-time Nationwide Series driver for TSM alongside Kyle Larson.
And that would be a good thing for not only him, but for the rest of the sport too.
Follow Chris Knight on Twitter @Knighter01.
