He was the youngest winner in the K&N Pro Series West in 2011 and became its youngest champion last season at age 17.
This high school senior is articulate and engaging, traits that entice sponsors along with his success on the track.
He earned the West title by winning three races and scoring 12 top-5 finishes in 15 races, never finishing outside the top 10 in a series race. In fact, he’s registered only four finishes outside of the top 10 in the West Series in 28 starts.
His success goes back to the time he was introduced to racing before he was five years old.
“I just had a true passion for the sport,” Kwasniewski says. “I think my parents saw that there was something. We just furthered my career and then it grew into this.”
His next step is to compete in the K&N Pro Series East division in 2013 for Turner Motorsports.
David Smith says: “Kwasniewski’s rise to the top of NASCAR’s Pro Series West division was meteoric. In 2011, his rookie campaign, he earned a serviceable 1.667 PEER through the first half of the season. In the second half he registered a 3.929 PEER, foreshadowing even more improvement in 2012. Against fields littered with veteran drivers and owners, he won last year’s title with three wins, a 3.8 average finish and a series-best 5.233 PEER. The question you ask is whether he can he come East and do the same thing against a series that is a high competitive jump. I think he can do well, but I think that question does exist. It’s time to see what he can do in a series against kids that are just as good as he is. Can he outthink them? Can he outdrive them?”
Watching the last lap of the Nationwide Drive 4 COPD 300, my heart was pumping. It had been a perfect race for NASCAR fans; lots of drafting and passing. That exhilaration dissolved immediately, as from the television screen, this fan witnessed the #32 car of rookie Kyle Larson spin and fly much like a white plastic grocery bag caught in a stubborn wind.
The huge wreck, which involved 12 cars, happened after driver Regan Smith, who was leading the race, tried to block Brad Keselowski. "I threw a block there," Smith said. "I knew Brad was going to try to make a move on me. ... If I'm in the same situation tomorrow, I'll do the same thing again."
Not being a huge Larson fan, my relief was still giddy as the youngster dropped the window net and bolted out of the mangled cube of metal that had been was his racecar just ninety feet prior.
Respite quickly morph into terror however, when the realization of fan injuries crept into reality. Large chunks of debris, including a tire, had landed in the stands. At least thirty spectators, including a child, were negatively impacted by the flying shrapnel of the airborne racecar.
However, today as the wait for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Daytona 500 is less than two hours long, the official word that all of the injured fans appear to be improving lifts a heavy burden.
Joie Chitwood III, president of Daytona International Speedway, said his team met with NASCAR officials at 8 a.m. EST today to review the repairs, hours before 147,000 fans will fill the grandstand seats to watch the Daytona 500 race.
Young fan enjoys spending time with K&N Pro Series West Driver Moses Smith
In light of the news that one of the injured is a child, many people have criticized parents who bring their children to these racing events. However, this author cannot imagine a better family activity. NASCAR labors tirelessly to insure the safety of both the drivers and fan of their sport.
However, you can never keep your children a hundred percent safe. If you bring your child to the beach, they can step on glass or get stung by a stingray. If you drive your child to a baseball game, they can get hit by the ball. The examples are endless.
Watching a NASCAR race in your comfortable, air conditioned house is vastly different than watching the race in the grandstands. The look on the face of young NASCAR fans as they meet their favorite driver is priceless. The bond between a father and son at the race track is rare and remarkable.
"We've always known this is a dangerous sport," race winner Tony Stewart said. "But it's hard when the fans get caught up in it."
It is indeed difficult when these misfortunes occur, but we should not allow them to overcast the wonder that is NASCAR!
Michael Waltrip will drive the No. 26 Toyota supporting the Sandy Hook School
Support Fund during the 2013 Daytona 500. (Image Courtesy Swan Racing)
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Using the biggest race of the year as a backdrop, NASCAR, Swan Racing and two-time Daytona 500 champion Michael Waltrip announced today a special tribute to raise awareness and contributions for the Sandy Hook School Support Fund.
Following a private meeting with town officials, community leaders, first responders and victims’ families last week in Newtown, Conn., NASCAR, Swan Racing and Waltrip announced that the No. 30 Lean1 Swan Racing Toyota will instead garner the No. 26 Sandy Hook School Support Fund Toyota. Waltrip’s ride for the Daytona 500 (Sunday, Feb. 24 1 p.m. ET on FOX) will honor the 26 victims of Sandy Hook Elementary School and prominently feature a call-to-action decal encouraging the NASCAR community to make $10 donations by texting NEWTOWN to 80888.
The Sandy Hook School Support Fund, established jointly by United Way of Western Connecticut and Newtown Savings Bank, supports the healing process for the broader Newtown community including children, teachers, first responders, families, residents, mental health professionals, counselors and others, following the tragic events that occurred at Sandy Hook Elementary School in December. One hundred percent of the funds raised for the Sandy Hook School Support Fund go to meet the needs of the Newtown community.
“Americans everywhere are heartbroken about the tragedy in Newtown and Swan Racing is proud to join NASCAR and the United Way of Western Connecticut to help the community move forward,” said Swan Racing owner Brandon Davis.
In addition to piloting the No. 26 Newtown car in the Great American Race, Waltrip confirmed today that all three Michael Waltrip Racing entries will run the “text NEWTOWN to 80888” decal for the Daytona 500.
“Driving the No. 26 Sandy Hook School Support Fund Toyota is like nothing I have ever been part of in my NASCAR career,” Waltrip said. “It will be an emotional week knowing that we have the potential to do so much good for the Newtown community. I’m racing for a reason.”
NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France also announced today that he and his wife Amy would personally kick off the NASCAR industry support with a $50,000 donation that will be matched by The NASCAR Foundation, a 501(c) (3) non-profit that embodies the compassion of the NASCAR family and its commitment to serving communities.
“Being in Newtown last week and delivering a moment of happiness to that community was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced,” said France. “Looking out at a room of smiling faces amidst the aftermath of a horrible tragedy was very powerful. It hit me that the NASCAR industry and our passionate fan base have an unbelievable opportunity to rally around this cause and make a huge difference for a community in need. I am excited to witness firsthand the NASCAR community’s embrace and support of the Sandy Hook School Support Fund.”
The Sandy Hook School Support Fund recently announced in cooperation with the Newtown Rotary Club Foundation that funds are available to help with the immediate financial and mental health needs for people impacted by the tragic events of Dec. 14.
“One thing I can tell you for sure, is that there will be a whole lot of people in Sandy Hook and Newtown rooting for Michael and the No 26 car,” said Sandy Hook Fire Chief Bill Halstead. “It will be something positive to rally around, and there will be smiles on faces that haven’t smiled in quite a while.”
The NASCAR Foundation (through NASCAR Dreams), Littleton School District and Phoenix International Raceway (PIR) have come together to engage young fans and families through events and at-track activation during race week at PIR in Phoenix , Arizona.
On, Wednesday, February 27, Gears and Galaxies at the Challenger Space Center will engage 300 children and families from Littleton Schools in hands-on science activities, demonstations and a Q&A with a NASCAR driver and NASA astronaut.
More than 1,000 students from the schools will then have the opportunity to attend the NASCAR Toyota Mexico Series Race through the district's Incentive for Excellence Program, including meet and greets with the drivers and learning curriculum about the sport. Finally, a select group of students will earn a VIP Experience at PIR on NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race day through their outstanding work in the Excellence Program.
Stay tuned on NASCAR's Facebook and Twitter pages as they highlight the students' NASCAR Dreams come true! Want to help fund programs such as these? Click HERE!
“School project Kayla had to bring in a historical family artifact. This is a Hans Device. NASCAR implemented this after Dad's accident as Neck/Head support. This like all safety measures changed our sport today and has saved the lives of many drivers”
Kerry Dale Earnhardt (born December 8, 1969) is a NASCAR driver and the eldest son of seven-time NASCAR Winston Cup champion Dale Earnhardt Sr.
At the 2001 Daytona 500 on February 18, 2001, Earnhardt was involved in a fatal racing incident. An autopsy concluded that Earnhardt died of blunt force trauma to his head.
The HANS device (also known as a head restraint and/or Head and Neck Support device) is a safety item compulsory in many car racing sports. It reduces the likelihood of head and/or neck injuries, such as a basilar skull fracture, in the event of a crash.
This mother of a race car driver is thankful to the Earnhardt family for their sacrifice.
