Chip Ganassi Racing has signed 18-year-old Dylan Kwasniewski as its next development driver

LAS VEGAS – Chip Ganassi Racing has signed 18-year-old Dylan Kwasniewski to be its next development driver.

Ganassi announced the deal with Kwasniewski on Sunday, shortly before the start of the NASCAR race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Kwasniewski's hometown track.

Kwasniewski is in his first season as a full-time driver in the Nationwide Series for Turner Scott Motorsports. Ganassi says the teen probably is still a few years away from being ready for a NASCAR ride.

But the development deal means Kwasniewski will get a head start in learning how to be a Sprint Cup driver. He'll see the inner workings of the Ganassi team, learning alongside its two drivers, Jamie McMurray and 21-year-old Kyle Larson.

Kwasniewski already is Larson's Nationwide teammate at Turner Scott.