RYAN BLANEY

Wood Brothers Racing has had veteran NASCAR drivers like Ricky Rudd, Ken Schrader and Bill Elliott behind the wheel of the No. 21 Ford in the last decade or so.

More recently, the team has gone with developing drivers.

Ryan Blaney, 20, has signed to run the Wood Brothers' partial Sprint Cup schedule in 2015.

He follows Trevor Bayne, who was 20 when he took over as driver of the 21 in 2011. Bayne, who won the Daytona 500 in 2011, is to run the No. 6 Roush Fenway Racing Ford next year.

"Youth seems to be what it is all about," team co-owner Eddie Wood said at Michigan International Speedway on Friday. "We had really good results and relationship with Trevor, and I can see the same thing with Ryan."

Blaney's father, Dave, is a part-time Sprint Cup driver.

"I have known Ryan's dad since he came into the sport and it is a really grounded family," Wood said. "It is a racing family, as we are.

"I have grandkids now, and kids are the coolest thing."
Blaney leads the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series points heading into Saturday's race at MIS.