Jett Barnes certainly impressed at January's Chili Bowl Nationals, where the 14-year-old finished on the podium of his prelim night and advanced to Saturday’s A-main through a consolation race.

Now, the Visalia, Calif., up-and-comer is set for his next step.

Jason Meyers Racing announced Tuesday that Barnes will make his Sprint Car debut in a limited schedule of 360 winged events — four races as part of the initial plan — with the California-based team that also fields standout driver Corey Day. 

Barnes’ initial schedule with JMR includes three appearances at Ocean Speedway in Watsonville, Calif., on March 20, March 27 and April 3, followed by an April 4 start at Placerville Speedway.

“I’m really blessed to have this opportunity with Jason Meyers Racing,” Barnes said. “It’s something not many people get the chance to do, especially with how busy Corey’s schedule is. I’m thankful for Jason, the crew, and everyone involved for believing in me. I’m excited to learn and grow and make the most of it."

The move, which appears to be a developmental deal, fits squarely within Meyers’ philosophy of cultivating young talent.

“We never want to close the door on opportunity,” said Meyers, a two-time World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series champion. “Our main focus this season is Corey’s program, but we built our schedule to support events that make sense for our team, our partners, and the sport. Racing here in California is important to us, and we want to stay involved where it matters.

“We’ve watched Jett for several years now and he’s shown a lot of promise,” Meyers added. “He’s a talented young driver, and what stood out is how his family approaches the sport. Their values and work ethic align with what we believe in as a team. This is a chance to see how everything fits and help him continue to grow.”