The seven drivers who will represent the Kulwicki Driver Development Program (KDDP) for the 2024 racing season will come from a diverse group of 15 semifinalists that were announced this morning on official media partner RacingAmerica.com.
The drivers range from 14 to 26 years of age (18.7 average) and represent 12 different states; Alabama, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Massachusetts, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Vermont, Washington and Wisconsin (4 drivers).
“The process to select our 2024 KDDP driver lineup has already required some extremely difficult choices by our organization’s voting panel members,” said KDDP executive director Tom Roberts. “There were 29 different drivers who received votes during the initial round of judging and the board did a fantastic job in narrowing it down to 15 semifinalists. They certainly face an incredible task in selecting just seven drivers out of this group to carry the KDDP colors and compete for the Kulwicki Cup this season.
“The desire to be a KDDP driver continues to grow in the short track racing world each year and I think this distinct group of semifinalists certainly reflects that,” Roberts said. “The quantity of applicants for our 2024 program was very impressive, but it was the quality of competitors who applied that was most striking to us. We had numerous track and series champions among those who didn’t make our semifinalist list this time around.
“Our board members did an absolutely incredible job in choosing these 15 semifinalists,” said Roberts. “I would have welcomed any of the applicants that the board considered into the group. While they were able to narrow it down to these 15 drivers, there were so many more who would have been quality candidates for the seven finalist spots for our 2024 program.”
The 15 KDDP semifinalists for 2024 include, in alphabetical order (DOB, Hometown, Highlights, Plans for 2024 & Social Media Information):
BRADEN BERGE:
Elkhorn, Wisconsin -- 20 (3/20/03) -- 2023 Alive For Five Rookie of the Year-- Runner up in the Dells Raceway Park Championship in 2023 -- 2023 Dells Raceway Park Rookie of the Year -- Plans to run full time in the ASA Midwest Tour this season as well as the full Alive for five series -- Plans on also running special races at Slinger, Grundy County, Lacrosse among others -- Twitter: @braden_berge Instagram: @braden.berge
CHASE BURDA:
Lapeer, Michigan -- 19 (12/30/04) -- 2023 JEGS/CRA Series Champion -- Winner of the Master of the Pros Series Race at Owosso Speedway -- Running several special Pro and Super Late Model Races throughout 2024 including Money in the Bank and Battle at Berlin at Berlin Raceway -- Also plans to run the Winchester 400 and the All American 400 at Nashville Fairgrounds among other races -- Twitter: @chaseburda18 Instagram: @chaseburdamotorsports
TJ DECAIRE:
Land O Lakes, Florida -- 17 (10/14/06) -- Part of the NASCAR Drive for Diversity Class for 2024 -- Will run a Late Model for Rev Racing in the Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series-- Running for Highlands Motorsports in the Cars Tour in a Pro Late Model -- Plans on also running 5-10 Late Model Races in Florida when the schedule allows -- Twitter: @tjdecaireracing Instagram: @tjdecaireracing
TY FREDRICKSON:
Webster, Minnesota -- 14 (3/16/09) -- Son of Dan Fredrickson; scored his first podium in his first ASA Midwest Tour Start at Oktoberfest in 2023. Starting his season at Speedweeks in New Smyrna -- He will also be running the entire ASA Midwest Tour Schedule in 2024 and go for Rookie of the Year -- Twitter: @tyfredrickson36-- Instagram: @tyfredrickson36
DEREK GLUCHACKI:
Dartmouth, Massachusetts -- 22 (10/23/01) -- 2023 KDDP Semifinalist -- Two-time defending Northeast Classic Winner at New Hampshire for the American Canadian Tour -- Won 2 Races on the ACT Tour last year -- Plans to run the entire 2024 ACT Tour -- Also plans to go for the Late Model Championship at Thompson Speedway and plans to compete in the Walls Ford Championship at White Mountain Motorsports Park in a four-race series -- Twitter: @DerekGluchacki Instagram: @derek.gluchacki
EVAN GOETZ:
Okanogan, Washington -- 16 (9/19/07) -- Became the youngest winner in the Fall Classic at Tri City Raceway in 2023 -- Running the Full Northwest Super Late Model Tour as well as selected big Pro Late Model Races across the Pacific Northwest -- Instagram: @evangoetzracing
JEVIN GURALSKI:
Wausau, Wisconsin -- 16 (11/16/07) -- Finished 2nd in his first ASA Midwest Tour Start at State Park Speedway -- Plans to race for track championships at Golden Sands and Marshfield -- Will run a limited schedule at Jefferson in a -- Plans to run the ASA Midwest Tour Races at Wausau and Jefferson -- Could potentially run the full Tundra Series schedule as well -- Twitter: @jevin_guralski Instagram: @jevin.guralski
CASSIDY HINDS:
Arvada, Colorado -- 20 (7/31/03) -- 2023 KDDP Semifinalist -- First female to win at Colorado National in a Pro Truck -- First female to win for Naake-Klauer Motorsports in a Pro Late Model -- Plans are to run a Super Late Model at Colorado National Speedway and is also planning to run a Super Late Model at Tucson -- Twitter: @chindsracing Instagram: @cassidyhindsracing
TAYLOR HOAR:
South Hero, Vermont -- 21 (7/6/02) -- Will be the first female in over a decade to go for the Late Model/Late Model Stock Championship at Thunder Road while also going for Rookie of the Year honors – Competing in the ACT Tour Races at Thunder Road -- Plans to run for the Walls Ford Triple Crown in a Late Model -- Twitter: @taylorhoar48 Instagram: @taylorhoarracing
MAX KAHLER:
Caledonia, Illinois -- 20 (4/9/03) -- 2021 KDDP Finalist -- 2020 National Short Track Champion -- 2023 UMA Super Late Model Champion -- Running the full ASA Midwest Tour schedule and the Alive for Five Series races at Dells Raceway -- Plans to run the Slinger Nationals and select Tundra Series Races -- Twitter: @max_kahler Instagram: @maxkahler_
KODY KING:
Clear Lake, Iowa -- 16 (5/14/01) -- 2022 Hawkeye Downs Late Model Champion -- Finished 5th in the Cars Tour Pro Late Model standings in 2022 -- Plans to run the full ASA Midwest Tour Schedule and the Alive for Five Series at Dells Raceway -- Will also be doing special Pro Late/Limited Late Model races if times allows -- Instagram: @kodykingmotorsports
KENDRICK KREYER:
Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin -- 16 (7/16/07) -- 2023 Golden Sands Pro Late Model Track Champion -- Plans to run a full Pro and Super Late Schedule at Golden Sands Speedway in 2024 -- Running a part-time schedule in ASA Midwest Tour competition as well as the Big 8 Late Model Series -- Facebook only currently
GRANT THOMPSON:
Mobile, Alabama -- 18 (2/6/06) -- 2020 Pro Truck Snowball Derby Champion -- Plans to run select Pro Late Model races at New Smyrna, Montgomery, Five Flags and Mobile -- Also plans to run in select Pro Late Model Cars Tour and Cars Tour West Races -- Twitter: @granthompson54 Instagram: @granthompsonracing
LEVON VAN DER GEEST:
Merrill, Wisconsin – 19 (4/17/04) --Youngest winner ever at Milwaukee Mile (Midwest Trucks at 15) – 2023 KDDP Finalist made successful transition from trucks to SLM -- Competing in a Super Late Model on the ASA Midwest Tour, Golden Sands & Dells Raceway (Alive for 5 Series) along with the Slinger Nationals – Engineering student at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee – Twitter: @Levon231 Instagram: @levon_vdg
BRANDON VARNEY:
Auburn, Maine - 26 (7/27/97) -- Won in his second-ever career Super Late Model start at Oxford Plains Speedway – Small family-run team competing in the Oxford Weekly Series in a Super Late Model -- Running select PASS Races, including the Oxford 250 -- Facebook only currently
“While I’m certain that all 15 of these young racers are thrilled to be among our semifinalists, I want to extend a special message to all of the other applicants who were not selected,” said Roberts. “Keep honing your skills on and off the track, keep chasing those checkered flags and please consider applying again for the 2025 edition of our program.
“With only seven of these 15 semifinalists advancing to be a finalist this season, that is the exact same message we’ll be giving the eight drivers who don’t make it this year. Just having the distinction of being a KDDP semifinalist is truly an accomplishment in itself and something to be very proud of.
“The next step in the process to determine the 2024 KDDP class will be the Zoom interview sessions the voting panel will be having with each of the semifinalists,” said Roberts. “While our group will be getting to know all the semifinalists better, we encourage everyone to follow these 15 young racers on their social media platforms. They are all outstanding young racers who have already accomplished a great deal in their careers.”
Driver interviews will take place February 27-29. After a final review and vote by our panel, the 2024 KDDP team of seven drivers is scheduled to be announced on RacingAmerica.com on Tuesday, March 19.
The seven selected drivers will each receive a one-time stipend of $7,777 to cover operational expenses. The organization will work to provide the drivers assistance in important aspects such as publicity, marketing, sponsorship development and industry networking during the season as they compete for the “grand prize.” The Kulwicki Cup winner will pick up an additional prize worth seven times the initial award ($7,777 x 7 = $54,439) and a special unique Kulwicki Cup Trophy. The 2024 KDDP Kulwicki Cup Champion will join the distinguished group of former titlists that includes Ty Majeski (2015), Alex Prunty (2016), Cody Haskins (2017), Brett Yackey (2018), Jeremy Doss (2019), Luke Fenhaus (2021), Dylan Zampa (2022) and Max Cookson (2023).
READ MORE: Cookson, KDDP Class of 2023 Honored at Awards Banquet
The Kulwicki Cup competition goes from April 1 through Oct. 31. The contest’s points system is based on a combination of judging input from members of the voting panel and the drivers’ on-track performance. Drivers are given points for both their success in chasing checkered flags and for community engagement, program representation and social media activities.
The KDDP urges you to keep up with all of its news and activities by regularly visiting RacingAmerica.com, the organization’s official media partner.
-Kulwicki Driver Development Program Release
