Ty Fredrickson Accepts 2024 Kulwicki Cup at KDDP Banquet

Ty Fredrickson formally accepted the 2024 Kulwicki Cup and the $54,439 prize as this year’s Kulwicki Driver Development Program champion on Thursday night at the Speedway Club at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Fredrickson, a 15-year-old driver from Minnesota, won the 2024 TUNDRA Super Late Model Series championship and the Rookie of the Year Award in the ASA Midwest Tour.

In 36 races while representing KDDP between April and October, Fredrickson won 10 times, with 23 top-fives and 29 top-10 finishes. It was a massive season for the driver just getting his start in Super Late Model competition.

“We started out 2024 on a shoestring budget, just trying to get races and compete and gain experience,” said Fredrickson during his acceptance speech. “We won two races right off the bat, and everybody stepped up to the plate to make this a storybook season.

“Our sponsors are here for one reason and one reason only. They believe in me and my journey to become a NASCAR Cup Series Champion. And for that, I owe them the most sincere thank you.”

Many of Fredrickson’s victories came on the short tracks of Wisconsin, cutting his teeth on some of the same circuits Alan Kulwicki developed his craft.

“Racing in Wisconsin is a very special deal. Usually, I go to a race, go to bed around midnight, wake up at another race track, and do that for three or four nights a week. We couldn’t have had the season without our crew guys.

“In 2024, I ran 41 races against some of the best in the business, including going door-to-door with Ty Majeski and leaving him a few donuts – and no, not the ones you eat. Thank you, Ty, for all the off-track support and advice you’ve given me and for the continued guidance.”

“I also got to learn from some of the veterans like Casey Johnson, Andrew Morrissey, Jeff Storm, Ryan Farrell, Matt Craig, Bubba Pollard, Stephen Nasse and a handful of others has really accelerated all my career, as well as competing against champions like Sommers, Zehr, Eswein, Litchfield, Reffner, Goede has taught me about consistency and racing for championships.”

Perhaps just as importantly, Fredrickson learned valuable lessons through the Kulwicki Driver Development off the racetrack.

“The program has taught me so much and all the lessons in conducting myself outside the race car, having good health and fitness, has taught me so much and I will keep that for the rest of my career.”

Fredrickson joins Majeski, Alex Prunty, Cody Haskins, Brett Yackey, Jeremy Doss, Luke Fenhaus, Dylan Zampa and Max Cookson on the list of Kulwicki Driver Development Program champions.

In closing his speech, Fredrickson offered advice to the next group of finalists who will be in the program in 2025, hoping to join him on that illustrious list.

“For the next KDDP class, I have some words. Number one, be prepared to work your guts out, both on and off the race track. Number two, be prepared to have six other young racers trying their hardest, nipping at your heels all summer. Number three, be prepared to accomplish 10 times as much as you think you can accomplish. Number four, be prepared to have your career supercharged.”

Click here to watch a free, on-demand replay of the 2024 Kulwicki Driver Development Program banquet. Along with speeches from all seven of this year's KDDP finalists, the banquet also featured a "tire-side chat" between NASCAR Cup Series competitor Josh Berry and broadcasting veteran Mike Joy, discussing Berry's career and ascension to the Cup Series.

-Photo credit: Will Bellamy, Racing America