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Erik Tavares photo
Hickory, NC — It was announced today in Charlotte, North Carolina that American-Canadian Tour and Thompson Speedway standout Derek Gluchacki has made the list of semi-finalists for the highly acclaimed Kulwicki Driver Development Program (KDDP). The program has partnered with racers from across North America the past seven seasons to offer a stipend of sponsorship money as well as working with these racers to provide assistance with publicity, marketing, sponsorship development and industry networking throughout the season. Gluchacki has been chosen from a massive list of applicants from across the continent as one of fifteen semi-finalists, before the final seven drivers are determined, in memory of Alan Kulwicki and his iconic #7 team he took to the 1992 NASCAR Cup Series championship.
The North Dartmouth, Massachusetts-native has been a Late Model standout in Southern New England and along the American Canadian Tour over the last four seasons. After taking the 2020 Rookie of the Year award from the ACT Tour, he took his first ACT win at this home track of Thompson Speedway at the Sunoco World Series in 2021.
In 2022 alone, Derek Gluchacki was able to take home three ACT Tour wins at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Oxford Plains Speedway and New London-Waterford Speedbowl. Gluchacki was also able to come home in the runner up for the Thompson Speedway Late Model track championship with two weekly series wins and took the inaugural Wall’s Ford Platinum Late Model Series at New Hampshire’s White Mountain Motorsports Park by sweeping all three events.
“Yeah, I’m pretty excited, and very fortunate to be chosen as a Kulwicki Driver Development semi-finalist,” said Gluchacki in the Hickory Motor Speedway pits on Thursday. “We have the interview in a couple weeks to see if we can go all the way, make Tom (Roberts with KDDP) proud and continue the legacy of Alan Kulwicki.”
When asked if his schedule would be competitive with other KDDP members, Gluchacki confidently said “Absolutely. We’re planning a run at the American-Canadian Tour championship and we’ll be running Thompson Speedway again and some White Mountain shows. Although the Tri-Track Modified deal kind-of fell through, there is still a chance of some Modified racing this year if I can secure some sponsorship.”
“All of us at ACT are pretty excited,” said ACT managing partner Cris Michaud. “Derek has really matured into a great driver and to have the Kulwicki Driver Development Program possibly determined on the American-Canadian Tour or on some of our tracks, it’s an exciting opportunity.”
While we wait to see if Derek Gluchacki joins the final seven of the Kulwicki Driver Development Program, the Massachusetts stand-out is practicing here at Hickory Motor Speedway for the St. Patrick’s Day 125 and the Easter Bunny 125 on Friday, March 17th and Saturday, March 18th. This weekend’s twin tripleheader events that also include the Pro All Stars Series and the Mighty Mini Stock Series will be broadcast on Racing America for our snow-bound fans. A full schedule for the weekend is available at www.proallstarsseries.com.
For more information, contact the ACT offices at (802) 244-6963, media@acttour.com, or visit www.acttour.com. You can also get updates on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram at @ACTTour.
