ACT Title Chaser Gluchacki Named Kulwicki Driver Development Program Finalist
Barre, VT — It was announced this morning in Charlotte, North Carolina that American-Canadian Tour standout Derek Gluchacki has made the coveted list of finalists for the highly acclaimed Kulwicki Driver Development Program (KDDP). The program has partnered with racers from across North America the past eight 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 seven finalists in memory of Alan Kulwicki and his iconic #7 team he took to the 1992 NASCAR Cup Series championship.
The Dartmouth, Massachuestts-native has been a Late Model standout in Southern New England and along the American-Canadian Tour over the last five seasons. Gluchacki took the 2020 Rookie of the Year award on the ACT Tour and took his first American-Canadian Tour win at this home track of Thompson Speedway during the Sunoco World Series in 2021.
Since then, Derek Gluchacki has been able to take home five ACT Tour wins including dominant performances at Oxford Plains Speedway and New London-Waterford Speedbowl, his $10,000 payday at Quebec’s Autodrome Montmagny, and two victories at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. While also pulling a non-point, exhibition victory at North Carolina’s Hickory Motor Speedway last spring, Gluchacki also took the inaugural Wall’s Ford Platinum Late Model Series at New Hampshire’s White Mountain Motorsports Park by sweeping all three events in 2023.
After coming close last season to joining the KDDP, his finalist spot this year is sure to be a showcase of talent for the Bay Stater. Along with his American-Canadian Tour championship run, Gluchacki has also stated his intention to run for the Thompson Speedway Late Model track championship once again and return to the Wall’s Ford Platinum Series at White Mountain as the four-race series continues to gain popularity among racers and fans alike.
“We were all glued to our computers this morning,” said ACT managing partner Cris Michaud. “We’re very proud to see one of our own chosen to be a finalist in the Kulwicki program and Derek certainly has what it takes to be a nationally recognized driver, shoulder to shoulder with his other Kulwicki finalists.”
Gluchacki will begin his Kulwicki Driver Development Program points chase at the 50th Icebreaker Weekend at Thompson Speedway as the Thompson Late Models begin their track championship season on Sunday, April 7 alongside the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour.
The American-Canadian Tour kicks off the 2024 season with the 4th annual Northeast Classic at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Saturday, April 13 with Sunday, April 14 set as a built-in rain date if needed. The American-Canadian Tour will contest 13 events in 2024 including visits to some of New England’s most popular weekends and tracks stretching from Connecticut to Quebec, Canada.
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.
Sources: Cale King/American-Canadian Tour PR
(_DSC0729.jpg): Two-time and defending Northeast Classic at New Hampshire Motor Speedway winner Derek Gluchaki of Dartmouth, Massachusetts has been named as one of just seven finalists in the Kulwicki Driver Development Program. (Erik Tavares photo)
(IMG_3696.jpg): Gluchacki has been a storm on the ACT Tour, with six wins to his credit including his biggest payday, the $10,000 CAN-AM 200 win at Autodrome Montmagny last July. (Christian Genest photo)