Kulwicki Driver Development Program Begins North American Search for 2026 ‘Underbirds’

Applications are being accepted for the 2026 season of the Kulwicki Driver Development Program, a North American initiative to help the top short-track stock car drivers achieve their dreams while keeping alive the legacy of 1992 NASCAR Cup champion and NASCAR Hall of Fame member Alan Kulwicki.

APPLY FOR KULWICKI DRIVER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

The application deadline is January 23, 2026, at midnight ET.

Five drivers will be selected to participate in the season-long competition for the 2026 Kulwicki Cup. Known as “Underbirds” in honor of Kulwicki’s 1992 championship Ford which was named the Underbird, the drivers will be judged on race results, off-track civic participation, program promotion, fan interaction, and stewardship of Alan Kulwicki’s story. Crew members from Kulwicki’s 1992 Cup championship team will be advisors to the five finalists.

In the only driver development program that pays its participants, each driver will receive money, goods and services valued at $7,000. During the season, the drivers will receive training sessions that focus on fitness, media presentation and social media so they will be better prepared to take their careers to the next level. Throughout the season, the five finalists will compete against each other for $30,000 in money, goods and services to be divided among the top three finishers at the end of the season. Each driver selected for the program is required to compete in a minimum of 14 races.

Those wishing to participate in the program should have experience in asphalt Late Model, Pro Late Model or Super Late Model stock cars, or a comparable style of racing.

Drivers not eligible for the program are those who have competed in, or plan to compete in 2026 in NASCAR’s three national touring series – Cup, O’Reilly Auto Parts and Craftsman Truck; NASCAR’s Canadian and Mexico series and ARCA’s three Menards Series – national, East and West. There is no age limit, but preference will be given to candidates between the ages of 16 and 25.

For additional information on the Kulwicki Driver Development Program, please visit the official website at www.kulwickiddp.com. The program can be followed on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

KDDP: Created in 2014 by Alan Kulwicki’s family to perpetuate the NASCAR Hall of Fame member and 1992 NASCAR Cup champion’s legacy, the Kulwicki Driver Development Program has had 50 drivers from 18 states, and two Canadian provinces compete in the North American initiative. Even though the program was suspended in 2020 due to the COVID pandemic, it still has awarded $1,044,902 in stipends and championship awards. Overall, the 10 classes have competed in 1,514 races, produced 238 victories, and 750 top-five and 1,098 top-10 finishes. Ty Majeski, the 2024 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion, was the program’s inaugural winner.

-Kulwicki Driver Development Program Release
-Photo credit: Will Bellamy