Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Two state drivers are Kulwicki finalists.

- DAVE KALLMANN

Wisconsin drivers have gone 2 for 2 in winning the top prize in the Kulwicki Driver Developmen­t Program, and the 2017 season will provide two chances to keep that streak alive.

Braison Bennett of Neenah, the 21-year-old son of a longtime local standout, and Justin Mondeik, a 20-year-old from Gleason, are among the seven finalists announced Thursday.

Bennett won the 2017 late-model championsh­ip at Wisconsin Internatio­nal Raceway in Kaukauna and plans to defend that title while also running the TUNDRA Super Late Models series and other superlate races as time allows. His father, Lowell, has won seven track championsh­ips at Slinger Speedway and five at Wisconsin Internatio­nal Raceway.

Mondeik won rookie titles at State Park, Golden Sands and Marshfield speedways in 2016. He plans to race full time in the ARCA Midwest Tour and TUNDRA series and total more than 40 races.

The Kulwicki Driver Developmen­t Program was establishe­d to assist promising young racers both financiall­y and with industry guidance, as well as carry on the legacy of Alan Kulwicki, the late 1992 NASCAR champion from Greenfield. The winners so far are Ty Majeski of Seymour (2015) and Alex Prunty of Lomira (2016).

The seven finalists were awarded a $7,777 stipend — an allusion to Kulwicki’s car No. 7 — and will compete for the $54,439 Kulwicki Cup.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United States