With just one weekend remaining in the Kulwicki Driver Development Program “Kulwicki Cup” competition, drivers at opposite ends of the standings are looking for a strong finish to the 2016 season.
Jay, Maine’s Dave Farrington, Jr. has been on an absolute tear over the past couple of weeks, racing six times since October 7 and picking up two valuable wins. Shortly after the September judging cycle for the KDDP program had ended, Farrington picked up a win at Wiscasset Speedway. He followed it up with another victory at the Maine short track on October 8.
Farrington raced three times during the weekend of October 14, including two trips to Unity Speedway and a strong top-10 at Oxford Plains Speedway. This past weekend, Farrington came from the rear of the field to take the victory in the 75-lap Granite State Pro Stock Series (GSPSS) feature at the Waterford Speedbowl in Connecticut.
Farrington’s recent success has vaulted him into the 2nd position in the competition point aspect for the 2016 “Kulwicki Cup,” just behind West Coast campaigner Jeremy Doss, who has been on a recent tear of his own. Doss, who hails from Upper Lake, California, scored three big victories in October. However, another late season victory for Farrington could vault him past Doss into the top spot as for the on-track competition.
Farrington and his small family-run team will hit the road again this weekend, traveling (for the first time) to Seekonk Speedway in Massachusetts for the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) 150 on Saturday afternoon.
“We are headed to Seekonk for race number 38 on the year,” said Farrington, the only two-time representative of the KDDP, which had its inaugural season in 2015. “I can’t believe what we have accomplished this year. We have put everything into this car and racing all we can this season. We’re even considering heading down to Concord (N.C.) Speedway for the PASS South season finale during the first weekend of November (after the Kulwicki program judging period has concluded).
“Tom Roberts (KDDP Executive Director) and the board members have pushed us to step up our program and attend races we never thought we would have this year,” said Farrington, the 2014 NASCAR Maine State Champion who finished third in Beech Ridge Motor Speedway Pro Series points this season. “Their support really inspired us to consider making the 1,050-mile trek down to North Carolina next weekend.”
“All of our 2016 competitors are special young men, but Dave Farrington should be commended for going the extra mile in representing the KDDP this season,” said Roberts. “Dave has competed in 37 races at 10 different tracks throughout the Northeast, all while working full-time at the Bath Iron Works building warships. He has an incredible heart, unparalleled desire and such a love for racing.”
Newton, North Carolina’s Brandon Setzer is also looking to close out the 2016 campaign on a high note and build momentum towards 2017. Setzer’s season has never really gotten fully on track, as he faced numerous mechanical and handling issues during much of the year. However, Setzer and his fellow CARS Tour competitors are headed back to his home track, Hickory Motor Speedway, where he has recorded three top-five finishes in Super Late Model competition in 2016. Last season, the second-generation driver set the SLM track record during CARS Tour competition at Hickory and picked up the victory in the Mason Dixon Meltdown 200 in November.
“While the victories haven’t come like they did in 2015, Brandon has still had a very good season in my eyes,” said Roberts. “We have been so proud of the work he has done with the Boys and Girls Club in his hometown. Through the year, he could be found playing pickup basketball with the kids, taking them to the track for a testing date and raising money for them with 50/50 raffles at the CARS Tour events. He is a super young man from a great racing family and we look forward to seeing him succeed in 2017 and beyond.” Heading into this weekend’s race, Setzer sits second in the CARS Tour Super Late Model series point standings, 35 points behind leader Raphael Lessard, and 11 ahead of third-place Matt Craig.
Setzer and the CARS Tour Super Late Model drivers, along with all the Late Model Stock Car competitors, will hit the historical .363-mile Hickory Motor Speedway this Saturday for the Cloer Construction 300. Qualifying is set for 4:30 p.m., followed by an on-track fan autograph session at 6:30 p.m. The twin 150-lap features begin at 7:30 p.m. ET.
KDDP PR
