CONCORD, N.C. — Two-time Hickory (N.C.) Motor Speedway’s late model champion Michael Bumgarner is the first North Carolina resident selected for the prestigious Kulwicki Driver Development Program since 2023.
A Taylorsville, North Carolina, native, the 22-year-old Bumgarner won his second Hickory Motor Speedway title last year. His 25 victories in 2025 included 22 in late model, two in limited late model and one in Super Truck. He won Hickory Motor Speedway’s Bobby Isaac Memorial and the Fall Brawl, was the Grand Slam champion, and was Caraway (N.C.) Speedway’s Crown $10,000 winner. He secured 30 top-five and 30 top-10 finishes in 2025.
In 2023 he was NASCAR’s Weekly Series Rookie of the Year.
This season, Bumgarner plans to compete in 14 to 20 late model races, including events at Hickory, North Wilkesboro and Martinsville. He also will compete in select CARS Tour races.
When Bumgarner isn’t racing he is involved with Millersville Baptist Church’s youth program and assists teachers during the church’s annual Bible school.
This year, as a KDDP finalist, Bumgarner will compete against four other drivers from across the United States to determine the 2026 Kulwicki Cup winner. In addition to on-track performance, the five finalists will be judged on off-track civic participation, program promotion, fan interaction and stewardship of Alan Kulwicki’s story.
In the only driver development program that provides a scholarship for its participants, each driver receives $7,000 in money, goods and services. During the season drivers will receive training sessions that focus on fitness, interviews, media presentation and social media so they will be better prepared to take their careers to the next level.
Through 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 is required to compete in a minimum of 14 races.
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.
