It’s not the largest sponsor decal on Dave Farrington’s bright orange No. 23 Pro Series race car. But it’s the most significant and is already paying dividends.

Farrington, 23, of Jay, is one of just seven short-track drivers across the nation whose cars are sporting the Kulwicki Driver Development Program (KDDP) logo. The program is named for the late Alan Kulwicki, the 1992 Winston Cup champion.

2015 Auto Racing Season

BEECH RIDGE MOTOR SPEEDWAY

Year opened: 1949
Track size: one-third mile
Owner: Andy Cusack
Weekly racing nights: Thursdays (June 11-Aug. 13), Saturdays (May 23-Sept. 5)
Admission price: Saturdays, $10 adults; Thursdays, $4 adults; most touring series dates, $20.
2014 track champions: Dave Farrington Jr., Pro Series; Garrett Hall, Sport Series; Justin Karkos, Wildcat.
Key 2015 dates: May 2, PASS and track season opener; May 23, NASCAR Nite season opener; June 13, Sport Series 125; June 27, Pro Series 125; July 11, PASS 150; Aug. 1, Modified Racing Series; Aug. 8, ACT 150; Sept. 19-20, PASS Tour 400.
The inside track: Emphasis on clean, quick shows with good car counts in each of the three Saturday-night divisions should continue. … Farrington, 23, will try to defend his Pro Series title, with strong challenges expected from Corey Bubar (four wins in 2014), Reid Lanpher and Kelly Moore. … For fans who like their action on the wild side, Beech Ridge hosts Day of Destruction programs on May 24, July 19, and Sept. 11.
Contact info: 24-hour race line, 885-5800; www.beechridge.com; mail@beechridge.com; @beechridge.

OXFORD PLAINS SPEEDWAY

Year opened: 1950
Track size: three-eighths mile oval
Owner: Tom Mayberry
Weekly racing nights: Saturdays (May 9-Sept. 12); Wednesdays (June 10-Aug. 26)
Admission price: Saturdays, $12 adults; Wednesday, $5 adults; special events vary.
2014 track champions: TJ Brackett, Pro Late Models; Troy Jordan, Outlaw Sportsman; Ryan Hewins, Street Stocks; Derek Cairns, Bandits.
Key 2015 dates: May 9, Opening night; June 27, ACT 150; Aug. 2, PASS 150; Aug. 28-30, Oxford 250 weekend; Sept. 12, Championship Night; Sept. 26, Street Stock Nationals; Oct. 3, PASS North Championships
The inside track: PASS (owned by Mayberry) and ACT are New England’s two largest touring divisions. Since Mayberry bought OPS, the signature Oxford 250 switched from ACT-style Late Models to PASS-style Super Late Models. This year, PASS and ACT are co-headlining several events, including the 250, which has moved to a late-August date. Grandstand prices are $30 for the 250. … Saturday’s weekly divisions are Super Late Model, Street Stock and Bandits. The Wednesday series will feature Outlaw, Runnin’ Rebel, Sport Truck, Ladies and Cruiser divisions.
Contact info: Phone: 539-8865; www.oxfordplains.com.

WISCASSET SPEEDWAY

Year built: 1969
Track size: three-eighths mile
Owner: Richard and Vanessa Jordan
Weekly racing night: Saturdays (May 2-Oct. 3), 6 p.m.
Admission price: $5 (free for 6-and-under)
2014 track champions: Mike Orr, Pro Stock; Nick Hinkley, Late Model Sportsman; Adam Chadbourne, Super Streets; Corey Morgan, Strictly Stocks; Jimmy Childs, Outlaw Mini; Ryan Chadwick, Thunder 4 Mini; Kamren Knowles, N.E. 4-cylinder Pro; Jerry McKenna, Mini Trucks.
Key 2015 dates: Saturday, May 2, first night race; Sunday, May 24, Coastal 200 for Late Models; July 11, Fan Appreciation Day; Aug. 8, Boss Hogg 100 for Pro Stocks
The inside track: Wiscasset features a new scoreboard and new pace truck as it continues to make improvements in its third year under the Jordans. The track will continue to run eight divisions, separated into four-division chunks on alternate weekends. Group 1 is Pro Stocks, Super Street, Thunder 4 Mini and N.E. 4-cylinder Pro. Group 2 consists of Late Model Sportsman, Strictly Stock, Outlaw Mini and Modifieds. Modifieds are replacing Mini Trucks this season. Most race cards feature a “flex” division.
Contact info: Phone: 491-3720; www.wiscassetspeedway.com; wiscassetspeedway@gmail.com
Twitter: @wiscspeedway

– Steve Craig

Dale Farrington Jr. won the Pro Series season championship at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway in Scarborough in 2014. Steve Craig photo

“They narrowed it down to 15 and did some phone interviews and then they picked the seven finalists,” Farrington said. “It was quite amazing.”

According to KDDP Executive Director Tom Roberts, who was Kulwicki’s longtime public relations man, more than 100 drivers applied.

Farrington has a solid resume that includes qualifying for four straight Oxford 250s. Last year, in his first season racing full-time at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway, Farrington won the top Pro Series title with superb consistency, overcoming a midseason blown motor.

What set him apart from other candidates – he’s the only driver from the Northeast in the KDDP, Roberts said – was Farrington’s preparedness, education, and some striking similarities with Kulwicki.

Farrington has a mechanical engineering degree and is pursing his master’s in business at the University of Maine while working as a production engineer at Bath Iron Works. Kulwicki, who died in a plane crash in 1993, also had an engineering degree. Farrington’s racing has always been family-based. Kulwicki was the last of the independent driver/owners to win NASCAR’s top championship.

“We did conference calls with each of the 15 finalists and I can recall Dave being almost exceptional in the way that he conducted himself,” Roberts said. “It eerily reminded me of Alan. Plus, one of our advisory board members had retired from working at a shipyard. There were just so many parallels that it made it almost a no-brainer that Dave would be among our seven drivers.”

The KDDP was established by Kulwicki’s stepmother with the intent of helping “grassroots” racers with sponsorship money, publicity and networking opportunities while keeping Kulwicki’s legacy alive. Kulwicki drove the No. 7 car, and each of the seven KDDP drivers will receive $7,777 in direct sponsorship funds. One driver will be named winner of the Kulwicki Cup on Nov. 15, which comes with a bonus check of $54,439 (seven times $7,777), Roberts said.

The KDDP is significantly different in approach from other development programs, Farrington said. One of the better known is JR Motorsports. Mainers Austin Theriault and Reid Lanpher have had stints driving for JR Motorsports, co-owned by Dale Earnhardt Jr.

“We’re staying in our own equipment and racing in our own area,” Farrington said. “We’re not sending in applications and then paying out money to drive their equipment. (KDDP is) going to support us in our race programs. Honestly, it’s just the complete opposite of JR Motorsports. I’m not moving down to Virginia and driving their cars and paying $250,000.”

The direct sponsorship money Farrington will receive is modest but still significant. Farrington said it could cover about half of his seasonal tire bill. The impact of having his name associated with a former Winston Cup champion is harder to measure, but likely of greater value.

“I think we want to carry our career as far as we can within budget limits. This is one of my last great chances to move up from here, and generally that’s what we’re looking to do,” Farrington said.

Farrington said this year he’s intent on defending his Beech Ridge championship on Saturday nights and also wants to take a crack at the Pro All-Stars Series Super Late Model Northeast Championship, including Saturday’s race at Beech Ridge (qualifying begins at 3 p.m.).

Farrington also will make some forays into the American-Canadian Tour.

If the season goes well, he believes the logical next step would be to try the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Tour.

Most of all, Farrington wants to win a race in 2015, something that eluded him last season.

“Picking up some wins at Beech Ridge would be nice, and picking up a win at the Oxford 250 is always the dream,” he said.

NOTES: Windham’s Bradley Babb, Beech Ridge’s 2012 Pro Series champ, was one of the 15 Kulwicki finalists. … After a year of dormancy, Unity Raceway has a 2015 schedule, featuring Sunday racing. General Manager Nick Huff is adopting a model Wiscasset Speedway has used since it reopened in 2013 by having two groups of divisions that race on alternate weeks. Opening day at Unity is May 17.

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