The world of sim racing is rising to provide the racing community with an outlet this weekend, with the addition of many sim racing events this Saturday and Sunday in the wake of the Coronavirus outbreak. Speed51 eSports has also responded in kind, with the organization of four additional events this weekend. One event will have special significance for a special group of real-world racecar drivers.

The Kulwicki Driver Development Program announced its 15 semi-finalists on March 3 ahead of the final selection of the seven drivers who will compete for the 2020 Kulwicki Cup this season, with finalists being announced on March 30 on Speed51’s ‘Bullring’. Many talented drivers have applied for KDDP over the years, and this weekend Speed51 is bringing together the Program’s past and present for a unique sim race.

This Sunday night, a number of this year’s semi-finalists, as well as both semi-finalist and finalist drivers from past KDDP seasons are invited for an exclusive sim race for them only. The race will take place on the old configuration of Phoenix Raceway, the same track where Alan Kulwicki scored his first career NASCAR Cup Series win in 1988, using the previous generation steel-bodied Stock Cars that were seen in the former NASCAR K&N Pro Series.

As of late Saturday, 23 KDDP drivers have signed on for the Alan Kulwicki Shootout 77. KDDP Executive Director Tom Roberts talked about how happy he is to see a great group of drivers come together during this tumultuous time.

"With our nation going through such a difficult period right now, I want to extend a personal thanks to our great friends at Speed51.com for organizing the Kulwicki Shootout. This is such a great opportunity to spend some time focusing on something exciting and entertaining and the timing for it couldn't be better. What can be more appropriate than a 77-lap race at Phoenix, where Alan won his first Cup race and performed his first Polish Victory Lap? I want to wish all of the competitors the best of luck and we'll be cheering for all them!"

The race will be a fixed setup race sanctioned by the Sim Auto Racing Association. The SARA rulebook can be found here: http://www.racesara.com/rulebook/

The race will be 77 laps in the National Series cars at the old Phoenix Raceway. The live broadcast on Speed51 will begin at 7 p.m. ET with qualifying. There will be a practice session at 6 p.m. for racers.

Any current of former KDDP semi-finalists or finalists interested in competing in the race can reach out to Speed51 on social media to partake in the event.

Here is the current entry list:

Carson Kvapil

Chad Butz

Cole Butcher

Colin Slife

Dave Farrington, Jr.

Devin O'Connell

Grant Griesbach

John DeAngelis

John Peters

Jordan DeVoy

Kyle Crump

Logan Runyon

Luke Fenhaus

Marcel Gravel

Michael Ostdiek

Paul Shafer, Jr

Reilly Lanphear

Riley Stenjem

RJ Braun

Ryan Kuhn

Steve Apel

Ty Majeski

Wyatt Alexander

-Story by: Connor Sullivan, Speed51 Northeast Editor – Twitter: @Connor51CT

Speed51 to Host Kulwicki Shootout Sim Race Sunday