Johnson Makes It 2 Virginian Underbirds For The First Time In KDDP History

CONCORD, North Carolina (March 12, 2026) – Chase Johnson, who narrowly missed out on becoming NASCAR’s youngest national champion in its weekly racing series in 2025, is joining fellow Virginian Ryley Music in the Kulwicki Driver Development Program to make 2026 the first time Virginia has had two finalists in the prestigious program. 

          A Midlothian, Virginia, resident, Johnson won 15 Late Model races and posted 21 top-five and 21 top-10 finishes enroute to claiming the 2025 NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Racing Series Rookie of the Year, Southeast Regional championship, and the Dominion (Va.) Raceway track championship. 

          The 17-year-old Johnson, who is in his first year of electrical trade school, described 2025 as his best season ever in his young racing career. He led the national championship standings for most of the season’s second half, but in the last two weeks his car had a flat tire while he was leading and then a wreck ended his bid for the national title. He finished second in the national standings.

          Community service is an important part of the Kulwicki Driver Development Program. The last two years, Johnson and his friends have spent Thanksgiving Day handing out meals to the homeless in Richmond, Virginia, as well as appliances to keep them warm when it’s cold.

This year, as a KDDP finalist, Johnson 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.