Clutch Technology

In 1994, the import racing scene was just starting to gain traction. At the time, Dirk Starksen was the General Manager for an established company, Kennedy Engineered Products, which specialized in clutches for Volkswagens and Porsches. Starksen noticed a growing demand for performance clutches for import cars like Honda, a market his employer wasn't interested in pursuing. Seeing an opportunity, Starksen started Advanced Clutch Technology (ACT) as a side business to fill this niche. The venture quickly proved successful, and by 1996, Starksen left his job to focus on ACT full-time, establishing the company as a respected name in the import performance community. The company's growth was steady. In 2000, ACT relocated to a larger facility in Lancaster, California, and brought Tracie Nunez on board, who would eventually become CEO. They distinguished themselves by not just assembling parts, but by engineering and manufacturing critical components in-house, such as their unique diaphragm springs, allowing for precise control over the clutch's feel and performance. This focus on engineering and quality, rigorously testing products on the racetrack and in the lab, became their core playbook. Today, ACT remains a privately owned company, led by founder Dirk Starksen and CEO Tracie Nunez, and has not undergone a major acquisition or IPO. It has grown from a niche side project into a leading manufacturer in the performance driveline industry, supplying components for everything from drag racing to professional drifting.