OSWEGO, N.Y. — Alex Yankowski knows what it takes to beat the best Big Block Modified drivers in the Northeast.
With a second at Land of Legends Raceway and a win at Fulton Speedway in August, the Covington Township, Pa., driver earned his first SummerFAST title.
He’ll take that momentum to Oswego Speedway, Oct. 7-12, for Super DIRT Week 52, aiming for his first Billy Whittaker Cars 200 and Salute to the Troops 150 victory.
“It was a proud little swing we had,” Yankowski said. “Two racetracks that have so much history to them and a lot of tough competitors. We don’t always get to run as much [Super DIRTcar Series] stuff as we want to. And next year I think we’re going to run more.
“That really helped get the ball moving and really gave us a lot of confidence going into Oswego.”
Even with that confidence, Yankowski still faces unknowns at Oswego. While “Kid Rocket” qualified for both races at Super DIRT Week 51, the weather that impacted the event didn’t allow him to start either Feature once it moved to Monday. The 20-year-old driver elected to withdraw from competition to attend his classes at Penn State University toward a mechanical engineering degree.
Despite his lack of experience at the “Clay Palace,” he said he feels he’s in a better position than last year.
“Not being able to run a Heat Race or not getting laps was a hard deal,” Yankowski said. “This year, I feel like our cars are a lot better than a year ago. We’re having a good year, I’m confident in our program, and I think we’ll play heads-up ball and take whatever comes to us.”
Yankowski will drive his familiar No. 84Y in DIRTcar 358 Modified action at Super DIRT Week. But for the Big Blocks, he’s behind the wheel of an iconic ride. He’ll drive the Atlas Paving sponsored No. 66 car, the same team Tim McCreadie drove for at Super DIRT Week 51.
“It’s a nostalgic ride,” Yankowski said. “We’re teamed up with the Petruska family. It’s been a fun deal to put together, and I think we’re going to come out swinging pretty hard. We have a really fresh car, a fresh motor, and all the things we need to do our job.
“They’re letting me kind of put some things in place and working with them to build the team.”
Yankowski had already reached Victory Lane on one of the biggest stages in motorsports when he scored his first Super DIRTcar Series win at The Dirt Track in Charlotte in 2021 during the World of Outlaws World Finals– in his second career Series start.
Next week, an event bigger prize awaits. And not just because it pays $52,000 to win.
“Super DIRT Week is one of the biggest races in dirt racing, not just in Big Blocks,” Yankowski. “I think it would be at the top of the list.”
Yankowski will join the Super DIRTcar Series and DIRTcar 358 Modified Series at Oswego Speedway, Oct. 7-12, for Super DIRT Week 52, culminating with the Billy Whittaker Cars 200 run under the lights on Saturday, Oct. 12.