TALLADEGA, Ala. — All Andy Jankowiak needed was one lap to finally earn his first ARCA Menards Series victory Saturday at Talladega Superspeedway.
The veteran racer from Buffalo, New York, who also delivers pizza on the side, survived a chaotic ending to the 76-lap race to position himself for the win during a one-lap shootout.
Jankowiak battled Cleetus McFarland and Gus Dean to the checkered flag, but held off both to secure his breakthrough triumph.
Jankowiak started the Alabama Manufactured Housing 200 from the 10th position and successfully maintained solid track position throughout the afternoon.
After avoiding a big crash with seven laps remaining, Jankowiak pushed McFarland to the front during the one-lap shootout before overtaking him and Dean on the outside.
Prior to Saturday, Jankowiak best career a finish was fourth, which which came during events at Michigan International Speedway and Talladega last year. That same Talladega race was also where Jankowiak led his first laps in the series.
The only lap Jankowiak led on Saturday proved to be the most important of his long career to date. Now Jankowiak is an ARCA Menards Series winner, proudly continuing a family tradition of success in motorsports that includes his late father, renowned Modified competitor Tony Jankowiak.
The finish:
Andy Jankowiak, Garrett Mitchell (Cleetus McFarland), Gus Dean, Isabella Robusto, Gio Ruggiero, Taylor Reimer, Sean Corr, Ryan Vargas, Jack Wood, Daniel Dye, Will Kimmel, Jake Finch, Cody Dennison, Takuma Koga, Derek White, Ed Pompa, Logan Misuraca, Jake Bollman, Con Nicolopoulos, Jeff Maconi, Robbie Kennealy, Brad Smith, Matt Kemp, Ron Vandermeier Jr., Michael Maples, Thomas Annunziata, Bryce Haugeberg, Andrew Patterson, George Siciliano, Ryan Huff, Bobby Earnhardt, Tim Richmond, Jason Kitzmiller, Alex Clubb, Steve Lewis Jr., Eric Caudell, Bryan Dauzat, Monty Tipton, A.J. Moyer, Alli Owens.
