Andy Jankowiak Bio
Andrew Jankowiak (born March 10, 1988) is an American racing driver who competes part-time in the ARCA Menards Series, driving the No. 73 Toyota Camry for KLAS Motorsports. A native of western New York, he has built his career around short tracks and superspeedways, also making appearances in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour. Jankowiak is a third-generation racer whose family ties run deep in the regional stock car scene of the Northeast.
Early Life and Background
Andy Jankowiak was born on March 10, 1988, in Tonawanda, New York. He grew up in a household where racing was a daily conversation, with both parents and an uncle all competing on regional stock car circuits. His mother, Debby Druar Jankowiak, was a pioneering figure in the sport and the first female driver to win a race at Lancaster Motorplex. His father, Tony Jankowiak, also raced, and his uncle Tommy Druar competed at the same tracks before his life was cut short in a summer 1989 race at Lancaster Motorplex. Tony Jankowiak was later killed in a crash at Stafford Motor Speedway in April 1990.
As a child, Jankowiak often visited the Ransomville Speedway go-kart track with his mother Debby and her brother-in-law Jake, soaking up the atmosphere of weekly racing. To help fund his later career, he worked as a delivery driver for Bob & John’s La Hacienda, balancing long shifts with time behind the wheel. The number 73 that has followed him throughout his career is a tribute to his father and uncle, linking each start to his family’s legacy.
Path to NASCAR
Jankowiak’s climb through the racing ranks began on the modified circuits of the Northeast, where he developed his craft against seasoned regional talent. In 2019, he made his NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour debut, driving for Susanne Lewis Racing and later aligning with Steve Mendoza Racing and his own Jankowiak Racing team. These early starts gave him exposure to national-level touring series while he continued to race close to home.
His Modified Tour entries between 2019 and 2021 produced mixed results, with finishes often affected by handling issues and early-race incidents. Those seasons, however, sharpened his race craft and introduced him to the teams and crew chiefs who would shape his next chapter. The lessons learned on short tracks prepared him for the longer, higher-speed demands of the ARCA Menards Series.
Andy Jankowiak Career
Early Career (2019–2020)
Jankowiak’s first national NASCAR event came in 2019 at the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour. He entered the Musket 250 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway with Susanne Lewis Racing in the No. 41 Chevrolet but withdrew before the green flag. Later that season, he returned for the Sunoco World Series 150 at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park, driving the No. 55 Airport Collision Dodge, but was collected in a multi-car crash on lap 13 and finished 38th.
In 2020, Jankowiak partnered with Steve Mendoza Racing for selected Modified Tour events, including entries at Jennerstown Speedway Complex and Thompson Speedway. Mechanical struggles and handling problems limited his results, but the partnership laid the groundwork for his transition to the ARCA Menards Series the following year. The experience also deepened his working relationship with crew chief Steve Mendoza, who remains a key part of his program today.
ARCA Menards Series Breakthrough (2021–2022)
Jankowiak moved to the ARCA Menards Series in 2021, driving the No. 73 entry for his own Jankowiak Motorsports on a part-time basis. He purchased a car from Ken Schrader Racing to launch the effort, and the team quickly found pace on superspeedways. At the season-opening Lucas Oil 200 at Daytona International Speedway, with sponsorship from OneRail, he qualified 11th out of 34 cars and finished a strong eighth on the lead lap.
He followed that with a seventh-place run at the General Tire 200 at Talladega Superspeedway, carrying sponsorship from V1 Fiber and Thermal Foams. At the General Tire 150 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Jankowiak honored members of the United States Armed Forces from western New York who had been killed in action, finishing ninth. Later that year, he matched his Talladega result with another seventh at Pocono Raceway, supported by Konnect General Stores through their Phillips 66 distribution. His first non-superspeedway oval start came at Watkins Glen International, where a converted road course setup limited him to a 16th-place finish, two laps down.
In 2022, Jankowiak continued to develop the No. 73 program, adding emotional weight to his season with a special Bristol Motor Speedway paint scheme inspired by the design his mother once raced. The tribute connected his family legacy directly to his modern-day efforts.
KLAS Motorsports Era (2023–Present)
On January 19, 2023, it was announced that Jankowiak would return for another part-time ARCA Menards Series campaign, continuing to drive the No. 73 but with a restructured team. Fellow driver Andy Seuss and Kevin Lapierre took over ownership of the operation, renaming it KLAS Motorsports, an acronym of the two new owners’ initials. The shift allowed Jankowiak to focus on his role as a driver while benefiting from stronger organizational backing.
He continued to pilot the No. 73 Toyota Camry under the KLAS banner, maintaining his long-standing partnership with crew chief Steve Mendoza. The arrangement has given Jankowiak a stable platform to chase stronger results across both superspeedways and intermediate ovals in the series.
Driving Style and Strengths
Jankowiak has shown a particular fondness for superspeedway racing, where drafting and patience often decide the outcome. His consistent lead-lap finishes at Daytona and Talladega highlight his ability to stay out of trouble and capitalize on late-race strategy. The partnership with crew chief Steve Mendoza has been central to refining his setups and race-day decisions.
Notable Races and Milestones
His top-ten debut at Daytona in 2021 and matching seventh-place runs at Talladega and Pocono stand as early milestones. The 2022 Bristol tribute scheme honoring his mother’s paint job is among his most meaningful moments on track, linking three generations of the Jankowiak and Druar families.
Andy Jankowiak Career Wins
Jankowiak’s verified victories at the national NASCAR and ARCA levels are not documented in available sources. His career has been built on consistency, strong qualifying efforts, and frequent lead-lap finishes, particularly in ARCA superspeedway events.
ARCA Menards Series Highlights
Across his part-time ARCA Menards Series schedule, Jankowiak has posted multiple top-ten finishes, including eighth at Daytona, seventh at Talladega, ninth at Charlotte, and seventh at Pocono in 2021. These results have established him as a steady superspeedway performer and a respected part-time entrant in the series.
Other Wins and Performances
In the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, Jankowiak’s results were limited by mechanical issues and racing incidents, with his best documented runs including a 14th-place finish at the Nu-Way Auto Parts 150 at New York International Raceway Park in 2021. He also competed at Lancaster Motorplex and other Northeast venues, where his family name is well known.
Andy Jankowiak Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Jankowiak comes from one of western New York’s most recognized racing families. His mother, Debby Druar Jankowiak, broke barriers as the first female to win a race at Lancaster Motorplex, while his father, Tony Jankowiak, was also an active driver. His uncle, Tommy Druar, raced alongside them before losing his life in a summer 1989 race at Lancaster Motorplex. Tony Jankowiak later died in a crash at Stafford Motor Speedway in April 1990.
Personal Life
Jankowiak’s parents met on Tommy Druar’s pit crew, where Debby Druar worked alongside Tony Jankowiak before the two married. The number 73 he carries on his car is a lasting tribute to his father and uncle, keeping their memory present at every track he visits.
2025 Season Performance
Entering 2025, Andy Jankowiak continues his part-time role in the ARCA Menards Series, driving the No. 73 Toyota Camry for KLAS Motorsports alongside crew chief Steve Mendoza. The team has retained the structure put in place when Andy Seuss and Kevin Lapierre took ownership in 2023, giving Jankowiak a consistent platform to chase strong runs on superspeedways and ovals.
His part-time schedule typically focuses on the high-stakes plate races and selected oval events, where he has historically delivered his best results. The KLAS partnership provides added resources and strategic support, allowing him to maximize performance in the events he enters.
With a settled team, trusted crew chief, and a deep personal motivation tied to his family’s racing heritage, Jankowiak’s outlook for 2025 centers on building on his track record of lead-lap finishes and consistent top-ten showings in the ARCA Menards Series.