LANCASTER, N.Y. – Andy Jankowiak captured the Sportsman Summer Days 50 on Thursday night at New York International Raceway Park at Lancaster Speedway & Dragway to earn a $2,000 payday.
The win for Jankowiak is his third of the season at Lancaster, and second in the Sportsman division.Â
Mike Fiebelkorn Jr. and John Barber brought the 29-car Sportsman field to the green flag for the Summer Days 50 and it was Fiebelkorn showing the way. Jimmy Zacharias would battle with Barber for second, as Fiebelkorn started to stretch his lead. Andy Jankowiak started tenth on the grid and was challenging Zacharias for third by lap five.
Zacharias would take second away on lap seven, as Jankowiak was challenging Barber for third place. As the leaders hit lap traffic, Zacharias would close the gap on Fiebelkorn. Neal Dietz Jr. slowed on the backstretch to bring out the caution on lap 20. On the ensuing restart, a multi-car pileup took place in turn two. All drivers were okay, and all cars were able to continue except Mark Pennell.
Jankowiak would move into second on the restart after passing Zacharias on the inside of turns one and two. After a caution on lap 22 for a stopped Bob Reis, in turn, one, Fiebelkorn and Jankowiak would bring the field back to the green flag. The red flag would wave on lap 24 as Kyle Hutchinson and Scott Wylie spun into the turn three foam. Fiebelkorn, Jankowiak, Zacharias, Trevor Catalano, and John Barber were in the top five at the races’ halfway mark.
After the halfway mark, Jankowiak would take the lead away from Fiebelkorn. The red flag will fly for the third time on lap 30 for a multi-car wreck on the back straightaway. Jankowiak, Fiebelkorn, Zacharias, Catalano, and Barber would pull away from the field once the field went back under the green flag. Tyler Catalano would move through the field and would close in on John Barber for fifth place.
Jankowiak would pull away from the field in the closing laps to remain perfect, winning his second Sportsman feature of the season. Fiebelkorn would hold off Zacharias to complete the podium, with Trevor Catalano and John Barber completing the top five.
Mark Hoch won the 25-lap feature for the Street Stocks. Andy Nye won the Jerry Gradl Motors NYPA TQ Midget feature. Dave Brunka won the 4 Cylinder feature for the second consecutive race.