Column By: TOM WENNER / RPW – JERMYN, PA – Alex Yankowski, known to everyone as “Kid Rocket”, has exploded on the northeast modified racing scene the past few years.
The young racer from Jermyn, PA has won several marquee events during his career, such as the 2020 Bridgeport Speedway Danny Serrano 100, the 2021 Big Diamond Speedway Coalcracker 72 and, most recently, a Super DIRTcar Series feature during the World Finals at Charlotte’s Dirt Track.
Yankowski started his racing career at the age of four in Karts. By seven, he was in a Slingshot and by 12 was mashing the loud pedal in a Sportsman stock car.
Alex’s first season of Sportsman in 2018 yielded 13 wins at Big Diamond and Five Mile Point with two track championships. The first time he graced victory lane in the division was at Penn Can Speedway in just his fourth start.
It was recently announced that the Yankowski 84Y Bicknell will be calling Utica-Rome Speedway home on Friday night this coming season. Alex shared that he wants to race with the best of the best and feels that Brett Deyo and his team are doing a great job with Utica-Rome.
He wants to challenge for the championship at the Vernon, NY oval and feels that the improvements made there have made the track super racy. This is a challenge he’s looking forward to this season.
The change to racing at Utica-Rome was made possible by a new marketing partner, Wilcox Sealing & Paving LLC, in Waterville NY. Yankowski’s home base is located in Jermyn, PA, which is in northeast Pennsylvania.
After a successful 2021 racing at Big Diamond on Friday’s and Saturday nights at Bridgeport, the youngster only has one night a week of racing as a firm plan on his schedule. He does, however, have his sights set on hitting the road this year to challenge several high-paying Modified events all over PA, NJ and NY. The team made the decision not to race for points on Saturday evenings in exchange for chasing the money where possible.
The Yankowski Race Shop is well stocked and prepared for the season. The Kevin Bates-led crew is busy preparing a fleet of Bicknell Modifieds for action. Spec 358 Small Block Modifieds are available as well as Big Block and 360 engines when needed and called to duty.
In addition to Friday’s in Upstate New York, plans for Alex and his red #84Y’s in ’22 include both the North and South regions of Brett Deyo’s Short Track Super Series. He’ll also chance as many of the Deyo’s Elite Championship Series races as time allows. Yankowski will also be supporting the PA Tri-Track Events at Grandview, Big Diamond and BAPS.
There will also be several Super DIRTcar Series events that fans can catch Yankowski at this season.
Alex’s racing efforts this season will have help from Rich Stankiewicz Roofing once again this season. The Stankiewicz 358 Spec Bicknell Modified will be reserved for PA 358-Modified use.
Not to be outdone, though, Yankowski knows he can’t forget the dedicated people that help him day in and day out. He’s very thankful to the guys who help make the 84Y go fast.
His father, Steve, is credited for keeping his son focused and working hard. Alex is 100% hands on in the shop and at the track and his father has a lot to do with that. Former racer Kevin Bates is crew chief for the operation and keeps everything moving and straight.
Alex also shared that Pete and Bruce are part of a well-rounded crew that make Yankowski Racing a top contender anywhere the team unloads.
Alex Yankowski had his new 84Y Bicknell Modified sitting in the American Racer booth for the Pioneer Pole Building Motorsports Racecar & Trade Show.