RPW Exclusive: Alex Yankowski: Kid Rocket’s Ready To Launch Into The 2025 Season

Column By: MAGDA MALCOLM / RPW – COVINGTON TOWNSHIP. PA – Alex Yankowski has made his mark on the Dirt Modified world.

That will continue in a big way during the 2025 racing season.

Armed with his crew chief, Kevin Bates, Yankowski has traveled all over, competing in 85 events during the 2024 season alone.  That helped the young racer collect the Fonda Speedway and Short Track Super Series South region titles last season.

Those successes have also led him to a “golden” opportunity, competing in the 2025 Chili Bowl Nationals, with backing from Ferris Commercial Mowers, for legendary car owner Keith Kunz (click here to read the announcement).

In those events last year, the driver many know as “Kid Rocket” picked up one of the crown jewels in Dirt Modified racing, winning the Freedom 76er at the Grandview Speedway in the Stankiewicz Roofing 2RS.

“I’ve been very lucky to get to drive for so many great people,” Yankowski said.  “I’m grateful for the Petruska family and the Atlas Paving team along with the people from Millman NAPA, Stankiewicz and the Wilcox family, among many others.  It’s been a great ride so far.”

Along with his good fortune at Fonda and on Brett Deyo’s traveling series, Yankowski almost made it a weekend sweep for his weekly tracks, finishing second to Matt Sheppard at his Friday night home, the Utica-Rome Speedway.

“We’re going back to Utica next season,” he said.  “We want to improve by one spot and try to get that title.”

For his part, Bates loves working with Alex and racing as much as they do.

“Traveling is stressful, yet fun,” Kevin Bates said.  “We put in a lot of work to get cars ready each and every week and to get success like we’ve had is rewarding.”

The amount of racing Yankowski, Bates and company will be doing to start 2025 is on par with their previous seasons.

As stated, in a few weeks, Alex will be heading to the Chili Bowl.  However, then comes February.  Yankowski will be busy during the second month of the year.

First off, fans will see him strap into a Modified to tackle the Short Track Super Series events at All-Tech Raceway.

After that, he’ll be heading to Volusia Speedway Park with the Super DIRTcar Series for their annual DIRTcar Nationals.