8/13/2024
Lancaster Speedway
35th Tribute to Tommy Druar & Tony Jankowiak to Be Presented This Saturday
LANCASTER, N.Y. (August 13, 2024) – The roar of the mighty modifieds will be heard once again at Lancaster Motorplex this coming Saturday night for the 35th Tribute to Tommy Druar and Tony Jankowiak 110 featuring the Race of Champions Modified Series. The Monroe Extinguisher Street Stocks, Mighty TQ Midgets, and 4 Cylinders will all be action. The King Wolf Productions Big Wheels will take place during intermission.
“The Travelin’ Man” Tommy Druar and “The Rocket” Tony Jankowiak were two of the all-time greats and fan favorites at Lancaster. In 1987, Tommy edged Tony to earn his first of two Modified track championships. Tommy would defend his title in 1988, by winning a race in each month of the season. Druar would lose his life in an on-track accident at Lancaster in June of 1989, as his car hit the wall driver side first. Tommy scored 18 modified wins between May of 1981 and May of 1989 – which is 11th all time. Druar has a total of 26 wins at Lancaster, which is 24th all-time in speedway history. Druar was inducted into the Friends of Auto Racing (FOAR SCORE) Hall of Fame in 1990.
Tony Jankowiak was truly a “rocket” when it came to driving a racecar. His 13 wins at Lancaster between August of 1984 and June of 1988, which is 18th all time. Ten months after losing his brother-in-law, Jankowiak lost his life in a racing accident during the 1990 Spring Sizzler at Stafford Motor Speedway in Connecticut. Driving the Bill Potts-David Riggs owned number 99, Jankowiak was trying to get around a lapped car, and contact sent Tony J into the turn one wall head on. Tony J was inducted into the FOAR SCORE Hall of Fame in 2001.
The next generation of the Druar and Jankowiak families have also found success racing at Lancaster and beyond, with Matt Druar racing in the Super Stock division and serving as a crew member for Patrick Emerling. Matt has a total of 17 wins at Lancaster, with 10 in the Street Stocks and seven in 4 Cylinder competition. His win total has him in a tie with his uncle Tony Jankowiak. Andy Jankowiak has won in practically every division that has raced at the famed 5/8th’s oval. A multi-time track champion, he has 46 career wins, which is seventh all time in track history, including five wins in a tour-type modified. Andy J is also making a name for himself in the ARCA Menards Series.
Pit Gates will open at 2pm, with grandstands opening at 4pm, and racing to get underway at 6:00pm SHARP. Tickets are available on our website, www.lancastermotorplexny.com to avoid lines at the box office the day of the event.
PHOTO CREDIT: Craig Duve
Article Credit: Steven Petty
Submitted By: Steven Petty