MOTORSPORT AMERICA PHOTOS FOR THE ALABAMA MANUFACTURED HOUSING 200 AT TALLADEGA
Andy Jankowiak of Buffalo, New York wins his first ARCA Race in 48 starts at Talladega Superspeedway
Cleetus McFarland places 2nd in wild shootout in Alabama on Saturday
MOTORSPORT AMERICA PHOTOS of the ALABAMA MANUFACTURED HOUSING 200
by Derek Jackson
Andy Jankowiak won his first career ARCA Menards Series race on Saturday, crossing the finish line after passing Cleetus McFarland in the Tri-Oval at Talladega Superspeedway. Jankowiak came from six spots back on the last lap as Cleetus and Gus Dean tangled and slowing momentum, giving the Buffalo, New York native a straight shot at the checkered flag.
With seven laps to go in the planned 76 lap race, Will Kimmel got into the back of Thomas Annunziata and turned him, causing an eight-car pileup that red flagged the race for several minutes.
On the ensuing restart, No. 55 Isabella Robusto found herself in P1 after starting in 21st position. Alongside of Robusto was Gio Ruggiero, who sustained front end damage in the wreck. Cleetus was P3 and exited Turn 2 taking his No. 30 Ford three wide down the backstretch, No. 71 Jankowiak followed suit.
The move allowed the Robusto, the 2025 ARCA Rookie of the Year, to open a seven-car advantage over McFarland down the backstretch. As they entered Turn 3, the damage on Ruggiero’s car caused drag on the No. 18 Toyota causing him to fall back. Filling the gap between Robusto and McFarland was Will Kimmel and Gus Dean. They shot to the lead with Dean dropping to the bottom of Kimmel. Robusto fell to 4th and Cleetus did a three-wide pass to the outside. McFarland then dove down hard on Dean out of Turn 4, running him below the double-yellow line.
The move caused both to lose momentum, giving Jakowiak a clear shot at victory. The was his first ARCA win in 48 starts. The New York native said, “Cleetus marched us right to the front there. Our spotters were working together, and I’m glad that one of us got to the finish line”, Jankowiak said. “I give him all the credit in the world. He did an awesome job today”.
Andy Jankowiak finished P1, Cleetus McFarland P2, Gus Dean P3, Isabella Robusto P4 and Gio Ruggiero P5 in the ACRA Menards Series Alabama Manufactured Housing 200 at Talladega Superspeedway.
At the start of the race during the pace-lap, the No. 0 of Squirrel McNutt and No. 30 Cleetus McFarland line-up in P18 & P20 and promise to Shake & Bake during the race!Early in the race, Gio Ruggiero leads, followed by Jack Wood, Thomas Annunziata, Taylor Reimer, Jason Kitzmiller and Cleetus McFarland. Cleetus gained 14 spots in track position in the early going from P20 to P6.Gio Ruggiero leads, followed by Jake Bollman, Jack Wood, Jason Kitzmiller, Thomas Annunziata and Daniel Dye.Cleetus McFarland along the Talladega Frontstretch.Squirrel McNutt heads through the Talladega Tri-Oval.Gio Ruggiero and Thomas Annunziata prepare to pass No. 36 Ryan Huff on the backstretch.Jake Finch has run the ARCA Menards Series for the last 5 years. The 20-year-old driver won the 2024 General Tire 200 at Talladega and has 14 top-tens to his credit.Takuma Koga of Nagoya, Japan. He has more than 10 years of experience in the ARCA Menards Series West and has a career-best finish of 5th on three occasions, all at Portland International Raceway. In 2025 Koga joined Fast Track Racing for the full Menards Series East schedule and in 2026 will embark upon his first full season of ARCA Menards Series competition with Fast Track Racing.Robbie Kennealy drives for Jan’s Towing out of Madera, California.Bobby Earnhardt, out of Cleveland, N.C. drives the No. 89 Circle S Ranch Chevrolet.Michael Maples out of Choctaw, Oklahoma started 8th on the day but finished 25th due to a late race wreck out of Turn 4.A.J. Moyer is seen here on pit road driving the Rivers Edge Cottages & RV Park of Vermont No. 88 ChevroletGio Ruggiero opens up a three-car-lead over Thomas Annunziata and Jack Wood on the Alabama Gang Superstretch at Talladega.Cody Dennison of Hokes Bluff, Alabama driving the No. 01 LOLCOW.co battling Bobby Earnhardt for position.Alex Clubb of Morris, Illinois drives for Clubb RacingJason Kitzmiller of Petersburg, W.Va. on pit road at Talladega, USASquirrel McNutt in his No. 0 Rette Jones Racing Heatwave Visual Sunglasses Ford MustangDaniel Dye and Monty Tipton make their pit stops at TalladegaDrivers get a full tank of Sunoco Racing Fuel on pit road at Talladega.Tim Richmond of Ottawa, Illinois getting his Military Green Cards ToyotaBig Stretch for Ron Vandermeir, Jr’s fuel man on pit road.Cleetus McFarland pulls onto pit road while Michael Maples stay out.Cleetus McFarland’s Rette Jones Racing pit crew in action.Race restart after the halfway point ARCA pit stop with Gio Ruggiero and Cleetus McFarland on the front row.Gio Ruggerio and Cleetus McFarland at speed on the Alabama Gang Superstretch.Cleetus & Gio side by side out down the backstretch and into Turn 3 at Talladega.Gio opens up a slight lead over Cleetus out of Turn 4 at Talladega.Gio Ruggiero and Cleetus McFarland lead Will Kimmel and Jack Finch out of Turn 2 at Talladega.Eric Caudell and Jason Kitzmiller race for position on the backstretch.Tim Richmond and Squirrel McNutt on the backstretch.No. 26 Ron Vandermeir, Jr and No. 55 in the Mobil 1 Toyota is Isabella RobustoCleetus McFarland to the lead over No. 20 Jake Bollman, No. 18 Gio Ruggiero and No. 25 Gus Dean.Taylor Reimer in her No. 77 FRE Nicotine Pouches Chevy passes No. 01 Cody Dennison of Hokes Bluff, Alabama in his LOLCOW.co Toyota.No. 20 Jake Bollman of Huntington Beach, California gets loose from a push by Gio Ruggiero!No. 20 Jake Bollman of Huntington Beach, California gets loose from a push by Gio Ruggiero and spins-out in front of Cleetus McFarland!No. 20 Jake Bollman of Huntington Beach, California spins-out on the backstretch!No. 20 Jake Bollman spins-out in front of spectators as the race continues!No. 20 Jake Bollman spins-out on the Alabama Gang Superstretch but no caution flag flies and the race continues! Jake recovered to finish P18, one lap down.No. 36 Ryan Huff shows major damage when Will Kimmel got into the back of Thomas Annunziata causing an eight-car pileup.Bryce Haugeberg & Thomas Annunziata show major damage to their Toyotas in the 8-car pileup.Jason Kitzmiller’s day is done.Ron Vandermeir Jr.’s damaged Toyota in the pits as Steve Lewis Jr.’s smoking Chevy passes by on pit road. Thomas Annunziata JBL Toyota comes to a rest in the infield.The race was red flagged for several minutes with seven laps remaining in the race.As the race got back under caution, Ron Vandermeir Jr. blew a right rear tire that spewed sheet metal all over the racetrack.No. 1 Andrew Patterson of Statesville, NCMcFarland Racing Fans watch Cleetus lead at Talladega.Andy Jankowiak of Buffalo, New York in his Hook’d Solutions ChevroletGus Dean of Bluffton, S.C. has 72 starts in the ARCA Menards Series of the last nine years, with 3 wins and 42 top-tens.Isabella Robusto was the 2025 ARCA Rookie of the Year. The Mobil 1 driver had a solid season last year, earning nine top-fives and fourteen top-tens to finish fourth in the point standings.Pole Sitter Gio Ruggiero of Seekonk, Massachusetts, won the ARCA General Tire 200 at Daytona and the 2025 Love’s RV Stop 225 at Talladega in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.Taylor Reimer in her FRE Nicotine Pouches ChevroletNo. 8 Sean Corr finished P7 and No. 89 Bobby Earnhardt finished P31 after getting caught up in the lap 69 crash that claimed 8 cars.No. 91 Ryan Vargas who finished P8 is seen here battling No. 89 Bobby Earnhardt coming out of Turn 4 at Talladega.Jack Wood is a veteran of both the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and the ARCA Menards Series. At Talladega on Saturday, he finished P9.No. 24 Daniel Dye vs No. 18 Gio Ruggiero into the Talladega Tri-Oval. Dye finished P10 in the race.Cleetus McFarland in the restart zone at Talladega Superspeedway.With one lap to go in the Alabama Manufactured House 200, Cleetus and Andy Jankowiak pull out of line and make their move to the high side as Isabella Robusto leads the race.No. 69 Will Kimmel Toyota with a push from Gus Dean, pulls alongside of No. 55 Isabella Robusto.Cleetus passes the damaged pole sitter on the Alabama Gang Superstretch .In the final stretch to the finish, Cleetus dives down on the No. 25 Gus Dean, forcing him below the double-yellow line. This opened up the lane for Andy Jankowiak to pass them both.It was a drag race to the finish, and Andy Jankowiak, Cleetus McFarland and Andy Jankowiak head towards the checkered flag!Fans along the backstretch watch the Giant TV and cheer the final lap of the race as Andy Jankowiak claimed his first ARCA victory in 48 starts by 0.111 seconds.Andy Jankowiak celebrates in victory lane in Talladega as the winner of the Alabama Manufactured Housing 200.Team Whelen driver Jesse Love congratulates Andy Jankowiak on his win.Cleetus McFarland congratulates Andy Jankowiak on a great race.Andy Jankowiak celebrates with his KLAS Motorsports Team in victory lane at Talladega.
The ARCA Menards Series continues on May 8th in the General Tire 100 at the Glen at Watkins Glen International
