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Friday is Race Night at Sahlen Field and Jankowiak will be ready
By Mike Twist
Sports fans in Western New York have plenty to cheer for – the Buffalo Bisons baseball team, the Buffalo Bills NFL team, the Buffalo Sabres NHL team, the Buffalo Bandits lacrosse team and racecar driver Andy Jankowiak.
Jankowiak races in the NASCAR ARCA Menards Series at facilities from Daytona International Speedway in Florida to Phoenix International Raceway in the Arizona desert. Once a season, the Buffalo native gets to race in his homestate at the Watkins Glen International road course. This week, he will be even closer to his hometown fans as he will appear at the Buffalo Bisons’ Racing Night – where he will throw out the first pitch for the game.
The appearance will take place on Friday evening at Sahlen Field when the Bisons take on the Charlotte Knights with a starting time of 6:35pm ET.
“I’ve always been a sports guy,” said Jankowiak. “I’ve always loved the Bisons, so this is quite an achievement for me. It is such an honor. To be able to throw out the first pitch for the Bisons is something that I never even dreamed that I’d be doing when I was growing up and spending all of my Saturday nights at the racetrack.
“The atmosphere at these games is amazing. Western New York has diehard sports fans. Through the years, their interest hasn’t always been in racing. That just didn’t get everyone’s attention. But it’s changing. So many fans from Western and Central New York come out for the NASCAR races at Watkins Glen. Racing is alive and well here and maybe we can gain some new fans and shed some light on what goes on at Watkins Glen as we meet fans at Sahlen Field.”
Jankowiak is on a hot streak in the ARCA Menards Series. He currently sits fourth in the standings and finished fifth last weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
“It’s awesome to be a NASCAR guy going to the ballpark,” said Jankowiak. “I’m just so blessed to be living my dream and racing all over the country with KLAS Motorsports.”
In addition to Jankowiak, several members of the KLAS Motorsports team will be in attendance for the Bisons game.
“We are bringing about 100 people…maybe more…to the game,” said Jankowiak. “We will be right there to cheer on the Bisons!”
With the opportunity also comes a little bit of pressure as Jankowiak cross trains.
“I just don’t want to embarrass the racing world,” said Jankowiak. “I just want to throw it over the plate. I’ve been practicing and hopefully that’s enough.”
And if Jankowiak stuns the sporting world with his baseball appearance, will he have to make a choice on what sport he devotes his future to?
“You know, I might just have to do a Deion (Sanders) Double!” laughed Jankowiak. “I can race on Fridays, get on a plane and pitch that weekend. Pitchers don’t pitch for every game, so maybe that is something that can be done.”
Janowiak has a weekend off from the ARCA Menards Series, but will return to action with the #73 KLAS Motorsports team on Friday, June 6th at Michigan Speedway. The Henry Ford Health 200 is scheduled for 6pm ET. It will be broadcast live on Fox Sports 1 and on the Fox Sports App.
Awesome Press release by Mike Twist about Andy J’s Buffalo Bisons Appearance. Friday May 30th. Great lead in.