BUFFALO, N.Y. – Thermal Foams, Inc., an industry leader in the manufacturing of specialty foam products across eastern United States, has joined forces as a marketing partner to Andy Jankowiak and the AJ Racing Team for the April 24 running of the General Tire 200 at Talladega Superspeedway, the third race of the 2021 ARCA Menards Series season.
Jankowiak, the 32-year-old owner/driver, hails from Tonawanda, New York, a suburb of Buffalo, where his family’s racing roots run deep over two generations. Jankowiak follows in his father Tony’s footsteps, who raced himself in the NASCAR Modified racing circuit and is a World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing champion at the New Smyrna Speedway.
Jankowiak and the AJ Racing team head into Talladega with high expectations after an impressive debut in the ARCA season-opener, the Lucas Oil 200 Driven by General Tire at Daytona International Speedway. He was second fastest in final practice, qualified 11th and finished eighth in his first ARCA event.
“We certainly performed well as a team at Daytona,” said Jankowiak. “I think we have everything we need to go compete for a win at Talladega. The car has awesome speed, and the team really worked well together.
“We need partners to be able to make this all work, and our new partnership with Thermal Foams, Inc. means we will be able to go to Talladega and go compete for a win. Everyone on the team is excited to have a local company on board, and the ownership team at Thermal Foams is behind this effort 100 percent.”
Jankowiak has experienced success in everything he has driven, including wins on the Race of Champions Modified Tour and the prestigious Indoor Auto Racing Championship Series, where he has won back-to-back titles in Atlantic City, the series crown jewel event.
“Our goal is to make them proud and represent Thermal Foams, Inc. to the best of our ability as well as try to introduce Thermal Foams, Inc. to a new national audience outside of our Western New York region,” he said. “We are very proud to be carrying a company that’s based in our home town.”
Thermal Foams, Inc. is based in Buffalo with branches across New York State and Pennsylvania. Thermal Foams, Inc. specializes in molded polystyrene foam and engineered insulated panel systems. It is also one of the region’s largest stocking distributors of insulation and cushioning materials, as well as exterior insulation finishing systems products.
Thermal Foams, Inc. has been in business since 1959 and has a strong reputation for excellence, through their commitment to providing only top quality products, and fast, courteous and professional service.
The company’s connection to auto racing runs deep, and Thermal Foams, Inc. is also regarded as a safety pioneer to the sport.
Thermal Foams, Inc. has provided foam blocks to local speedways across the New York Region as part of a safety initiative pioneered by Bill Colton called “soft wall technology.” The idea was to place Thermal Foam, Inc. manufactured foam blocks in front of concrete walls in the turns at local speedways. This idea was put in place at Lancaster Speedway in the early 199os after Andy’s Uncle Tommy Druar lost his life at the track after an impact with the wall.
Thermal Foam, Inc. soft wall technology is still in use today at many New York race tracks and is credited with having made racing much safer over the past 30 years.
“I have no doubt that the foam walls at my local speedways saved me from being hurt more than once in my career,” added Jankowiak.
The General Tire 200 at Talladega is scheduled for Saturday, April 24 at 1 p.m. ET and will broadcast live nationally on Fs1. You can also keep up with Jankowiak by following him at www.facebook.com/andyjracing.
The AJ Racing team is still actively perusing marketing partners for the Talladega event, and information on how to become a marketing partner can be obtained by emailing Andy directly at [email protected].
For more information on Thermal Foam, Inc., please visit www.thermalfoams.com.