Andy Jodway’s Set To Return To Oswego’s Small Block Super Division In ’25 After 27 Years

Story By: CAMDEN PROUD / OSWEGO SPEEDWAY – OSWEGO, NY – It has been nearly three decades since Andy Jodway last buckled into a Pathfinder Bank SBS machine at Oswego Speedway, but next month, one of the most recognizable names in the division’s early history will make a long-awaited return.

Jodway, a two-time Mr. Limited Supermodified and one of the Top 25 all-time SBS drivers as awarded in 2016, will strap back into a race car for the first time in 27 years as part of a two-car effort from veteran driver and car owner Darrick Hilton. He’ll pilot the Hilton Racing House Car No. 1, a former Jack Patrick No. 9 chassis, alongside Hilton’s regular No. 66 entry.

Back in the ’90s, Jodway was a consistent frontrunner in the highly competitive Limited Super ranks. After making his debut in 1993 at age 17, the Fulton native raced through the 1998 season, picking up 4 career feature wins – including two Mr. Limited titles in 1995 and 1997 – and racking up 16 top-five finishes. His most memorable drive came in the 1995 Bud Light SBS Classic, where he finished a strong 2nd. He’d add back-to-back 5th-place Classic finishes in 1996 and 1997.

He and his older brother Tom, who started racing a year earlier in the division’s 1992 inaugural season, made history as the first brothers to win features in the Limited class – each tallying four wins. They swapped seats during their early years; Andy ran in 1993 while Tom sat out, then Tom returned in 1994 while Andy stepped back, before both hit the track together from 1995 to 1998. The duo even sported matching cars for a stretch, with car numbers reflecting a family legacy – their father ran the No. 74 in Florida stock cars, prompting Tom to adopt No. 73 after running the No. 00 in go-karts, while Andy carried over his go-kart number 0, both of which came from cheering for Double ‘0’ Joe Gosek growing up.

For Andy, the Mr. Limited titles remain among his proudest accomplishments, but one moment stands out more than the rest.

“My most memorable one might be my first heat win the year I graduated high school,” Jodway recalled. “My whole graduating class got free tickets to the race. A lot of people were there. I won a heat race, and had that whole crowd cheering – that was special.”

After hanging up the helmet in 1998, Jodway moved to Nashville, where he had recently enrolled at Nashville Auto Diesel College, one year behind Tom. What followed was a whirlwind journey across the U.S, in pursuit of his professional career. He worked in general construction before returning to school full-time at East Tennessee State University while also holding down a full-time job. That grind paid off with a long and successful career in healthcare construction, leading him to management roles in Arizona, Texas, South Carolina, and ultimately Florida – where he now serves as Vice President over the state for his company.

Along the way, Jodway picked up a pilot’s license in 2008 while living in Texas and has since owned several planes. He now flies a Cessna 210 and lives on an Airpark in New Port Richey, FL. When not at home, you might find him deep sea fishing at his second residence in Marathon in the Florida Keys.

Despite the success and adventure, one thing always lingered in the back of his mind – racing at the Oswego Speedway.

“I haven’t really kept tabs on it much,” Jodway said. “Honestly, I missed it so much that it was easier not to watch, but it was always there. Always in the back of my mind.”

The idea to return came full circle late last year, when James Rusaw – currently working with Hilton Racing – reached out to gauge his interest.

“James actually plugged me on Facebook teasing the idea,” Jodway explained. “He said something like, ‘Who’s coming back, Andy Jodway or so-and-so?’ And I just replied, ‘I’m in.’ I had already been looking at the Jeffrey Earnhardt Racing Experience because they were coming to Oswego in July, but James beat them to it. He’s been trying to help promote the class and said they’ve got the house car there with Darrick. So, I said let’s do it.”

Jodway recently began preparing his racing gear and is scheduled to shake the car down during open practice on Friday, May 23, ahead of driving the No. 1 in the 74th Season Kickoff 35-lapper for Pathfinder Bank SBS on Saturday, May 24. He’ll be flying up from Florida with support from his family, including his father, mother, brother, and close friends from Central New York.

“They’re all excited and making plans to come be a part of it,” he said. “Regardless of me racing, it’s about all of us getting together again and reliving those moments from back then.”

Now 49, Jodway is realistic about his expectations, and in 2025, he’s not putting pressure on himself to chase wins – though he’s not ruling anything out either.

“I’d like to think I’d try to go win a race, but I’m a realist,” Jodway said. “I’ll try to have fun, and I think the best result will come out of that. I don’t want to risk coming away from an opportunity like this disappointed, but I’m certainly not going to let my foot off the gas.”

Could this be the start of a new chapter?

“If it goes well, I’m open to doing more,” he said. “I’ve got flexibility in my career now where I could race a few times a year, so we’ll see. Mechanical things can happen – you never know. I’m just hoping for a good outing. We look forward to reliving old memories again and taking it all in.”

Was there ever a sibling rivalry present amongst the Jodway brothers – and if so, who had the edge?

“Well, who’s coming back to run this year?” Andy joked. “I don’t know – we were pretty close. Tom was on the bad end of a couple of calls and got sat for some races, including one in the Classic that cost him. I was invited back in 2016 as one of the Top 25 drivers and Tom wasn’t, and they said missing those races hurt his case. But he deserved it. We were very comparable – same number of wins – maybe I had more heat race victories, but yeah, we both had a good run together. I’ve gotta thank my mom, dad, Darrick, James, and Tom for blocking for me back in the day. We all had a lot of fun doing this together. I’ve dreamt about doing it again and being back at the track and now we have the opportunity.”

Oswego Speedway is just one month away from kicking off its 74th season with a thrilling ‘Opening Week Extravaganza’ featuring two straight weekends of racing action. It all begins Saturday, May 24, when the ISMA/MSS Winged Supermodifieds make their much-anticipated return for the first round of the Oswego Super Challenge Series, sharing the spotlight with the Pathfinder Bank SBS and J&S Paving 350 Supermodifieds. The action continues on Saturday, May 31, as the Novelis Supermodifieds launch their 2025 points chase with the prestigious 60-lap Jim Shampine Memorial, once again joined by the SBS and Winged 350 Supers.