Tyler Ankrum, Driver of the No. 18 LIUNA Chevrolet Silverado RST – McAnally Hilgemann Racing Photo
Tyler Ankrum Secures Second NCTS Career Win at “The Rock”
Black’s Tire 200 – Race Results
Driver: Tyler Ankrum
Venue: Rockingham Speedway
FINISH: 1st
Start: 16th
Stage One: 23rd
Stage Two: 22nd
Laps Led: 29
NCTS Point Standings Position: 3rd
Tyler Ankrum, driver of the No. 18 LIUNA Chevrolet Silverado RST brings
it home to Victory Lane after an incredible come back in the Friday
evening event at Rockingham Speedway. Ankrum did not have the start the
team intended on after their qualifying run Friday afternoon set them
16th in line to start the race. The young driver struggled with handling
on the right front from the start of the 200-lap run and it slowly
turned into issues with the truck all around that ultimately sent him a
lap down to end Stage One 23rd. Crew chief Mark Hillman brought the No.
18 down pit road under the stage break for four fresh tires, fuel and
some adjustments to help the young driver.
Starting Stage Two still a lap down, Ankrum started to get a feel for
the adjustments but the track became difficult to pass as the sun
started to fade. The driver of the No. 18 Chevrolet was forced to settle
for a 22nd-place Stage Two finish but he knew he still had time to make
up track position. The San Bernardino, Calif. native received the wave
around and was able to get back on the lead lap before coming down pit
road for four fresh Goodyear tires, some Sunoco fuel and a group of
packer and spring adjustments to smooth out the handling.
Restarting the final stage 21st in line, Ankrum jumped up to 18th on the
opening lap and started his charge to the front until a lap-109 caution
sent the field to a red flag for track repairs. Ankrum reported to the
18 team that the adjustments had him feeling much better on center and
exit. Calculating the remaining laps, Mark (Hillman, crew chief) and the
team took advantage of the caution and called the young driver down pit
road to top off on fuel and utilize a minimal wedge adjustment. Ankrum
restarted the remaining laps 14th until a multi-car spin opened up in
front of the No. 18 LIUNA Chevrolet and allowed the young driver to gain
multiple spots and restart fourth with 78 laps to go.
Starting on the top, Ankrum quickly made a move to the bottom, stealing
the third spot and held strong as he was on major fuel conservation.
Ankrum held enough speed that he was able to save fuel and still fight
off the fourth position. With 27 laps remaining, positions one and two
had to come down pit road for fuel which led the driver of the No. 18 to
the top spot where he remained to be the best of the best at Rockingham
for his second NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series (NCTS) career win. Ankrum
snapped his 130-winless streak by dominating the closing laps at “The
Rock”, winning the $50,000 in The Triple Truck Challenge and securing
a spot in the NCTS Playoffs.
Tyler Ankrum Quote:
“THIS IS SO SURREAL. I CAN’T THANK THESE GUYS ENOUGH FOR THE WAY
THIS DAY STARTED AND GOING A LAP DOWN, TO MARK MAKING THE PIT CALL AND
SAVING FUEL… THIS IS PRETTY CRAZY. I WAS NOT SURE WE WERE GOING TO BE
ABLE TO SAVE WHAT WE NEEDED BUT I WAS ABLE TO SAVE SO MUCH FUEL BY
DRAFTING ALONGSIDE A FEW GUYS AND IT HELPED BIG TIME. YOU DON’T DO IT
FOR SO LONG AND YOU START TO THINK YOU ARE NEVER GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO
IT AGAIN. I TRULY CANNOT THANK EVERYONE ENOUGH… BILL MCANALLY, MARK
HILLMAN, MY ENTIRE 18 TEAM, LIUNA, ULLICO, CHEVROLET. WE HAVE A LOT MORE
TROPHIES TO LOCK DOWN AND I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.”