Ankrum Tallies Top-15 in Frantic Talladega Finish

Venue: Talladega Superspeedway

FINISH: 14th

Start: 7th

Laps Led: 0

NCTS Points Position Standings: 8th

Tyler Ankrum finished 14th at Talladega Superspeedway after getting collected in the “Big One” on the final lap. The driver of the No. 18 LIUNA Chevrolet Silverado RST collected a total of 23 points on Friday afternoon at ‘Dega and sits in the eighth position in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series (NCTS) playoff point standings sitting 23 markers below the cut line.

Ankrum began his day at “Dega” by being the only MHR driver to advance into the second round of qualifying. After posting a time of 54.68 seconds in round two of qualifying,he began the 85-lap race from the seventh position. While battling back and forth for a top-10 position, Ankrum completed Stage 1 on lap 20 in the 11th position. Ankrum made his first pit stop of the day under the subsequent stage caution.

Crew chief Mark Hillman made the call to only stop for fuel and a minor track bar adjustment to help with the No. 18’s loose conditions. Ankrum returned to action in 11th-place to begin the second stage on lap 27. While navigating the tight pack, Ankrum ran as high as ninth before a caution waved on lap 37. The segment finished on lap 40 under the yellow with him in 11th position. Ankrum made his second stop under the stage caution to receive four tires, fuel, and a handful of adjustments to help manage the changing conditions of his No. 18 Chevrolet.

The final segment went green on lap 47, with Ankrum in the 15th position. On lap 57, Hillman made the call to bring the No. 18 to pit road during the green flag pit cycle with their MHR teammates. After filtering back out with the lead pack in the seventh position, a multi truck collision happened in front of him, which resulted in the San Bernardino native to spin out in the grass to avoid major contact. An unscheduled stop was needed for Ankrum to repair minor damage to the left front.

With four fresh Goodyear tires and top off of fuel Ankrum restarted 21st when the field went back to green on lap 68. He was able to find his way back into the top-10 for the final 12 laps until being collected in the “Big One” on the final lap on the front stretch. After sliding his way across the line in 14th position. 

Tyler Ankrum Quote: 

“After we got spun out in that caution, we only had minimal damage and got our LIUNA Chevrolet back up to seventh. We had a really good push coming to the checkered flag from our teammate. We just had too much contact and got spun around. That’s speedway racing. its unfortunate it ended that way. We have to bank on winning in the next couple weeks to make the final four, but we’ll be ready to go to work.”