Ankrum Earns Second-Career Victory at Rockingham
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.”
