Ankrum Aims For Back to Back Top-Five Finishes at The Glen
On to Upstate … From Texas to New York, Tyler Ankrum, driver of the No. 18 LIUNA Chevrolet, heads to Upstate New York for the Bully Hill Vineyards 176 at The Glen. 72 laps of left and right turns on New York’s historic road course, Watkins Glen International. The seven-turn road course has treated Ankrum rather well in the two NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series (NCTS) starts he has had there. The young driver has tallied two top-10 finishes at The Glen with a best of fifth coming last season at this event in August. The San Bernardino, Calif. native was running second in the remaining laps when he ran out of fuel and still was able to circle back the field for a top-five finish.
Left and Rights in Review … The NCTS has visited one street course so far this season back in February where they ran the inaugural event for the series at the St. Petersburg Street Course. The No. 18 crew put together a solid road course truck and were running really well until a late-race incident hurt their chances of a stout finish in St. Pete. Bringing this same package to Watkins Glen, crew chief Mark Hillman and his team are confident that they will be able to contend for the victory in the Finger Lakes Region this Friday afternoon at Watkins Glen.
Spoiler Highlights … Tyler Ankrum and the No. 18 team are excited to welcome the Hope Lives Campaign to adorn the left-side spoiler of the No. 18 LIUNA Chevrolet this weekend at Watkins Glen International for the NCTS event Friday afternoon. The New York State Laborers’ Health and Safety Trust Fund has launched HOPE LIVES, a campaign to raise awareness about the mental health crisis in our industry and offer support to members. May is Mental Health Awareness Month so join Tyler and the No. 18 team in our mission to help spread awareness and know you are not alone.
Tune In …Television coverage on the Bully Hill Vineyards 176 at The Glen will begin Friday late-morning with practice and qualifying at 11:00 AM ET on FS2 and will resume with the wave of the green flag at 4:30 p.m. ET on FS1. Stay connected with the No. 18 LIUNA team by following @BMR_NASCAR on Twitter, @bmrnascar on Instagram, and Bill McAnally Racing on Facebook.
Tyler Ankrum Quote:
“Texas was a tough break for us but I am looking forward to a change of pace and getting back to The Glen. We have had some really good finishes there in the few starts the series has had so I am looking to keep that same consistency going there this weekend. We are brining the same package we had for St. Pete so I know this truck will be able to contend and fight up front and the end of the day.”