Ankrum Extends Points Lead with Top-10 at Atlanta

Venue: Atlanta Motor Speedway

FINISH: 7th

Start: 2nd

Laps Led: 46

NCTS Point Standings Position: 1st

Tyler Ankrum extended his lead in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (NCTS) points standings at Atlanta Motor Speedway (AMS). His No. 18 LiUNA Chevrolet RST led 46 of the 135 laps and finished his weekend with a seventh-place finish. With two impressive stage finishes Ankrum accumulated 48 points retaining his position as the points leader in the series and his best finish at AMS in five starts.

Ankrum started on the outside of the front row along with MHR teammate Daniel Dye and found himself at the front quickly by using the top lane. In the first 20 circuits, the No. 18 was pushing fellow MHR teammate Christian Eckes to the end of the first stage. Ankrum finished the stage in second at lap 30, earning nine points and would stay out under the caution period. 

The second stage restarted on lap 37 with Ankrum in the lead. He led the next 10 laps before falling into second behind the NCTS’ all-time winningest driver and eventual race winner, Kyle Busch. Ankrum followed Busch to the end of the stage on lap 60, earning another nine points in second position. Ankrum made his first pit stop for four tires and fuel under the stage caution and cycled out in the 10th position to begin the final stage.

The No. 18 would not stay back very long, regaining the lead on the lap 69. The caution flag waved again on lap 79 bringing Ankrum in for his final pit stop of the afternoon. Ankrum continued fighting for the lead until lap 108. With some speed and aggression, Ankrum went to the bottom lane in an attempt to reclaim the lead, but was shuffled out of the pack and dropped back to the eight-position. Ankrum pushed through single lane traffic finishing the race in seventh position, a track-best result at AMS. The 48 points Ankrum earned gives him a 10-point lead for the NCTS points standings after two events.

Tyler Ankrum Quote:

“I knew we had a fast enough truck with the seven (Kyle Busch) behind me to once I got in the lead I could drive off into the sunset. We had the truck and the team to win today with the strategy we had. We’ll learn from today and be ready for Vegas (Las Vegas Motor Speedway) next week.”