Ankrum Has Opportunity at First-Career NCTS Title in Phoenix
Venue: Phoenix Raceway
Event: NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Championship Race
Date: Friday, October 31st
Location: Avondale, AZ
Track Description: 1.00 – mile oval track
Distance: 150 laps, 150 miles (7:30 p.m. EST, FS1, SiriusXM)
Championship Run … Tyler Ankrum, driver of the No. 18 LIUNA Chevrolet Silverado RST for McAnally-Hilgemann Racing (MHR) heads to Phoenix Raceway this week to fight for the biggest title in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series (NCTS) game, a champion. The 24-year-old driver locked himself into the final four last Friday night at Martinsville Speedway with an impressive performance to stay above the cutline and out out of the chaos. With four NCTS playoff runs, this marks Ankrum’s first appearance in the Championship 4 to have a shot at taking home the big trophy and a career-altering moment. This event will also mark crew chief Mark Hillman and the entire No. 18 team’s first career attempt at a NCTS Championship.
Last Dance With 2025 … The San Bernardino, Calif. native had a season to remember as the stats reflect his best-career season in the NCTS. Ankrum started out the season tied for most top-five finishes within the first six races. His consistency and driven focus locked him in the game early on and continued with a performance at Rockingham Speedway that crowned him the first winner in NASCAR’s return to “The Rock”. That victorious evening locked him into the playoffs starting at Darlington. Throughout the rounds, the young driver continued to have high-points runs that put him in solid position to fight for the remaining spots in the final four at Martinsville Speedway last weekend. A hot qualifying effort mixed with great stage finishes, solidified Ankrum and the No. 18 team a spot in the Champ 4 and he will cease his last dance with the 2025 season this Friday night at Phoenix.
Spoiler Highlights … Tyler Ankrum and the No. 18 team are excited to welcome aboard LIUNA local contractor Comb’s Construction Company Inc. to adorn the left-side spoiler for the championship event Friday night in Phoenix. Founded in 1993 by CEO and Founder, Jim Combs, Combs Construction has played an integral role in the ongoing development of the state of Arizona. Since 1993, Combs has positioned itself as one of Arizona’s top general contractors in the asphalt paving and heavy highway construction sector.
Tune In …Television coverage on the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Championship event will begin Thursday afternoon with practice starting at 7:35 p.m. ET on FOX Sports 2, and will resume with qualifying on Friday at 3:35 p.m. ET followed by 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:
“It is truly unreal to be able to sit here and say we are headed to Phoenix to fight for a championship. I am so thankful to LIUNA, Chevrolet, MHR, and all of my family for helping support me and get me to this point. We have worked so hard for the past eight years in the truck series and really my whole life to get to this moment. Extremely proud of this No. 18 team for hanging on this year and putting in the effort to advance this program each and every week. We are going to take the momentum we have carried all year and give it all we got.”