Ankrum Ready to Tackle His Best Road Course at COTA
Venue: Circuit of The Americas
Event: XPEL 225
Date: Saturday, March 23rd
Location: Austin, TX
Track Description: 3.41-mile road course
Distance: 42 laps, 143.22 miles (1:30 p.m. ET, FOX Sports 1, Motor Racing Network)
Welcome to Austin … Tyler Ankrum and the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series (NCTS) return for the fourth time to Austin, Texas and the 3.41-mile Circuit of the Americas (COTA). The NCTS points standings leader will try to secure his first win of the 2024 season at one of his best tracks. Ankrum is coming off a top-five finish at Bristol Motor Speedway (BMS) with a fifth-place effort that resulted in three MHR drivers finishing in the top-five. Ankrum’s effort at BMS allowed him to triple his point lead and brings a 17-point advantage to COTA.
Cool as Ice… Ankrum will be sporting his No. 18 LIUNA Chevrolet Silverado RST at the longest track on the NCTS calendar. Ankrum has excelled at COTA’s tricky corners and hairpin turns with top-10 finishes in all three NCTS races, which is tied for the most in track history along with former series champions Ben Rhodes and MHR teammate Zane Smith. Ankrum has thrived as the NCTS points leader since the second race of the season with back-to-back top-five finishes, including a season high second-place result at Las Vegas Motor Speedway (LVMS). Ankrum has proven that he is calm under the spotlight and prepared to continue his COTA consistency on Saturday afternoon.
Tyler Ankrum Day… With race day in Austin, Texas being proclaimed as “Tyler Ankrum Day” by Major Kirk Watson, he is ready to continue his COTA hot streak and break through for his first road course win. In three appearances at the 3.4-mile circuit, Ankrum has never finished worse than seventh and earned the pole award for the inaugural running in 2021. This season he has notched himself as a top qualifier with four-consecutive starts in the top 10. Ankrum’s strong start in 2024 and his awesome Austin record have him as one of the favorites on Saturday.
Tune In … FOX Sports 1’s (FS1) coverage from COTA kicks off on Friday afternoon with practice and pole qualifying at 3:30 p.m. ET. On Saturday, FS1 starts race coverage with NASCAR Raceday at 12:30 p.m. ET, followed by the green flag at 1:30 p.m. ET. 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:
On Heading Back to COTA:
“I am really pumped to go to COTA this week. It’s a great town and it’s cool to have Mayor Watson supporting us this weekend. COTA is a place I really feel like I have a handle on and enjoy racing at. It’s a really technical racetrack and I’ve been able to run well there in the past. Our LIUNA team has been knocking on the door for a win this year and I think we have what we need to contend for the win this weekend.”