Ankrum Scores 11th Straight Short Track Top-10 at IRP
Venue: Indianapolis Raceway Park
FINISH: 9th
Start: 7th
Stage One: 6th
Laps Led: 0
NCTS Point Standings Position: 8th
Tyler Ankrum, driver of the No. 18 LIUNA Chevrolet Silverado RST raced his way to a top-10 finish at the Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park Friday night under the lights. Due to a stubborn lightning storm in the area, NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series (NCTS) qualifying was cancelled which set the young driver up to start seventh in line for the 200-lap event. After a stout restart in the beginning, Ankrum cruised up to fifth on the opening laps. With 20 laps to go in the first stage, Ankrum reported over the radio that he was way to tight in the center.
After settling for a sixth-place Stage One finish, crew chief Mark Hillman called the young driver down pit road for four tires, fuel and a slight trackbar adjustment to help free up the center of his race ruck. A quick stop by the No. 18 team allowed the young driver to gain two spots on pit road and restart the second stage fourth in line. Throughout the next run, the San Bernardino, Calif. native could still feel handling issues with the No. 18.
The yellow flag dropped on lap 98 and the driver of the No. 18 LIUNA Chevrolet came over the radio expressing his tight handling issues. With 14 laps to go in the stage, Hillman (Mark, crew chief) made the call to stay out. Ankrum lined up on the bottom for the green-flag restart and quickly discovered he was in no shape to be on the bottom and lost multiple spots in the field as he started to sink backwards. The young driver was able to settle in the 15th position and hold on in mid-pack until the stage end.
Another solid stop by the No. 18 pit crew gave Ankrum the chance to pick up four fresh tires, fuel and another adjustment in attempt to fix his race truck for the closing laps of the TSport-200. The 24-year-old wasted no time in his charge back to the front and with 10 laps to go in the event he had broken the top 10 and ultimately settled in for a ninth-place finish at the checkered flag. Due to post-race tech inspection, the young driver was bumped up to an eighth-place effort at IRP and holds the eighth position in the NCTS point standings.
Tyler Ankrum Quote:
”Happy to be able to pull a top 10 out of this run but man, that was a challenging one. We just could not get the truck to where I needed it to be to stay up front. Proud of these No. 18 guys as always for all the hard work they put in and we will turn wrenches this week to get ready for The Glen in a few weeks here.”
