Ankrum’s ’24 Playoff Run Concludes with Eighth in NCTS Standings

Venue: Phoenix Raceway

FINISH: 33rd

Start: 12th

Laps Led: 0

NCTS Points Position Standings: 8th

Tyler Ankrum finished his night in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series (NCTS) season finale in the 33rd position after being involved in a multi-car pile up in the final segment. The driver of the No. 18 LIUNA Chevrolet Silverado RST ended his season with 12 top-10’s, and equaled his career best position in the point standings in eighth-place.

Ankrum began his day for the NCTS Championship Race with a 12th-place starting position after posting a 26.576 second lap in qualifying. He moved back to 16th by lap 13 after expressing to his team that he was “super loose” out of the corners. Ankrum made it to the end of Stage 1 on lap 45 in the 17th position.

Under the stage caution Ankrum came to pit road for his first scheduled stop of the night. Crew chief Mark Hillman put four tires, fuel, and a major track bar adjustment to the No. 18 Chevy to help with the loose conditions. Ankrum returned to action in the 19th position to begin Stage 2 on lap 55, yet continued to battle a lack of rear grip. He went on to finish Stage 2 on lap 90 in 18th-place and made his final pit stop of the night under the stage caution. Hillman went a different direction of the adjustments and gave Ankrum a wedge and rubber adjustment with tires and fuel.

Ankrum came out of pit road in the 17th position and began the final stage on lap 99. After a good restart, Ankrum was involved in a multi-truck incident when the backstretch became clogged with spinning trucks on lap 99. After sustaining terminal damage in the incident, Ankrum was credited with a 33rd-place finish.

Tyler Ankrum Quote: 

“It’s definitely not the way we saw ourselves finishing out this season. I had my best restart on the night and when everything started to go wrong and had nowhere to go. I am so proud of this No. 18 LIUNA team for everything this season. Even when we had a rough patch during the middle of the year, we were able to bounce back and put on a strong run in the playoffs. Thanks to all these guys, LIUNA, Ullico, Chevrolet, and everyone involved for being a part of this year.”