Ankum Leads MHR Charge at Homestead with Fourth-Place Run

Venue: Homestead-Miami Speedway

FINISH: 4th

Start: 6th

Stage 1: 6th

Stage 2: 9th

Laps Led: 0

NCTS Point Standings Position: 6th

Tyler Ankrum, driver of the No.18 LIUNA Chevrolet RST was poised for a solid night of speed at Homestead-Miami Speedway for the 134-lap NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series (NCTS) event after a secure qualifying lap set him in the sixth position to start the night. Throughout the opening laps, Ankrum reported back to the team that he was super tight in the center but he had really good drive off. The young driver remained in the sixth position to end Stage One. Crew chief Mark Hillman called Ankrum down pit road under the stage break for four fresh tires, fuel and a slight trackbar adjustment. A stellar stop allowed the driver of the No. 18 truck to excel two spots coming off pit road to start Stage Two, fourth.

Soon after the green flag fell for the second stage, the San Bernardino, Calif. native got shuffled in the pack and fell back to ninth where he ultimately settled in for the remaining laps and finished the stage there. Ankrum let his team know he was still struggling with tight conditions and drive started to fall. A slow stop held the team back on pit road under the stage break and the young driver started the final stage12th in line. Ankrum wasted no time in his charge to the front when the yellow flag fell for a lap-89 caution. Mark (Hillman, crew chief) made the call to bring the No. 18 LIUNA Chevrolet down pit road for four tires and fuel only. Another fast stop gained the team multiple spots on pit road to line up sixth for the restart.

Ankrum flew through the front pack on the restart and quickly jumped to third where he remained and battled in the top five for the closing laps of the Baptist Health 200. With 15 laps to go, Ankrum saw himself fourth as he started to go high and rip the fence to gain speed and momentum. The young driver started to gain but just ran out of laps to track down the leader. The driver of the No. 18 LIUNA Chevrolet RST battled hard for another top-five finish where he ended his night in the fourth position at Homestead. Tonight’s effort jumped Ankrum and the team to sixth in the NCTS driver points, just 50 markers behind the leader. 

Tyler Ankrum Quote:

“This was a super fun race all night long. We were lacking a little bit on the first two stages as we were just super tight but these No. 18 guys had a few awesome pit stops that kept us in the game and in contention all night long so hats off to my team. I had a blast racing Larson up front but just needed a little more experience to keep up with him on ripping the fence. Good to get another top-five finish under our belt and we are ready to head to Martinsville and get some short-track racing in.”