Ankrum’s Stage 2 Win Helps Earn Big Points in North Wilkesboro - Speedway Digest

Tyler Ankrum has moved up into sixth position in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series (NCTS) points standings after a three day show at North Wilkesboro Speedway (NWS). After a rainout on Saturday, he made a strong return Sunday morning finishing eighth-place earning himself a fifth top-10 result on the season. Ankrum led multiple laps in Stage 2 that helped him grab his second stage win on the year. In the NCTS points standings, Ankrum sits 13 points back from moving back up to fifth position.

Ankrum began his race on Saturday in the 21st position after qualifying was cancelled from bad weather. The driver of the No. 18 LIUNA Chevrolet Silverado RST found pace quickly and managed to find himself in 12th-place before a caution on lap 58. Ankrum was one of a few drivers who decided to make a pit stop and received two left side tires and fuel. He lost no positions on pit road and moved up to 10th by the end of Stage 1 on lap 70. Under the stage caution Ankrum gained four places as others decided to pit. Severe thunderstorms flooded NWS and forced the race to be postponed until Sunday morning.

The Wright Brand 250 resumed Sunday on lap 87 with Ankrum restarting in the sixth position. After an early caution on lap 91, crew chief Mark Hillman called Ankrum in for his second trip down pit road for right side tires and fuel coming out of pit road 23rd-place. After another caution on lap 117, Hillman’s strategy paid off with the rest of the field making a trip down pit road moving Ankrum up to the front row. Ankrum led the remainder Stage 2 and earned 10 stage points.

Ankrum restarted first on lap 147 and stayed in the top-10 remainder of the race finishing eighth. With his weekend at NWS, he earned 40 points which was the second most of any driver. Ankrum led a total of 26 laps and his Stage 2 win was his first since Daytona. After 10 races in the NCTS he sits sixth in the points standings with eight-point margin after earning his fifth top-10 result of the season.

Tyler Ankrum Quote:

“It felt great to lead some laps and earn some stage points. It was a long weekend and I am glad this team kept their focus and were able to show off the speed we had early on in the season. Our luck has been against us the last couple of races and I feel like that has changed after today. I am happy to reward this No. 18 team because of how hard they have worked and constantly believe in what we can achieve. ”

MHR PR