Time to Secure… Tyler Ankrum is headed to Indianapolis Raceway Park (IRP) with an opportunity to clinch his spot in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series (NCTS) playoffs. The driver of the No. 18 LIUNA Chevrolet Silverado RST finished 14th at Pocono Raceway last Friday, earning a total of 37-points last week and gained two points on the playoff cut line. He currently sits in the sixth position in the NCTS point standings with a 49-point buffer. Ankrum can clinch a playoff berth on Friday at IRP if he finishes the night with a 61-point margin on the cut line. Ankrum is looking to return to the NCTS playoffs for the first time since 2020 in his first season with MHR.
Short Track History… Ankrum finished fifth at Bristol Motor Speedway and Martinsville Speedway earlier this spring and has an average finish of 6.0 in three short track races this season. The Californian has scored 40 or more points in three-consecutive races at short tracks, with his best being 45-points at Martinsville. Ankrum has collected 33 stage points at the three short tracks this year and also collected a stage win at North Wilkesboro Speedway in May. A similar effort from he and crew chief Mark Hillman would net their fourth-straight short track top-10 and a possible ticket to the playoffs.
Season to Date… After 14 of 23 races, Ankrum has scored the most top-five results in a single season of his career. Ankrum’s best result of the year came at Las Vegas Motor Speedway where he finished second-place after starting fifth. He has scored 35 points or more in eight races this season and is sixth in the NCTS standings with a total of 414 points. He has compiled six top-10 results and led 92 laps, a single-season career high. Friday’s 200-lapper marks Ankrum’s third start at IRP and has a previous best finish of sixth (2022).
Tune In … FOX Sports 1 has live coverage from IRP on Friday beginning with practice and qualifying at 3:30 p.m. ET followed by the green flag at 8:30 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 Trying To Secure A Playoff Spot:
“Of course our goal is to be clinched into the playoffs this weekend. It falls on us as a team to do our jobs and earn as many points and give ourselves a chance. Mark (Hillman) and the whole team have done a great job of bringing fast trucks to the racetrack and managing the races to keep gaining points the last few weeks. If we can go out and execute like we have at the short tracks this season, we should have a great chance to put our LIUNA Chevrolet back in the playoffs.”
Venue: Indianapolis Raceway Park
Event: TSport 200
Date: Friday, July 19
Location: Indianapolis, IN
Track Description: 0.686-mile oval
Distance: 200 laps, 137.5 miles (8:30 p.m. ET – FOX Sports 1, Motor Racing Network)
McAnally Hilgemann Racing PR
