Friday night at the Kansas Speedway proved to be a pivotal moment for Tyler Ankrum, driver of the No. 18 LIUNA Chevrolet Silverado RST, as he navigated the first cutofff race in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series (NCTS) playoffs. The 1.5-mile Kansas City track set the stage for a battle, with 10 drivers competing for just eight spots in the playoffs. Despite a challenging evening that included a penalty and a pit road issue, Ankrum’s performance secured his place in the Round of 8 and a 14th-place finish at the Kansas Speedway.
Starting from 14th on the grid after posting a lap time of 31.136 seconds (173.433 mph), Ankrum was determined to keep his playoff hopes alive. The No. 18 LIUNA Chevrolet Silverado team, riding with special memorial passengers through the “Honor A Cancer Hero” program, carried the names of Tamara Rae Cummins and Sherry Pollex, honoring their courageous battles against cancer. It was a mission close to Ankrum’s heart, as he fought not only for playoff advancement but also to honor those heroes.
The race wasn’t without its hurdles. Ankrum ended Stage 1 in 18th place, describing his truck as “a little bit free” but feeling optimistic. During a routine pit stop for four tires and fuel, a jack issue delayed the team, but they remained undeterred.
In Stage 2, Ankrum restarted in 19th place and managed to climb to 16th by the end of the stage. However, a penalty for an uncontrolled tire on Lap 64 forced the LIUNA team to the rear of the field. Still, the team’s resilience shone through. Ankrum continued to fight his way through the field, gaining track position as green-flag pit stops began to shuffle the order.
By Lap 102, Ankrum had moved up to 11th place as the field cycled through green-flag stops. On Lap 107, he pitted under green for four fresh tires and fuel, and the crew’s quick work got him back on track. Ankrum ultimately crossed the finish line in 14th place, but his consistent performance throughout the season earned him a coveted spot in the second round of the playoffs.
Tyler Ankrum Quote:
“We weren’t as good as we wanted to be all night. We made a lot of adjustments, running 15th to 20th all day. We got up there to 13th. It was a bit of a weird pit cycle at the end. We got close to the top 10, but some of those guys got back around me. It was a really hard-fought night for our LIUNA team. We know our Chevrolets are really good at superspeedways and I feel good about Homestead, so I’m excited for the next round and it’s great to advance.”
McAnally Hilgemann Racing PR
