Tyler Michael Ankrum[1] (born March 6, 2001) is an American professional stock car racing driver. He competes full-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, driving the No. 18 Chevrolet Silverado RST for McAnally–Hilgemann Racing, and part-time in the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series, and NASCAR Cup Series, driving the No. 32 Chevrolet Camaro SS for Jordan Anderson Racing. Ankrum won the 2018 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East championship, earning DGR-Crosley's first championship in any racing series. Ankrum is the first driver born in the 21st century or later to win a NASCAR national series race.

Racing career

Growing up on the west coast of America, Ankrum started racing quarter midgets and later moved up to late models.[2] He won his first late model race at Caraway Speedway at the age of fourteen.[3] Ankrum continues to run super late model races around the country, winning Hickory Motor Speedway's Fall Brawl in 2015[4] and finishing third in the 2018 Rattler 250.[5] He switched to the super late model in late 2015 after one year running the CARS Tour in the Late Model Stock division.[6]

K&N Pro Series East

Ankrum after winning the 2018 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Championship

In January 2018, Ankrum signed with David Gilliland Racing for half of the 2018 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East season.[7] By the third race of the season, one more race was added with the potential for more with additional funding;[8] it eventually morphed into a full-time effort. He won his first race in his fourth start at South Boston Speedway in May over teammate Tyler Dippel, and almost won the other race in the doubleheader that day if not for a run-in with Chase Cabre late in the second race.[9] Ankrum then went on a midsummer tear, winning three consecutive K&N East races, at Thompson Speedway after failing post-qualifying tech;[10] going flag-to-flag the following week in a caution-free race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway,[11] and winning a combination east–west race at Iowa Speedway, which he called "overwhelming".[12] Despite only finishing thirteenth at the September New Hampshire race, Ankrum left the event with an insurmountable points lead, clinching him the 2018 K&N Pro Series East championship.[13]

Craftsman Truck Series

After winning the K&N Pro Series East championship, Ankrum would make his Truck Series debut at Martinsville in the No. 54 Toyota Tundra for DGR-Crosley.[14] Seth Smith, Ankrum's K&N crew chief, served as crew chief for the effort. After starting nineteenth, Ankrum finished eighteenth.[15] Ankrum ran the following race with DGR, notching his first top-ten finish in sixth at ISM Raceway.[16]

Ankrum's No. 16 truck at Sonoma Raceway in 2022

When asked in early November 2018 about 2019 plans, Ankrum noted that a lack of sponsorship would likely prevent him from running in the Truck Series full-time in 2019. He stated that his 2019 racing slate would include part-time rides in Trucks, the ARCA Racing Series, and in super late model racing.[16] However, on December 14, 2018, Ankrum and DGR-Crosley announced that he would run full-time in 2019 starting with the spring Martinsville race due to age restrictions.[17] At Texas in June, Ankrum graduated high school on a stage during pre-race ceremonies and then recovered from multiple incidents during the race, including a slide down pit road, to finish a career-best third.[18] On June 11, 2019, Ankrum announced that sponsorship woes had put him out of the truck, with only a handful of races left in the season.[19] He would eventually land a start and park ride with NEMCO Motorsports for races not on his DGR-Crosley schedule, allowing him to remain eligible for the playoffs.[20] On July 11, 2019, Ankrum scored his first Truck Series win at Kentucky after Brett Moffitt ran out of fuel towards the final lap. This also marked DGR-Crosley's first Truck Series win.[21] The win qualified him for the playoffs, but he did not advance past the Round of 6.

Ankrum's No. 18 truck at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 2024.

On November 14, 2019, Ankrum joined GMS Racing for the 2020 Truck season.[22]

In 2022, Ankrum would return to driving a Toyota team, this time the No. 16 Toyota for Hattori Racing Enterprises.

Ankrum's No. 18 truck at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 2025.

On December 7, 2023, it was announced that Ankrum would move to McAnally–Hilgemann Racing for the 2024 season, running a newly renumbered 18 truck.[23] Due to his consistency throughout the regular season, Ankrum would make the playoffs for the first time since 2020. Ankrum would be eliminated at the conclusion of the Round of 8 at Martinsville.

Ankrum started the 2025 season with a 34th-place DNF at Daytona. Two months later, he broke a 130-race winless drought (the longest in NCTS history) with a fuel mileage win in the Truck Series return to Rockingham.[24]

O'Reilly Auto Parts Series

On April 20, 2026, it was announced that Ankrum will make his NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series debut at Talladega, driving the No. 32 Chevrolet for Jordan Anderson Racing.[25]

Personal life

Ankrum is a native of San Bernardino, California.[26][27] When he was young, he dreamed of being a professional bull rider like his childhood hero, Lane Frost. After his mom, Michelle, quickly turned down the idea, Ankrum quickly transitioned to wanting to be a professional golfer, after his father, who also dabbled in racing.

After growing up on a ranch in Southern California, Ankrum and his family moved to North Carolina for racing.[28]

He attended Lake Norman High School in Mooresville, North Carolina, graduating in 2019.[2]

After growing up on one, Ankrum now owns a 474-acre ranch and operates it on weekdays away from the racetrack.[29]

Motorsports career results

NASCAR

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led. ** – All laps led.)

O'Reilly Auto Parts Series

NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 NOAPSC Pts Ref
2026 Jordan Anderson Racing 32 Chevy DAY ATL COA PHO LVS DAR MAR CAR BRI KAN TAL
32		 TEX GLN DOV CLT NSH POC COR SON CHI ATL IND IOW DAY DAR GTW BRI LVS CLT PHO TAL MAR HOM -* -* [30]

Craftsman Truck Series

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 NCTC Pts Ref
2018 DGR-Crosley 54 Toyota DAY ATL LVS MAR DOV KAN CLT TEX IOW GTW CHI KEN ELD POC MCH BRI MSP LVS TAL MAR
18		 TEX 42nd 54 [31]
17 PHO
6		 HOM
2019 DAY ATL LVS MAR
19		 TEX
6		 DOV
9		 KAN
11		 CLT
27		 TEX
3		 CHI
13		 KEN
1*		 POC
2		 ELD
9		 MCH
25		 BRI
20		 MSP
9		 LVS
11		 TAL
7		 MAR
25		 PHO
26		 HOM
22		 8th 2182 [32]
NEMCO Motorsports 87 Chevy IOW
31		 GTW
30
2020 GMS Racing 26 Chevy DAY
27		 LVS
11		 CLT
13		 ATL
15		 HOM
2		 POC
9		 KEN
16		 TEX
6		 KAN
33		 KAN
28		 MCH
4		 DRC
6		 DOV
7		 GTW
12		 DAR
11		 RCH
5		 BRI
7		 LVS
10		 TAL
16		 KAN
34		 TEX
16		 MAR
12		 PHO
8		 9th 2198 [33]
2021 DAY
28		 DRC
21		 LVS
34		 ATL
18		 BRD
40		 RCH
3		 KAN
15		 DAR
14		 COA
3		 CLT
16		 TEX
8		 NSH
23		 POC
4		 KNX
17		 GLN
7		 GTW
32		 DAR
18		 BRI
32		 LVS
34		 TAL
28		 MAR
26		 PHO
14		 15th 432 [34]
2022 Hattori Racing Enterprises 16 Toyota DAY
28		 LVS
16		 ATL
11		 COA
7		 MAR
10		 BRD
31		 DAR
9		 KAN
16		 TEX
33		 CLT
20		 GTW
13		 SON
9		 KNX
9		 NSH
7		 MOH
21		 POC
16		 IRP
6		 RCH
13		 KAN
14		 BRI
11		 TAL
10		 HOM
11		 PHO
14		 12th 583 [35]
2023 DAY
7		 LVS
15		 ATL
26		 COA
4		 TEX
26		 BRD
33		 MAR
27		 KAN
10		 DAR
15		 NWS
26		 CLT
28		 GTW
16		 NSH
8		 MOH
10		 POC
12		 RCH
13		 IRP
34		 MLW
20		 KAN
9		 BRI
23		 TAL
33		 HOM
25		 PHO
22		 17th 456 [36]
2024 McAnally–Hilgemann Racing 18 Chevy DAY
11		 ATL
7*		 LVS
2		 BRI
5		 COA
25		 MAR
5		 TEX
34		 KAN
20		 DAR
26		 NWS
8		 CLT
32		 GTW
15		 NSH
5		 POC
14		 IRP
4		 RCH
6		 MLW
6		 BRI
10		 KAN
14		 TAL
14		 HOM
5		 MAR
8		 PHO
33		 8th 2183 [37]
2025 DAY
34		 ATL
3		 LVS
10		 HOM
4		 MAR
2		 BRI
4		 CAR
1		 TEX
4		 KAN
16		 NWS
3		 CLT
12		 NSH
17		 MCH
24		 POC
26		 LRP
10		 IRP
8		 GLN
5		 RCH
11		 DAR
7		 BRI
20		 NHA
11		 ROV
9		 TAL
6		 MAR
9		 PHO
14		 4th 4023 [38]
2026 DAY
9		 ATL
14		 STP
31		 DAR
24		 CAR
6		 BRI
13		 TEX
15		 GLN
17		 DOV
25		 CLT
20		 NSH
5		 MCH
10		 COR
31		 LRP
 NWS IRP RCH NHA BRI KAN CLT PHO TAL MAR HOM -* -* [39]

* Season still in progress
1 Ineligible for series points

ARCA Menards Series

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

ARCA Menards Series results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 AMSC Pts Ref
2021 Cook-Finley Racing 42 Chevy DAY PHO TAL KAN TOL CLT MOH POC ELK BLN IOW WIN GLN
22		 MCH ISF MLW DSF BRI SLM KAN 108th 22 [40]
2023 Hattori Racing Enterprises 61 Toyota DAY PHO TAL KAN CLT BLN ELK MOH
1*		 IOW POC MCH IRP GLN ISF MLW DSF KAN BRI SLM TOL 65th 48 [41]

K&N Pro Series East

NASCAR K&N Pro Series East results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 NKNPSEC Pts Ref
2018 DGR-Crosley 17 Toyota NSM
5		 BRI
4		 LGY
3		 SBO
1*		 SBO
3		 MEM
2		 NJM
9		 TMP
1		 NHA
1**		 IOW
1		 GLN
7		 GTW
6		 NHA
13		 DOV
11		 1st 574 [42]

CARS Late Model Stock Car Tour

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led. ** – All laps led.)

CARS Late Model Stock Car Tour results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 CLMSCTC Pts Ref
2015 Rick Ankrum 58 Ford SNM
5		 ROU
28		 HCY
5		 SNM
2		 TCM
18		 MMS
9		 ROU
3		 CON
17		 MYB
5		 HCY
3		 5th 246 [43]
2023 N/A 98 Toyota SNM FLC HCY ACE NWS
24		 LGY DOM CRW HCY ACE TCM WKS AAS SBO TCM CRW 78th 9 [44]

CARS Super Late Model Tour

(key)

CARS Super Late Model Tour results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 CSLMTC Pts Ref
2015 Rick Ankrum 58 N/A SNM ROU HCY SNM TCM MMS ROU CON MYB HCY
16		 52nd 17 [45]
2016 Ford SNM
22		 HCY
15		 TCM
6		 GRE
11		 ROU
8		 CON 7th 157 [46]
Chevy ROU
7		 MYB
5		 HCY SNM
2017 CON
10		 DOM DOM HCY HCY TCM
7		 ROU HCY
5		 CON
10		 SBO 11th 125 [47]
58A BRI
8		 AND ROU
2018 58 Toyota MYB NSH
40		 ROU
5		 HCY HCY
25		 ROU SBO 18th 64 [48]
58A BRI
5		 AND

References

  1. ↑ "Team Event Rosters – Bristol Motor Speedway – Thursday, August 15, 2019" (PDF). NASCAR. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 17, 2021. Retrieved August 15, 2019.
  2. 1 2 Barrett, Travis. "Tyler Ankrum Looking To Give DGR Crosley Something To Sing About". NASCAR.com. Retrieved July 28, 2018.
  3. ↑ "Tyler Ankrum Excited About First Win". www.race22.com. Retrieved July 28, 2018.
  4. ↑ Paul, Brandon. "Top 10: Short Track Racing Stories From the Weekend". Speed51. Retrieved July 28, 2018.
  5. ↑ Paul, Brandon. "Burton Slithers By Choquette in Final Turn to Win Rattler". Speed51. Retrieved July 28, 2018.
  6. ↑ Evans, Zach. "Tyler Ankrum Prepares For Jump TO CARS Super Late Models". Short Track Scene. Retrieved July 28, 2018.
  7. ↑ Fenwick, Adam. "Ankrum Joins David Gilliland Racing For K&N East Races". Speed Sport. Retrieved July 28, 2018.
  8. ↑ Weaver, Matt. "Three takeaways from the NASCAR K&N Pro Series race at Bristol". Autoweek. Retrieved July 28, 2018.
  9. ↑ Evans, Zach. "South Boston Produces Pair of First-Time K&N East Winners". Speed51. Retrieved July 28, 2018.
  10. ↑ Jacobs, Jaxson. "Tyler Ankrum wins second NASCAR K&N East race at Thompson in Throwback 100". Autoweek. Retrieved July 28, 2018.
  11. ↑ Jacobs, Jaxson. "Tyler Ankrum Dominates at New Hampshire". NASCAR Home Tracks. Retrieved July 28, 2018.
  12. ↑ Jacobs, Jaxson. "Tyler Ankrum Continues Dominance at Iowa". NASCAR Home Tracks. Retrieved July 28, 2018.
  13. ↑ Utter, Jim (September 22, 2018). "Tyler Ankrum clinches K&N Pro Series East title at New Hampshire". Motorsport.com. Motorsport Network. Retrieved September 22, 2018.
  14. ↑ "K&N East champ Tyler Ankrum to make Truck Series debut at Martinsville". nascar.com. Retrieved October 31, 2018.
  15. ↑ "10/27/2018 race: Texas Roadhouse 200 (Truck)". Racing Reference. Retrieved October 31, 2018.
  16. 1 2 Catanzareti, Zach. "Tyler Ankrum: The Newest Student of the Truck Series". KickinTheTires. Retrieved November 16, 2018.
  17. ↑ Utter, Jim (November 14, 2018). "K&N East champ Tyler Ankrum to move up to Trucks in 2019". Motorsport.com. Motorsport Network. Retrieved November 15, 2018.
  18. ↑ Lunkenheimer, Beth. "Tyler Ankrum Recovers From Spin & Slide To Score Career-Best Finish At Texas". Frontstretch. Retrieved June 9, 2019.
  19. ↑ Christie, Toby. "Sponsorship Falling Through Has Pushed Tyler Ankrum to Part-Time Truck Series Schedule". TobyChristie.com. Retrieved June 12, 2019.
  20. ↑ Segal, Davey (September 13, 2019). "Tyler Ankrum Advances To Round of 6 Amid ThorSport Engine Woes". Frontstretch. Retrieved September 15, 2019.
  21. ↑ "Tyler Ankrum lands first Gander Trucks triumph at Kentucky". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. July 11, 2019. Retrieved July 12, 2019.
  22. ↑ Bonkowski, Jerry (November 14, 2019). "Tyler Ankrum to drive truck for GMS Racing in 2020". NBC Sports. Retrieved February 2, 2020.
  23. ↑ "McAnally–Hilgemann Racing adds Tyler Ankrum to 2024 Truck lineup". Jayski's Silly Season Site. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. December 7, 2023. Retrieved December 7, 2023.
  24. ↑ Spencer, Reid (April 18, 2025). "Tyler Ankrum snaps 130-race winless streak in Truck Series at Rockingham". NASCAR. Retrieved April 19, 2025.
  25. ↑ "2026 Ag-Pro 300 Entry List". Jayski's Silly Season Site. NASCAR Digital Media. February 23, 2026. Retrieved April 20, 2026.
  26. ↑ "TRUCKS: Tyler Ankrum Returning to McAnally–Hilgemann Racing". Racing America On SI. November 25, 2024. Retrieved March 24, 2025.
  27. ↑ Massie, Michael (March 2, 2024). "Rejuvenated Tyler Ankrum Gets Vegas Runner-up, Leads Points". frontstretch.com. Retrieved March 24, 2025.
  28. ↑ Gluck, Jeff (July 1, 2020). "12 Questions with Tyler Ankrum". The Athletic. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
  29. ↑ Gluck, Jeff (May 3, 2023). "NASCAR Trucks driver Tyler Ankrum on his ranch life and cowboy boot etiquette: 12 Questions". The Athletic. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
  30. ↑ "Tyler Ankrum – 2026 NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 25, 2026.
  31. ↑ "Tyler Ankrum – 2018 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved November 3, 2018.
  32. ↑ "Tyler Ankrum – 2019 NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved February 15, 2019.
  33. ↑ "Tyler Ankrum – 2020 NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved November 6, 2020.
  34. ↑ "Tyler Ankrum – 2021 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved December 29, 2021.
  35. ↑ "Tyler Ankrum – 2022 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved February 19, 2022.
  36. ↑ "Tyler Ankrum – 2023 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
  37. ↑ "Tyler Ankrum – 2024 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
  38. ↑ "Tyler Ankrum – 2025 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved February 14, 2025.
  39. ↑ "Tyler Ankrum – 2026 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved February 13, 2026.
  40. ↑ "Tyler Ankrum – 2021 ARCA Menards Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 7, 2021.
  41. ↑ "Tyler Ankrum – 2023 ARCA Menards Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved July 7, 2023.
  42. ↑ "Tyler Ankrum – 2018 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved November 3, 2018.
  43. ↑ "Tyler Ankrum – 2015 CARS Late Model Stock Tour Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved July 8, 2025.
  44. ↑ "Tyler Ankrum – 2023 Season Results – Solid Rock Carriers CARS Late Model Stock Tour". The Third Turn. Retrieved July 8, 2025.
  45. ↑ "Tyler Ankrum – 2015 CARS Pro Late Model Tour Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved October 14, 2025.
  46. ↑ "Tyler Ankrum – 2016 CARS Pro Late Model Tour Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved October 14, 2025.
  47. ↑ "Tyler Ankrum – 2017 CARS Pro Late Model Tour Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved October 14, 2025.
  48. ↑ "Tyler Ankrum – 2018 CARS Pro Late Model Tour Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved October 14, 2025.
source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tyler_Ankrum