MARTINSVILLE, Va.—Tyler Ankrum appeared to be on his way to ending his 128-race winless streak in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series—until Daniel Hemric crashed his party at Martinsville Speedway.
With 14 laps remaining in the Boys and Girls Club of the Blue Ridge 200, Ankrum inherited the lead when Ty Majeski slid into Kaden Honeycutt in Turn 1 while those two drivers were battling for the top spot.
But a nudge from his new teammate 10 laps later, knocked Ankrum off the point and secured the victory for Hemric—his first truck win in his 55th-career start.
“I needed to get a better launch and get away faster,” Ankrum said. “Daniel gave me the bumper there. I would much rather have a teammate give me the bumper there to get a win for MHR than anyone else.
“He’s an incredible teammate, a really nice guy. I wouldn’t want anyone else to win the race.”
Friday night’s contest had been a race of attrition. Polesitter Corey Heim dominated the event. He led 149 of 200 laps until contact with Kaden Honeycutt on Lap 166 cut a left rear tire and forced Heim to the pits. Heim’s misfortune opened the door for Honeycutt, Ty Majeski and Ankrum—until Lap 186, when Majeski slid into the Honeycutt and collected both trucks. Ankrum grabbed the lead with 14 laps in the contest.
“The truck was quick tonight,” Ankrum said. “I had a terrible qualifying attempt that made us start 24th—and made us look like a rookie in qualifying. That’s hard to do—and it’s hard to go from the back to the front here and not tear your stuff up here.
“Hats off to the team for building me a good truck. The race just had to be two laps shorter.”
The 24-year-old San Bernardino, Calif., racer is enjoying a bit of a renaissance since moving to McAnally Hilgemann two years ago. Ankrum enjoyed a career-best six top fives and 12 top 10s in 2024. His 92 laps led were a career high.
Five races into this season, Ankrum has already scored three top fives, including Friday night’s second-place result at Martinsville—his personal best at the track.
Ankrum is encouraged by the No. 18 team’s consistency but realizes there’s still work to be done.
“It feels great,” Ankrum said. “That’s what you need to get to the final four. You have to run in the top five every single week. The more you run in the top five, the more you run in the top three, the more you win.”
Team owner Bill McAnally appreciates the effort and execution by his crews that led to his drivers finishing first and second and MHR collecting their ninth truck win.
“What a great night,” McAnally said in Victory Lane. “For Daniel to get the win, for Tyler to get up there and lead laps and be in contention for the win—and a one-two for the organization—what an amazing night. These guys deserve it. They work so hard.”
McAnally believes it’s just a matter of time before Ankrum returns to Victory Lane.
“There’s no doubt that Tyler Ankrum will get a win,” McAnally added. “He’s 100 percent committed. He’s all in, focused. He’s engaged and he’s doing a great job. He will get a win—there’s no doubt in my mind.”
Follow Lee Spencer on Twitter @CandiceSpencer or email her at [email protected].
