Tyler Ankrum Wins First Career Truck Race at Kentucky

SPARTA, KY – RIS – Tyler Ankrum, who couldn’t start racing in the Gander Outdoor NASCAR Truck Series until last March because he was under-age, led the most laps on this night.  Ankrum inherited the lead when leader Brett Moffit’s truck ran out of gas with two laps to go. He cruised to the finish line as the winner of the Buckle Up in Your Truck 225 at Kentucky Speedway on Thursday night.

What was his reaction when he heard Moffitt was out of fuel?

“Honestly, I don’t think I was listening, I was just driving my rear end off,” Ankrum said of radio communication in the closing laps of the race. “Holy cow, I think I held my breath the last three laps. That was awesome.

“I cannot believe I just did this. Man, it’s going to take a lot of work. Honestly, one of my biggest faults is I’ve always doubted myself. I kind of feel like all that has washed away. I can’t thank David Gilliland and DGR-Crosley enough. I just don’t know what else to say.”

It was the 18-year-old Ankrum’s 12th career series start. He is the first driver born in the 2000’s to win a NASCAR National Touring Series Race. He led 40 laps.

Ankrum did not compete in the first three races of the season because he did not turn 18 until March 6. He is now eligible for the playoffs with the victory since NASCAR granted a waiver for missing the races because of the age restriction.

Stewart Friesen, Harrison Burton, Ross Chastain and Dylan Lupton rounded out the top five.

Friesen finished second in his back-up truck after his primary entry was confiscated by NASCAR earlier in the day’s morning inspection for a firewall issue.

Austin Wayne Self, Moffitt, Spencer Davis, Jeb Burton and Matt Johnny Sauter completed the first 10 finishers.

Series points leader Grant Enfinger made an early exit when he was involved in an accident with Brandon Jones as the duo battled for the lead on lap 65.

Sheldon Creed and Matt Crafton won the first two stages.

The Gander Outdoors Truck Series returns to action July 27th at Pocono Raceway.

Unofficial Race Results: 9th Annual Buckle Up In Your Truck 225 - July 11, 2019 - Kentucky Speedway 
Fin, Str, Driver, Trk, Laps, St1, St2, Tms Led, Laps Led, Playoff Pts, Pts, Status
1) 9, Tyler Ankrum #, No. 17 Acadmey Sports + Outdoors/RAILBLAZA Toyota, 150, 4, 4, 3, 40, 5, 54, Running
2) 32, Stewart Friesen, No. 52 Halmar International Chevrolet, 150, , 6, , , , 40, Running
3) 6, Harrison Burton #, No. 18 Safelite AutoGlass Toyota, 150, 6, , , , , 39, Running
4) 5, Ross Chastain, No. 45 Niece Chevrolet, 150, 5, 2, , , , 48, Running
5) 20, Dylan Lupton, No. 15 Crosley Toyota, 150, , 3, 1, 1, , 40, Running
6) 16, Austin Wayne Self, No. 22 GO TEXAN Chevrolet, 150, , 8, , , , 34, Running
7) 7, Brett Moffitt, No. 24 Chevrolet Accessories Chevrolet, 150, 7, , 2, 35, , 34, Running
8) 21, Spencer Davis, No. 11 All Pro Toyota, 149, , 5, , , , 35, Running
9) 28, Jeb Burton(i), No. 44 Alsco/State Water Heaters Chevrolet, 149, , , , , , 0, Running
10) 11, Johnny Sauter, No. 13 Tenda Heal Ford, 148, 10, , , , , 28, Running
11) 26, Tyler Hill, No. 56 Souther Freight Services Chevrolet, 148, , , , , , 26, Running
12) 14, Tyler Dippel #, No. 02 Jersey Filmmaker Chevrolet, 148, , , , , , 25, Running
13) 4, Matt Crafton, No. 88 Great Lakes Wood Floors/Menards Ford, 148, , 1, 2, 11, 1, 34, Running
14) 19, Codie Rohrbaugh, No. 9 Grant County Mulch Chevrolet, 147, , , , , , 23, Running
15) 10, Brennan Poole, No. 30 Toyota, 147, 9, 10, , , , 25, Running
16) 24, Clay Greenfield, No. 68 Rackley Roofing Toyota, 147, , , , , , 21, Running
17) 3, Todd Gilliland, No. 4 Mobil 1 Toyota, 145, 3, , , , , 28, Running
18) 23, Mason Massey IV, No. 33 Anderson Power Services Chevrolet, 145, , , , , , 19, Running
19) 8, Ben Rhodes, No. 99 Carolina Nut Ford, 141, , 7, , , , 22, Running
20) 30, Josh Bilicki(i), No. 34 Whitetail Smokeless Chevrolet, 140, , , , , , 0, Running
21) 2, Sheldon Creed #, No. 2 Chevrolet Accessories Chevrolet, 131, 1, 9, 1, 36, 1, 28, Running
22) 31, Jennifer Jo Cobb, No. 10 Driven2Honor.org Chevrolet, 127, , , , , , 15, Running
23) 27, Brandon Jones(i), No. 51 SoleusAir/Menards Toyota, 64, 8, , 1, 5, , 0, Accident
24) 1, Grant Enfinger, No. 98 Champion Power Equipment Ford, 64, 2, , 1, 22, , 22, Accident
25) 13, Gus Dean #, No. 12 OverkillRV.com Chevrolet, 63, , , , , , 12, Accident
26) 12, Chad Finley, No. 42 Auto Value Certified , 55, , , , , , 11, Accident
27) 17, Natalie Decker #, No. 54 N29 Technologies LLC Toyota, 53, , , , , , 10, Accident
28) 29, Camden Murphy, No. 8 Nemco Chevrolet, 43, , , , , , 9, Engine
29) 25, Spencer Boyd, No. 20 Record Rack Chevrolet, 41, , , , , , 8, Accident
30) 15, Jordan Anderson, No. 3 Bommarito.com/Knight Fire Protection Chevrolet, 41, , , , , , 7, Accident
31) 22, Austin Hill, No. 16 Toyota Tsusho Toyota, 28, , , , , , 6, Engine
32) 18, Joe Nemechek, No. 87 D. A. B. Constructors Inc. Chevrolet, 17, , , , , , 5, Vibration
(i) Ineligible for driver points in this series, (#) Rookie

Time of Race: 1 Hrs, 53 Mins, 3 Secs.
Total Race Length: 150 Laps, 225. Miles
1.5 - Mile Paved
Average Speed: 119.416 MPH Margin of Victory: 7.373 Seconds
Stage 1 Top 10: 2, 98, 4, 17, 45, 18, 24, 51, 30, 13
Stage 2 Top 10: 88, 45, 15, 17, 11, 52, 99, 22, 2, 30
Race Comments: Tyler Ankrum won the 9th annual Buckle Up In Your Truck 225 at Kentucky Speedway, his 1st victory in the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series.

Prior to the start of the race, the following trucks dropped to the rear of the field under penalty for the reasons indicated: No. 52 (backup truck).

Failed to Qualify: (2) 49 Ray Ciccarelli, 6 Norm Benning.

Caution Flags: 5 for 33 laps;
Laps: 37-41 (Stage 1 Conclusion [11]);
44-52 (No. 20, 54, 3 Incident Turn 1 [None]);
56-59 (No. 42 Spin Incident Turn 4 [9]);
61-64 (No. 18, 12, 13, 34 Incident Turn 2 [56]);
66-76 (No. 98, 51 Incident Turn 4/Stage 2 Conclusion [44]).

Lead Changes: 10 among 7 drivers;
S. Creed # 1-36;
T. Ankrum # 37;
G. Enfinger 38-59;
B. Jones(i) 60-64;
M. Crafton 65-72;
T. Ankrum # 73-109;
B. Moffitt 110-120;
D. Lupton 121;
M. Crafton 122-124;
B. Moffitt 125-148;
T. Ankrum # 149-150.