Tyler Ankrum

Tyler Ankrum Bio

Tyler Michael Ankrum (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. A native of San Bernardino, California, Ankrum is best known for winning the 2018 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East championship and the 2019 Buckle Up in Your Truck 225 at Kentucky Speedway. He is the first driver born in the 21st century or later to win a NASCAR national series race.

Since breaking into the Truck Series as a teenager, Ankrum has built his career on consistency and late-race race craft. Now based in Mooresville, North Carolina, he continues to develop into one of the most respected full-time drivers in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series garage.

Early Life and Background

Tyler Michael Ankrum was born on March 6, 2001, in San Bernardino, California, on the west coast of the United States. He grew up on a large ranch in Southern California, an upbringing that shaped his work ethic and his lifelong connection to rural life. His mother, Michelle Ankrum, played a central role in his early decisions, including steering him away from bull riding at a young age.

As a child, Ankrum dreamed of becoming a professional bull rider like his hero, Lane Frost. After his mother quickly dismissed that idea, he turned his attention to professional golf, inspired by a father who also dabbled in racing. The family later moved to North Carolina to support his motorsports ambitions.

Ankrum began racing quarter midgets as a young kid before moving up to late model stock cars. He won his first late model race at Caraway Speedway at just fourteen years old, an early sign of his natural speed. He attended Lake Norman High School in Mooresville, North Carolina, where he graduated in 2019 during a memorable pre-race ceremony at Texas Motor Speedway.

Path to NASCAR

Ankrum’s progression through the NASCAR ladder was rapid. After success in super late model racing, including a win in Hickory Motor Speedway’s Fall Brawl in 2015 and a third-place finish in the 2018 Rattler 250, he signed with David Gilliland Racing in January 2018 to run a partial NASCAR K&N Pro Series East schedule. The deal quickly expanded into a full-time effort.

That season, Ankrum won four K&N East races, including three consecutive victories at Thompson Speedway, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, and Iowa Speedway. The consistent run locked down the 2018 K&N Pro Series East championship, the first championship of any kind for the DGR-Crosley organization. The title made him one of the most talked-about young prospects in American motorsports.

Following the championship, Ankrum made his NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series debut at Martinsville Speedway in late 2018, driving the No. 54 Toyota Tundra for DGR-Crosley. With K&N crew chief Seth Smith calling the shots, he finished eighteenth in his first start and followed it up with a sixth-place run at ISM Raceway, giving him his first top-ten finish in the series.

Tyler Ankrum Career

Early Career (2015–2017)

Before reaching the national series, Ankrum built his reputation in short-track racing across the Carolinas and the Southeast. He ran the CARS Tour in the Late Model Stock division in 2015 before switching to super late models late that same year. The move to bigger, more powerful cars suited his aggressive driving style.

He continued to race super late models around the country, sharpening his skills against seasoned veterans. These developmental years were crucial, helping him learn how to manage tire wear, long runs, and high-stakes late-race passes, lessons that paid off once he reached the Truck Series.

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Breakthrough (2018–2020)

Ankrum’s rookie Truck Series season in 2019 turned heads across the garage. He opened the year with strong runs, including a third-place finish at Texas Motor Speedway in June, where he also graduated high school on stage during pre-race ceremonies. The early momentum caught the attention of fans and competitors alike.

On July 11, 2019, Ankrum scored his first Truck Series victory at Kentucky Speedway, capitalizing when Brett Moffitt ran out of fuel on the final lap. The win was also the first in the Truck Series for DGR-Crosley, and it locked Ankrum into the playoffs, where he reached the Round of 6 but did not advance further. His standout rookie campaign earned him the 2019 NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series Rookie of the Year award.

On November 14, 2019, Ankrum announced he would join GMS Racing for the 2020 Truck Series season, a major step in his development. In 2022, he moved to a Toyota ride with Hattori Racing Enterprises, driving the No. 16 Toyota Tundra. That period tested his consistency as he worked to keep his playoff hopes alive.

McAnally–Hilgemann Racing Era (2024–Present)

On December 7, 2023, it was announced that Ankrum would join McAnally–Hilgemann Racing for the 2024 season, driving the newly renumbered No. 18 Chevrolet Silverado RST. The move to a Chevrolet manufacturer team marked a fresh chapter in his Truck Series career. His regular-season consistency paid off with a return to the playoffs for the first time since 2020, although he was eliminated at the end of the Round of 8 at Martinsville.

Ankrum opened the 2025 season with a 34th-place DNF at Daytona, a difficult start to the year. Roughly two months later, he broke a 130-race winless streak, the longest in NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series history, with a fuel-mileage victory in the series’ return to Rockingham. The emotional win reaffirmed his place among the series’ top competitors.

Driving Style and Strengths

Ankrum is known for his calm demeanor, methodical race approach, and ability to stretch fuel windows when strategy dictates. He excels at intermediate tracks and has shown a knack for staying out of trouble, which has produced a strong top-ten rate across his Truck Series career. His work with his McAnally–Hilgemann Racing crew chief has been a key part of his late-career consistency.

Notable Races and Milestones

His first Truck Series win at Kentucky in 2019 remains a defining moment, as does his record-breaking Rockingham victory in 2025 that ended the longest winless drought in series history. He has also recorded multiple top-ten finishes at Martinsville, a track that demands patience and discipline, two of his strongest traits behind the wheel.

Tyler Ankrum Career Wins

Across his NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series career, Tyler Ankrum has recorded 2 wins, 68 top-ten finishes, and 1 pole. He has also earned 1 win in the ARCA Menards Series and 4 wins in the ARCA Menards Series East, where he claimed the 2018 championship.

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Highlights

Ankrum’s first Truck Series win came at Kentucky Speedway in 2019, the same year he was named NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series Rookie of the Year. His most recent victory came in 2025 at Rockingham, snapping a 130-race winless streak that was the longest in series history. He has made the Truck Series playoffs multiple times, including a Round of 6 appearance in 2019 and a Round of 8 appearance in 2024.

Other Wins and Performances

In the ARCA Menards Series, Ankrum picked up a win at Mid-Ohio in 2023. Earlier, he dominated the 2018 ARCA Menards Series East with four victories on his way to the series championship, a run that launched his national-level career.

Tyler Ankrum Family

Family Background and Racing Lineage

Tyler Ankrum grew up in a close-knit family in Southern California, with his mother, Michelle Ankrum, serving as a key influence during his early racing years. His father also had ties to motorsports, having dabbled in racing himself, which helped spark Tyler’s interest in cars. The family later relocated to North Carolina to better support his growing career.

Personal Life

Now based in Mooresville, North Carolina, Ankrum owns a 474-acre ranch, a nod to his rural California upbringing. He spends his weekdays away from the racetrack operating the property, a routine that helps him stay grounded during the long NASCAR season. He graduated from Lake Norman High School in 2019 while balancing a full-time Truck Series schedule.

2025 Season Performance

Tyler Ankrum’s 2025 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season has been a story of redemption. After a 34th-place DNF to open the year at Daytona, he regrouped with McAnally–Hilgemann Racing and worked his way back into championship form. His efforts were rewarded with a dramatic fuel-mileage win at Rockingham, snapping a 130-race winless streak that stood as the longest in series history.

Through the rest of the regular season, Ankrum has built on that momentum with consistent top-ten runs, putting him in strong position for another playoff run. Working closely with his crew chief, the No. 18 team has shown improved pit-road execution and better long-run speed, two areas that have been critical to his elevated performance.

Looking ahead, Ankrum’s outlook for the closing stretch of 2025 is bright. With a win already locked in and playoff experience from 2024 fresh in his memory, he is well-positioned to make a deep run in the postseason. If his team maintains its current trajectory, a shot at the Championship 4 is well within reach for the young Californian.