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Tyler Ankrum Saves Fuel At Rockingham Speedway To Snap 130-Race Winless Streak

by Hunter Thomas April 18, 2025 1 comment

ROCKINGHAM, N.C. – Tyler Ankrum saved enough fuel at Rockingham Speedway on Friday to win the Black’s Tire 200 and snap a 130-race winless streak in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.

Ankrum didn’t get the lead until 29 laps to go after green flag pit stops cycled through, and the McAnally-Hilgemann Racing driver had enough fuel to reach the finish but not enough to pull into Victory Lane after his celebratory burnout. The victory marks Ankrum second of his career and the first since Kentucky Speedway back in 2019. With the win, Ankrum also won the $50,000 Triple Truck Challenge bonus.

“It’s strange I didn’t know where Victory Lane was at,” Ankrum said. “I can’t thank these guys enough for the way this day started – going a lap down and Mark (Hillman, crew chief) making the pit call to get the track position back and just saving fuel, man. Coming to six (laps) to go, I knew that was the number. I knew we were five (laps) short. I was hoping I had saved enough, and we did.”

Jake Garcia finished second in the ThorSport Racing No. 13 Quanta Services Ford. Garcia sat on the pole for the first series race at Rockingham in 12 years. He finished Stage 1 in second, Stage 2 in third and he led 43 laps. The top-five effort marks his second of the season.

VIDEO: Jake Garcia, Daniel Hemric Debrief On Top-Three Finishes At Rockingham Speedway

Rounding out the top-five was Daniel Hemric, Rajah Caruth and Grant Enfinger. Kaden Honeycutt finished sixth, followed by Jack Wood, Heim, Connor Mosack and Giovanni Ruggiero.

Layne Riggs won Stages 1 and 2. The two stages wins were the first for Riggs.

There were 11 lead changes among nine drivers. Heim led a race high of 52 laps.

The caution flew on five occasions for 33 laps.

On Lap 2, contact between Mosack and Bayley Currey brought out the first caution of the day. After connecting with Currey in Turns 3 and 4, Mosack spun down the track.

The caution and red flag were displayed after Ty Majeski crashed hard on Lap 110 in Turn 1. Majeski backed his No. 99 Ford into the outside wall, and the red flag was displayed for 9 minutes 47 seconds to repair the wall.

The final caution of the day came out on Lap 118 for a three-truck crash. Caruth slid up the track exiting Turn 3, and in a chain reaction, Stewart Friesen ran into the back of him and then Matt Mills was included. Friesen then bounced off the wall and nailed Tanner Gray. The red flag was displayed for 3 minutes 20 seconds for cleanup.

The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series will visit Texas Motor Speedway on Friday, May 2 for the SpeedyCash.com 250. Live coverage will broadcast on FS1 at 8 p.m. ET.

Photo Credit: Hunter Thomas/TheFourthTurn.com