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. Ankrum won the 2018 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East championship, earning DGR-Crosley’s first championship in any racing series. He is also recognized as the first driver born in the 21st century or later to win a NASCAR national series race.
Born in San Bernardino, California, Ankrum moved with his family to North Carolina to advance his racing career. He has steadily climbed through stock car racing’s developmental ladder, capturing regional championships, a national rookie honor, and a memorable Craftsman Truck Series victory.
Early Life and Background
Ankrum is a native of San Bernardino, California. Growing up on a ranch in Southern California, he spent his early years around horses and the outdoors. As a child, he initially dreamed of becoming a professional bull rider, inspired by Lane Frost, before his mother, Michelle, encouraged him to pursue other interests. He then gravitated toward golf, but his father, who also dabbled in racing, helped steer him toward motorsports.
After Ankrum began racing quarter midgets, his family relocated to North Carolina to place him closer to the heart of the stock car racing industry. He attended Lake Norman High School in Mooresville, North Carolina, graduating in 2019. Even with a demanding travel schedule, he balanced his studies with his rising racing career, an effort highlighted when he graduated on stage during pre-race ceremonies at Texas Motor Speedway in June 2019.
Path to NASCAR
Ankrum started his racing journey in quarter midgets before stepping up to late model competition. He won his first late model race at Caraway Speedway at the age of fourteen. He continued to develop in super late model racing, capturing the Fall Brawl at Hickory Motor Speedway in 2015 and finishing third in the 2018 Rattler 250. These early results showcased his talent and prepared him for the jump to NASCAR’s development series.
In January 2018, Ankrum signed with David Gilliland Racing for a partial schedule in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East. What began as a half-season deal quickly expanded into a full-time effort. He earned his first series victory at South Boston Speedway, reeled off three consecutive wins at Thompson Speedway, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, and Iowa Speedway, and clinched the 2018 K&N Pro Series East championship. That title opened the door to NASCAR’s national series.
Tyler Ankrum Career
Early Career (2015-2018)
Ankrum’s early career centered on super late model racing across the Southeast. After one year in the CARS Tour’s Late Model Stock division, he switched to the super late model ranks in late 2015. He built a reputation as a strong short-track racer, with the Fall Brawl victory at Hickory Motor Speedway in 2015 marking a major early milestone. His 2018 K&N Pro Series East championship, earned with DGR-Crosley, established him as one of the top young prospects in American motorsports.
He continued to balance super late model races with his K&N commitments, finishing third in the prestigious 2018 Rattler 250 at South Alabama Speedway. These regional and late model results gave him the experience and visibility needed to graduate to NASCAR’s national level.
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Breakthrough (2018-2020)
Ankrum made his Truck Series debut at Martinsville Speedway in the No. 54 Toyota Tundra for DGR-Crosley, finishing eighteenth. He followed that with a sixth-place run at ISM Raceway, his first top-ten finish. Originally expected to run only part-time in 2019 due to sponsorship concerns, Ankrum and DGR-Crosley announced in December 2018 that he would contest the full season starting with the spring Martinsville race, subject to age restrictions.
On July 11, 2019, Ankrum scored his first Truck Series victory at Kentucky Speedway after Brett Moffitt ran out of fuel on the final lap. The win also marked DGR-Crosley’s first victory in the series and earned Ankrum the 2019 NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series Rookie of the Year award. Although he qualified for the playoffs, he did not advance past the Round of 6. On November 14, 2019, he signed with GMS Racing for the 2020 Truck Series season, joining one of the championship’s top organizations.
McAnally-Hilgemann Racing Era (2024-Present)
On December 7, 2023, McAnally–Hilgemann Racing announced that Ankrum would join the team for the 2024 season behind the wheel of a newly renumbered No. 18 truck. His consistency throughout the regular season earned him a playoff berth, his first since 2020. He was eliminated at the conclusion of the Round of 8 at Martinsville Speedway, but the campaign reestablished him as a weekly contender.
In 2025, Ankrum started the season with a 34th-place DNF at Daytona International Speedway. 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 Truck Series’ return to Rockingham Speedway. The win signaled a strong rebound and injected fresh momentum into his McAnally–Hilgemann Racing campaign.
Driving Style and Strengths
Ankrum is recognized for his patience, race craft, and ability to capitalize on fuel-mileage opportunities. His super late model background has sharpened his short-track instincts, and his smooth, consistent style suits the grinding nature of Truck Series competition. Pairing those traits with the resources at McAnally–Hilgemann Racing has made him a regular presence in the top fifteen and a threat to win on any given weekend.
Notable Races and Milestones
His 2019 Kentucky Speedway victory, the first by a driver born in the 21st century in a NASCAR national series, stands as a defining moment. The 2025 Rockingham win ended the longest winless drought in Truck Series history and reinforced his reputation as a clutch performer. Strong runs at Martinsville, Texas, and New Hampshire have also highlighted his comfort at a variety of track types.
Tyler Ankrum Career Wins
Tyler Ankrum has collected wins in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East, the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, and in super late model competition. His Truck Series breakthrough came in 2019, and he added a second national-series victory in 2025 with a fuel-mileage run at Rockingham.
Craftsman Truck Series Highlights
Ankrum’s first Truck Series win came at Kentucky Speedway in July 2019, a race he inherited late when Brett Moffitt ran dry on the final lap. He added a second victory at Rockingham Speedway in 2025, ending a 130-race winless streak that stood as the longest in series history. The Rockingham win was powered by smart fuel strategy and clean late-race execution, qualities that have become a hallmark of his McAnally–Hilgemann Racing tenure.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond the Truck Series, Ankrum owns the 2018 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East championship, a title that included wins at South Boston Speedway, Thompson Speedway, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, and Iowa Speedway. He also won Hickory Motor Speedway’s Fall Brawl in 2015 and has been a consistent contender in the CARS Super Late Model Tour. These regional and developmental results laid the foundation for his national-series success.
Tyler Ankrum Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Ankrum credits his mother, Michelle, and his father for shaping his career path. While his mother steered him away from bull riding, his father’s own dabbling in racing helped spark his interest in motorsports. The family’s decision to leave Southern California for North Carolina was a turning point, giving Tyler direct access to the stock car racing industry and the short tracks where he developed his craft.
Personal Life
Ankrum now lives in Mooresville, North Carolina, a hub for NASCAR teams and drivers. He owns a 474-acre ranch, which he operates on weekdays away from the racetrack, a nod to his upbringing on a Southern California ranch. His interests outside the cockpit reflect the grounded, outdoorsy lifestyle he has carried with him since childhood.
2025 Season Performance
Ankrum’s 2025 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season opened with disappointment, a 34th-place DNF at Daytona International Speedway that tested his team early. The McAnally–Hilgemann Racing crew regrouped quickly, and the No. 18 Chevrolet Silverado RST began posting competitive runs through the spring stretch of the schedule. The defining moment came at Rockingham Speedway, where fuel-mileage racing produced his first victory since 2019 and snapped a 130-race drought that had been the longest in Truck Series history.
The Rockingham win injected significant momentum into his playoff push and gave McAnally–Hilgemann Racing its most prominent result of the year. With the regular season rolling on, Ankrum’s blend of consistency, late-race patience, and strategic tire and fuel management has positioned him as a regular factor in the top ten. His partnership with the McAnally–Hilgemann Racing crew continues to grow, and the Rockingham breakthrough offers a clear foundation for the closing stretch of the year.