In a dramatic return to NASCAR’s historic Rockingham Speedway, Tyler Ankrum broke a nearly six-year winless streak on Friday, April 18, 2025, capturing the Black’s Tire 200 through masterful fuel strategy and perseverance.

The 24-year-old California native hadn’t visited Victory Lane since his previous NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series win 2,108 days ago. Despite leading only the final 29 laps of the 200-lap contest, Ankrum’s careful fuel conservation proved decisive in securing the long-awaited victory.

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

The win didn’t come easily for Ankrum and his McAnally-Hilgemann Racing team. Early struggles saw them finishing outside the top 20 in both of the first two stages, even falling off the lead lap at one point. However, a strategic comeback engineered by crew chief Mike Hillman turned their fortunes around.

Their decision to pit one caution before the rest of the field proved pivotal. While Bristol winner Chandler Smith gave chase in the closing laps, fuel miscalculations left the Front Row Motorsports driver running on empty, allowing Ankrum to cross the finish line with a comfortable 6.657-second margin over Jake Garcia.

Garcia, who started on pole and led 43 laps, recorded a career-best second-place finish with ThorSport Racing. Daniel Hemric rounded out the podium in third, with Rajah Caruth and Grant Enfinger completing the top five.

Other notable finishes included Jack Wood securing a career-best seventh place in another McAnally-Hilgemann Racing entry, and Corey Heim rebounding from a late fuel stop to finish eighth.

The victory catapults Ankrum to third in the championship standings, while Heim maintains his points lead with a 22-point advantage over Chandler Smith.

After a short break, the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series will resume competition at Texas Motor Speedway on Friday, May 2, with coverage beginning at 8:00 PM ET on FS1, NASCAR Racing Network, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
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