By Seth Eggert, Staff Writer
Speeding on pit road late, under green, at Talladega Superspeedway is usually a race-ending mistake. However, Tyler Ankrum rebounded to score a top-10 finish.
Ankrum’s No. 17 May’s Hawaii / Modern Meat Co. Toyota Tundra was trapped outside the top-15 with under five laps to go in the scheduled distance for the Sugarlands Shine 250. A caution on lap 93 earned the DGR – Crosley Group driver the free pass.
On the ensuing restart, Ankrum restarted 14th, at the tail-end of the longest line. In the jockeying for position on the 2.66-mile track, he surged forward in overtime. By the end of the first overtime lap, Ankrum had passed the lap traffic.
Ankrum then maneuvered to take the checkered flag in eighth. A post-race penalty for Johnny Sauter moved the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series Playoff Grid driver up to seventh.
A pit road speeding penalty on lap 66 is what trapped Ankrum outside the top-15. He wheel-hopped entering, unable to slow down in time. On the next lap, he performed a pass-thru and lost the draft. Ankrum spent the next 27 laps fighting for the free pass position.
Ankrum accepted the blame while pointing to the overall points picture.
“It was a good day overall. We gained some points, but I think it could’ve been a lot better day if I just hadn’t made a mistake on the pit stop and been speeding on pit road. I ended up wheel hopping turning down off the apron and just totally ruined my day.
“I thought we could’ve had a shot at winning it. When it comes to these plate races, anyone really can win it. With the way things turned out, I don’t think it was that bad. I think we’re going to go to Martinsville and Phoenix and we’re going to be better.”
The seventh-place finish is the eighth top-10 finish for Ankrum this season.
On the playoff grid, Ankrum is now just one point behind the cutoff for the Championship Four, held by Matt Crafton. He is 45-points back from points leader Brett Moffitt. With a non-playoff driver, Spencer Boyd, in victory lane, two drivers will advance to Ford Championship weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway on points.
The DGR – Crosley driver is optimistic about making it to Homestead while still in the championship picture.
“I think we keep on getting better and better as a team. I think I keep getting better and better with the more experience I gain. We’re going to tracks we’ve been to already. I love Phoenix and we’re working on Martinsville. I think our chances are good.”