HOMESTEAD, Fla. — Tyler Ankrum was officially awarded with Rookie-of-the-Year honors after the checkered flag waved in the Ford EcoBoost 200 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
“I’m really happy to get Rookie of the Year, but honestly, I’m still at the same time disappointed to leave DGR,” said Ankrum. “I’m disappointed to leave my guys, Bono, Dan, Chad, T.J., Martin, Don, those guys are — I’ve loved working with them all year.”
The accomplishment comes days after an announcement that Ankrum would make the switch to GMS Racing joining Brett Moffitt, Sam Mayer, and Sheldon Creed.
Ankrum’s 2019 season saw the high’s – and the lows. The high came at Kentucky Speedway in July where the 22-year-old won his first career race. Although Ankrum finished out the year with three consecutive finishes outside of the top-20, the young driver had a lot to be thankful for.
“We had a really great season I thought,” Ankrum said. “I think it composed mostly of lows, but we were able to bounce back almost every single week. When we had highs, they were really, really high highs.”
“So, I’m really proud of my guys. I learned a lot this year. I’m sad to leave them, but you know, I think maybe it’s for the best to learn.”
Ankrum missed the first three races of the 2019 racing season because he had not yet reached the age of 18 and was unable to compete on tracks longer than one-mile in length.
After the Kentucky win, NASCAR granted the driver a waiver and was eligible for the post-season. The California native advanced all the way to the penultimate race of the season, ISM Raceway, where he suffered damage in the first Stage and was unable to advance to the Championship 4.