What’s Happening?

Tyler Ankrum was once a high-value prospect in NASCAR. Unfortunately, his time in the Truck Series has been rather quiet. With two of his McAnally-Hilgemann Racing teammates headed to the next level in 2025, should Ankrum look to move on as well?

• Akrum made his name known to race fans by winning the 2018 ARCA Menards Series East title.
• After that four-win campaign, Ankrum earned a spot with TRD’s David Gilliland Racing in 2019.
• Since then, Ankrum has won one race and floated between multiple teams and manufacturers.

What Happened to Tyler Ankrum?

After a strong start in the 2018 ARCA Menards Series East, with Four wins, nine top-fives, 12 top-tens, and a championship, Ankrum’s name floated amongst the top developmental drivers in NASCAR.

Moving on to the Truck Series in 2019 with DGR-Crosley, Ankrum performed well for a rookie, winning his first race, finishing eighth in points, and taking home Rookie of the Year honors. However, DGR will switch to Ford after 2019, and Ankrum will move to GMS Racing in 2020.

In the COVID-affected 2020 season, Ankrum and his new sponsor, LiUNA!, showed statistical improvement. Unfortunately, his winless streak continued into a less impressive 2021, spelling the end of his time at GMS.

Akrum moved back to TRD with former championship team Hattori Racing in 2022, which would be his worst season to date. After an improved 2023, Hattori moved back to part-time, resulting in a new job hunt for Ankrum and LiUNA!.

His 2024 ride would come in the form of an expansion for Chevrolet’s McAnally-Hilgemann Racing.

What Are His Options for 2025?

While still on his losing streak, Ankrum has had a relatively solid comeback season with McAnally-Hilgemann Racing. Ankrum bested his career-best average finish through 17 races and made his third career Playoffs.

However, teammates Daniel Dye and Christian Eckes are both headed to the Xfinity Series next season. With the guard changing, could Ankrum also try to make the move?

There are two known options for a Chevrolet driver in the Xfinity Series right now: JR Motorsport and Big Machine Racing. While Ankrum is a sponsored driver, there is reason to believe he is not the leading candidate for one of these rides.

Outside of the top rides, there are options at smaller teams like AM Raicng or Alpha Prime Raicng. These teams could use Ankrums’s skill and LiUNA! However, moving up may not be Ankrum’s best choice.

The Case To Stay Put?

While staying put feels stagnant for the now six-year veteran of the Truck Series, it could be the opportunity he is asking for.

MHR has given Ankrum not only a consistent, solid ride but also a chance to be the team’s senior driver. Throughout Ankrum’s career, he has not had the opportunity to stay put and get comfortable past his first two seasons with a team.

MHR helped Christian Eckes find a winning way, and this season, Daniel Dye became a playoff contender. Ankrum has improved himself, and who’s to say that doesn’t translate over to 2025?

He could even swing a part-time Xfinity Series schedule in 2025, sweetening the pot for him to hold off on moving up.

Time and time again, we have seen drivers leap to a new level too early. Tyler might not want to make that same mistake. However, Ankrum has been in a truck for some time now; maybe a new start is what he needs.

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