Ankrum Joins McAnally-Hilgemann Truck Squad

STATESVILLE, N.C. – McAnally-Hilgemann Racing revealed Thursday that past ARCA Menards Series East champion Tyler Ankrum will join the team’s NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series lineup next year.

Ankrum, who captured the East Series crown when it was known as the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East, will pilot the renumbered No. 18 Chevrolet Silverado RST, guided by veteran crew chief Mark Hillman.

The 22-year-old native of San Bernadino, Calif., will carry the familiar orange colors of LIUNA in 21 of the 23 Truck Series events next season as he embarks on his sixth full-time season in Trucks and pursues his first series title.

LIUNA, the Laborers’ International Union of North America, has been partnered with Ankrum since 2019 and has served as his anchor sponsor in the Truck Series for the past four seasons.

Ullico (The Union Labor Life Insurance Company), a champion for the American worker and the only labor-owned insurance and investment company, will sponsor Ankrum in the other two events on the Truck Series calendar.

Ankrum, a two-time playoff contender in the Truck Series, joins teammates Christian Eckes, Daniel Dye, and Jack Wood in the stable of drivers guided by 11-time ARCA Menards West Series champion owner and renowned businessman Bill McAnally.

“Joining MHR for 2024 is an exciting next step for me and a great opportunity,” Ankrum said. “Both teams showed a ton of speed and versatility in 2023, and the results were there to show for it. I’m looking forward to working with Mark (Hillman) and his team and looking forward to being teammates with Christian (Eckes), Jack (Wood), and Daniel (Dye). I want to get back to the playoffs and I know the potential is there at MHR to accomplish that next year.”

“We’re really glad to have Tyler join the team as we continue to grow in 2024,” added McAnally. “Tyler has shown he can get the job done at this level, and we want to get him back in the playoffs and be a strong contender this year. Surrounding him with Mark (Hillman) and the No. 35 team from last season will be a great fit for Tyler, and we’re excited he’s joining our expanding program.”

Ankrum’s team for 2024 consists of the core personnel that worked with Jake Garcia this season, when the MHR entry was the No. 35. Garcia has moved to ThorSport Racing for next year in the Truck Series.

The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season kicks off with the Fresh From Florida 250 at Daytona Int’l Speedway on Feb. 16.