Ankrum, a NASCAR K&N Pro Series East driver, celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the Casey’s General Store 150 at Iowa Speedway on Friday, July 27, 2018. Photo – Nigel Kinrade
Riding on momentum, Tyler Ankrum earns his fourth K&N Pro Series East victory of the season with his third-straight win in July, giving the East and his DGR-Crosley team bragging rights from East-West clash in the Casey’s General Store 150 at Iowa Speedway on Friday night.
Winning the last three East races at Thompson, New Hampshire, and Iowa, Ankrum also won at South Boston in May for four victories on the season.
Earlier in the day, Ankrum’s chances at winning became more difficult after spinning out during qualifying, damaging his tires, and forcing him to start at the back of the pack for the Casey’s General Store 150.
“It only took me 20 laps to get to the top-five,” says Ankrum after the race. “Our car was on rails all night. Once I got to second, we were about two to three tenths faster on short runs, Then on long runs, we were right about a tenth and a half within each other (the leader) each lap.”
The challenge for Ankrum was in making his run up to the front he burned his right front tire so when he put himself in position to charge to lead, his worn down right front tire kept him from advancing.
“I really couldn’t do anything with it,” says Ankrum. “He (the leader) had clean air and driving up top; he just powered by me. So I was just riding there and then we had the first caution about 30 in and my crew chief told me I’d be really close on fuel and told me to do everything I could to save fuel. From there on out it got tough because not only do you have to worry about keeping the heat on the brakes and the tires, you got to worry about saving fuel.
Leading the field was Ankrum’s DGR Crosley teammate Tyler Dippel who took the pole in qualifying. But Dippel ended up running out of fuel just before the first break and lost his chance at winning the combination event.
“So, a little bump in the road,” continued Ankrum. “But I’m really glad he told me to save fuel because I would have ended up like Dippel or Alfredo (Anthony) the guys who were running up close to the front. I think four or fives guys were running low on fuel and it’s just unfortunate for them. I think everything just went good for us today.”
Ankrum finished 1.397 seconds ahead of driver Derek Thorn who was the winner for the K&N Pro Series West by finishing in second-place.
“We got really lucky today,” said Thorn after the race. “For us to come out of here with a second and a third, compared to where I thought we were going to finish, today is a win.”
Behind Thorn was his Sunrise Ford Racing teammate Ryan Partridge. Spencer Davis and Ruben Garcia Jr round out the top-five finishers.
Rounding out the top-ten were Tyler Dippel (East), Ryan Vargas (East), Cole Rouse (West), Trevor Huddleston (West), and Kyle Benjamin (East).
The broadcast of the Casey’s General Store 150 from Iowa Speedway is on Thursday, August 2nd at 6 pm ET on NBCSN.
Next up for the K&N Pro Series East is Watkins Glen International on Friday, August 3rd while the K&N Pro Series West will race next on August 11th at Evergreen Speedway.