TC Daily Pit Stop: Ankrum Breaks Through with Truck Win at Rockingham; Friesen Ponders Future; Saturday's TV Schedule

TC Daily Pit Stop: Saturday April 19th, 2025

Apr 19, 2025

Photo Credit: Jonathan McCoy | TobyChristie.com

And just like that, a 130-race winless drought was snapped for Tyler Ankrum, the driver of the No. 18 McAnally-Hilgemann Racing Chevrolet Silverado. Ankrum didn’t have the dominant truck in Friday’s Black’s Tire 200 at Rockingham Speedway, but he was able to stretch his fuel tank further than expected on the final run of the race, and as a result, he took the win.

It took a strategy call by crew chief Mike Hillman, but the 24-year-old driver is now a two-time NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race winner.

Ankrum would cross the finish line more than six seconds ahead of polesitter Jake Garcia, who finished in second place.

Difficult Day Leaves Stewart Friesen Pondering Future in Truck Series

Photo Credit: Caleb Carter | TobyChristie.com

Stewart Friesen walked away from a frustrating day at Rockingham Speedway, questioning whether or not continuing to compete in NASCAR is even worth the headache anymore.

The 41-year-old racer rebounded from slapping the wall in Truck Series qualifying at Rockingham to run inside the top-10 in the Black’s Tire 200. However, as Rajah Caruth lost control in front of him, Friesen took action to avoid Caruth. As Friesen slowed, Matt Mills couldn’t get his No. 42 truck slowed in time, and collided with Friesen.

A major crash erupted, which ended the days for Friesen, Mills, and Tanner Gray.

After suffering a second consecutive DNF in a race, where he had speed, Friesen was left heartbroken.

“The last two weeks we’ve had really fast trucks, but it really makes me question if all this headache is really work it anymore,” Friesen said after exiting the infield care center. “It’s what I’ve wanted to do my whole life, race at this level, and you know the top-two series are not in my lifetime, so this is what I live and die for.”