COLTON, CA :: Several young Late Model racing drivers have emerged throughout short tracks all across the Mid-Atlantic region this season. Many come from well-organized karting programs with excellent coaching but more importantly, very good guidance. There’s little question that the younger talent are all still raw in overall experience, but for one who has plans to win big at Myrtle Beach Speedway, Tyler Ankrum believes his time is now.
At just 14 years old comes, Ankrum from his hometown of Colton, CA where the young racer has enjoyed and benefitted from a much decorated Quarter Midget racing program producing several National championships before switching to Late Models.
Already the young standout has made his presence known, collecting his first Late Model win at Caraway Speedway and dazzling the crowds at Langley Speedway with his three second place finishes. Ankrum also had good finishes in starts at South Boston Speedway as well posting several top six efforts. In a more recent performance in the Autumn Classic at Southern National, Ankrum had to change engines, start the race at the rear of the field and still finished seventh in a thirty car field. To no surprise, the young sensation also took his show to the big dance at Martinsville where Ankrum may in fact be the youngest racer ever to make the field for the great race. Off to a rocket fast start in his Late Model career, Ankrum believes his time is now and wants a shot to prove it at Myrtle Beach Speedway. The question for Tyler Ankrum is simple, can he win this weekend at the MBS400?
“I’m very confident we can win at Myrtle Beach, it’s all about being there at the end”, says the California Kid. “It’s a chess match, you can race in the front and even pull away by a whole stretch but, by the end of the race, you could easily be the one who is now five tenths off. It’s all about patience, going slower and not making that right rear hot sliding it.”
Next, Tyler Ankrum shared his thoughts on the early success in Late Models.
“I’m confident in myself that I can drive and I’m confident in my team. Racing is something to me that has come easy to learn, I mean, I’m never scared to go to a race track. I’m not intimidated to go to a new race track and race that same weekend, I try to get in that mindset where I need to pick it up quickly and most times I do. In coming from Quarter Midgets, I’m used to the pressure and racing Nationally”.
Then our attention turned to Ankrum feelings on winning and how he would feel to shock the Late Model world by winning the Myrtle Beach 400.
“That there would mean everything to me, I’ve always dreamed of winning a two hundred lap race. We have come close before, man, it would be amazing for me, it would cap off the year for me”.
Lastly, a very humbled and appreciative Tyler Ankrum reflected on those who make it all possible.
“Definitely my family and team, they have so much confidence in me, they support me so much and they know I can go out there and drive the wheels off the . Even my friends and family back home in California who send me texts and message me through Facebook. But it’s my crew chief, Kenyon Davidson, he is amazing at what he does and I don’t doubt not one bit. You know, it’s all about the relationship between the driver and his crew chief and we have a great relationship”.
Tyler Ankrum is certainly well ahead of the Late Model learning curve and is gaining notice from fellow racers that he competes with. Confident yet still very humbled, the young race talent looks to bring his best bullet to Myrtle Beach Speedway not just to make a friend or make a good impression. Tyler “The California Kid” Ankrum comes to Myrtle Beach looking to win.
