NASCAR Returns to “The Rock” in Style
For the first time in over 12 years, NASCAR thundered back into Rockingham Speedway with the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series running the Black’s Tire 200. With a rich racing legacy and fan nostalgia in the air, the return didn’t disappoint.

This marked the third race at Rockingham for the Truck Series (previously in 2012 and 2013) and was the final showdown in the Triple Truck Challenge, with Chandler Smith and Daniel Hemric eligible for a $100,000 prize with another win.

Fast Start and Early Carnage
Pole sitter Jake Garcia led the field alongside Chandler Smith, holding the top spot early until Layne Riggs made a bold move on Lap 44 to win Stage 1 — the first stage win of his career. The early caution on Lap 3 involving Connor Mosack and Bailey Currey set the tone for a chaotic day.

Riggs on a Tear, Hemric and Smith in Contention
The second stage saw intense shuffling, with Kaden Honeycutt making an aggressive pass after Riggs and Enfinger tangled, only for Riggs to reclaim the lead later. He took Stage 2, firmly putting himself on the radar as a potential winner.

But the Triple Truck Challenge drama was heating up. Both Smith and Hemric ran top 5 and showed strong pace.

Wrecks, Red Flags, and a Risky Fuel Window
​The race's second half became a battle of attrition and strategy.

That left Tyler Ankrum in the catbird seat, poised just behind with enough fuel.

The Gamble Pays Off
As Heim and Ruggiero pitted with under 30 laps to go, Ankrum inherited the lead, holding off Chandler Smith and Layne Riggs. With 5 laps to go, Riggs was forced to pit for fuel — but Ankrum stayed out.

White flag in the air. The #18 truck sputtered but held strong.

Checkered flag! Tyler Ankrum crosses the finish line on fumes, winning the Black’s Tire 200 and taking home the $50,000 Triple Truck Challenge bonus. His first win since 2019 and only the second of his career.

​Final Top 10 Finishers:

What’s Next
​The Craftsman Truck Series will return on Friday, May 2nd at Texas Motor Speedway, promising even more short-track excitement and strategy madness.

Tyler Ankrum’s win at Rockingham was more than a comeback—it was a masterclass in strategy, timing, and guts. With the fuel light blinking, he coasted to victory and reminded us all that in NASCAR, patience and precision can still beat raw speed.

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