Full-time television commentator and occasional NASCAR competitor Parker Kligerman celebrated his triumph in the Truck Series season opener by waving the checkered flag and placing it next to the Daytona International Speedway logo, a nod to a longstanding tradition he followed after all his truck victories. This win, which Kligerman hailed as “the biggest win of my entire life,” resulted in a lively postrace celebration.
However, the celebration was cut short when NASCAR disqualified Kligerman due to his truck being deemed too low during the postrace inspection. Consequently, Corey Heim was awarded the victory, and the standings adjustment allowed actor Frankie Muniz to achieve his first top-10 result of his career in NASCAR’s Truck Series, as he embarks on a full schedule while balancing his acting career.
Following the disqualification, Kligerman, who concluded his full-time racing career at the end of the previous season and is set to heighten his role as a television analyst, announced his intent to appeal the ruling while gearing up to cover the Xfinity Series race for The CW network. He expressed his sentiments via social media, stating, “Biggest win of my life. Thank y’all for the wonderful messages. Over 700 texts.” He emphasized the importance of concentrating on his broadcasting responsibilities, noting, “I will not be commenting any further until we are able to present what I believe is a very, very valid case.”
This race was particularly significant for Kligerman as he crossed the finish line first for what would have been his fourth victory in the Truck Series and his first since Mid-Ohio in 2022. His celebratory remarks to the crowd featured expressions of gratitude, saying, “All of you fans here at Daytona, thank you so much! God, I love this place. I love racing. I love winning.”
At 34 years old, Kligerman has transitioned from full-time racing to a career in broadcasting, despite a respectable record that included years of support from Scott Borchetta, founder of the Big Machine Label Group. Though he never clinched a victory in 152 races in NASCAR’s premier Cup and Xfinity Series, he remained a fan favorite. This change comes as he steps back from the driver’s seat, with Kligerman described by NBC Sports as one of the youngest individuals to serve as a pit reporter for a NASCAR Cup race.
This recent disqualification marks another disheartening moment for Kligerman in his NASCAR journey. Last fall, during an Xfinity Series race at The Roval at Charlotte Motor Speedway, he was on the brink of winning when a late caution flag was waved mere seconds before he passed under the white flag, which would have officially concluded the race. Instead, Kligerman ended up losing in overtime, a blow that cost him a position in the Xfinity Series playoffs and denied him his first victory in that series.
