How Parker Kligerman Became NASCAR’s Most Underrated Driver
What we saw on August 22nd at Daytona was nothing short of historic and maybe even something we’ll never see again. Kligerman is replacing Zilisch, who broke his collarbone two weeks ago, mid-race at the chaotic and always unpredictable Daytona. Managed to win in a car he had never driven before, something that hadn’t been done since 07.
The Difference Between Milwaukee 2007 and Daytona 2025
But that was a full-time Cup Series driver replacing a part-time Busch Series driver for sponsorship reasons. This was someone part-time for 2025, replacing the best full-time Xfinity driver and hyped-up prodigy after a terrible accident. This wasn’t supposed to happen, but looking back at Kligerman’s career, you could say that a lot. And this moment, more than any, might prove exactly how significant a wasted talent Kligerman is and how strange a career he truly has.
Somewhat Normal Beginnings
Kligerman started as a Penske development driver and immediately impressed, winning nine races in the 2009 ARCA season and losing the title by 5 points to Justin Lofton. He then went part-time at Nationwide with Team 42 Racing.
Kligerman showed his youth. Failing to qualify for both Bristol and Charlotte. In 2011, he attempted to win rookie of the year in trucks with Brad Keselowski’s team. He showed flashes of talent, like back-to-back runner-up finishes at Texas and Kentucky, but inconsistency meant he lost ROTY to Joey Coulter.
Where Things Began Getting Strange
He showed improvement in 2012, beginning with 10 top eleven finishes in the 1st eleven races of the year, but nobody told Roger Penske that. He was fired mid-season due to a lack of performance. Red Horse Racing picked him up where Kligerman picked up where he left off.
He became a championship dark horse, even winning his first career race at Talladega, which was enough to impress Kyle Busch. For 2013, he was full-time in the Nationwide series for Kyle Busch’s team.
The Failure of KBM in Nationwide
Kyle Busch later admitted that KBM, one of the best truck series teams ever, failed in Nationwide because it was less funded compared to JGR and then struggled to earn sponsorship. All things Kligerman became a victim of.
He had a good season. Although there were no wins, 13 top tens and a 9th place points finish demonstrated the 22-year-old’s talent. However, due to the reasons above, KBM would shut down its Nationwide program, leaving the talent without a ride again. He was supposed to go full-time in Cup with backmarkers Swan Racing, but they sold their team 8 races into the season, leaving Kligerman without a ride again.
The Wilderness Years
After that, he only participated in one race in 2015 across all series. And he became an on-track reporter for NBC, which made it look like the 24-year-old was setting the sun on his dreams. In 2016, he would return to trucks with mid-pack RBR.
He did the first three races of the season with them, and despite their lower budget, because of the three straight top tens Kligerman earned, he left the 3rd race of the season 2nd in points. Making it clear he wasn’t done yet.
Kligerman’s partnership with Henderson!
In 2017, Kligerman would race part-time with Henderson Motorsports, a team that, despite being around since the 80s, hasn’t had enough budget to go full-time in any series since 92. They began by failing to qualify for the opening race at Daytona, but they eventually found their form.
Shocking many with 3 top tens, which was one more than the two the team earned in the same series from 2012 to 2016. But nothing was more shocking than when the underdog duo was in 1st as the race ended under yellow due to a wreck, winning at Talladega again.
The two remained a dynamic duo from then on until 2023. Earning multiple top tens despite their lower budget and even winning again this time at Mid-Ohio in 2022, a road course. All while he was still a reporter.
Full-Time Again
In 2023, Kligerman would return to racing full-time with Big Machine Racing, a team owned and operated by Taylor Swift’s former record label. In the 2 years before Kligerman came, they had shown flashes of speed with eight total top tens with various drivers. So to say Kligerman improved them would be an understatement. As in their first season together, they secured 8 top fives and 18 top tens, making the playoffs for the first time. In 2024, they took a slight step back with 5 top fives and 15 top tens, but that included 1 of the biggest robberies in NASCAR history.
As Kligerman dominated the oval and was mere seconds from the white flag, he secured the race and his first career win in Xfinity. A caution came out for a car stuck in the barriers, setting up a GWC that sent him back to finish 6th.
Redemption and Disqualification
For 2025, Big Machine decided to go with Nick Sanchez as their full-time guy instead of Kligerman. And he’d return to Henderson part-time, and he redeemed himself for his royal robbery, winning at Daytona to open the season until the win was taken away again in post-race inspection for having a rear that was illegally low.
After that, the duo didn’t get another top 10, and Henderson’s co-owner, Charlie Henderson, tragically passed away in June. Then, in August, Zilisch fell in victory lane, breaking his collarbone. He would start the race because, under NASCAR rules, it means he gets the win. But he would be replaced early in the race, and JRM couldn’t find anyone better than The Money Lap podcast co-host Kligerman.
Final Thoughts
Despite never driving that car ever and Daytona usually becoming a demo derby, Kligerman overcame all that to win the race for the young man. Meaning for the 2nd time during the 2025 NASCAR season, Parker Kligerman went to victory lane at Daytona International Speedway on Friday night. Kligerman is also still seeking his 1st win of 2025. Nothing sums up how his talent meets these strange circumstances better than that. Thanks a bunch for reading!
