Parker Kligerman has reasons to be all smiles for Saturday’s The LiUNA! NASCAR XFINITY Series race at Las Vegas. (Photo: Christopher Vargas | The Podium Finish)
LAS VEGAS — At some point, it will all come together for Parker Kligerman at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Last year, it was a track that tested the 33-year-old’s resolve at times in his No. 48 Spiked Lite Coolers Chevrolet Camaro. The pace was there for the Big Machine Racing driver’s car but the results did not back up such thoughts, placing 11th and 13th.
Entering Saturday’s The LiUNA! NASCAR XFINITY Series race, the Westport, Connecticut native ranks 15th in the championship standings. Much like the young racer’s performances at the 1.5-mile intermediate track, Kligerman has been fast but the results have not been there.
On the qualifying front, the multifaceted racer has been lightning fast, grabbing starting spots of fourth at Daytona, fifth at Atlanta and seventh at Las Vegas. However, he was collected in accidents at Daytona and Atlanta.
Simply put, Kligerman was plainly a victim of circumstances, finishing 25th and 19th. While most drivers would be frustrated about such misfortunes, the co-host of “The Money Lap” podcast preferred to look at the positives.
On Friday afternoon, Parker Kligerman showcased consistent, long run speed at Las Vegas. (Photo: Christopher Vargas | The Podium Finish)
“Although we didn’t get the result we deserved, last week, we were once again in the conversation for the win,” Kligerman said in a team press release. “If we keep it up, eventually we will breakthrough.”
Like Richard Petty once said, “The best you can do on any given day is put yourself in a position to win and let circumstances dictate the outcome.” In particular, Kligerman has collected stage points in the season’s first two races, logging these valuable lifelines in Stage 1.
Now, Kligerman has reasons to be optimistic about his chances ahead of Saturday’s 200-lap race. Mainly, he was the ninth fastest in Friday’s sole practice session and seventh on the 10-lap consecutive run speed chart.
From “The Money Lap” to making actual laps on the track at Las Vegas, Parker Kligerman has his game face on. (Photo: Christopher Vargas | The Podium Finish)
Along with another strong qualifying effort, Kligerman is not a driver to easily dismiss with the usual favorites in Austin Hill, AJ Allmendinger and Cole Custer. Late last year, he reeled off a fourth at Kansas and a runner-up at Texas, two intermediate tracks with similar characteristics to Las Vegas.
When it comes down to it, Kligerman may have the makings to plant a checkered flag in front of the “Sin City” faithful. It does not hurt that he holds this venue in high regard as he pursues his first career NASCAR XFINITY Series win.
“This makes me truly excited for Vegas this weekend, easily one of my favorite 1.5 mile tracks in NASCAR and a place we have been very fast,” he said. “Our team executed at such a high level at Atlanta over the whole weekend, it’s made my prep for Vegas very enjoyable. I’m having so much fun this year already. Let’s go get a checkered flag.”
