NASCAR

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Fans Respond To Parker Kligerman Winning Fresh From Florida 250, Getting Disqualified

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By
Jeff Hawkins
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Jeff Hawkins Sports Editor

Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry, in both print and digital media. He joined the Sportscasting team in 2021 following a decade of freelancing. He spent his early career as a reporter for various newspapers in Illinois, New York, Florida, North Carolina, and Michigan, with a particular emphasis as a beat reporter for the Chicago Blackhawks. Jeff earned his bachelor's degree in journalism from Oakland University. Over the course of his career he earned several sports writing awards, including two national awards from the Associated Press Sports Editors for column writing and news reporting. One of the five prized columns included a commentary on NASCAR's increasing corporate influences, particularly in northern racetracks — commentary which you might find Jeff building on as part of the Motorsports writing team at Sportscasting now.  

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Published14 Feb 2025

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NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driver Parker Kligerman ran out and planted the checkered flag on the infield grass at Daytona International Speedway. (Good thing the part-time driver and television analyst wasn’t wearing maize and blue and Ohio State linebacker Jack Sawyer wasn’t around.) 

Regardless, Kligerman, who took the lead during Friday night’s Fresh From Florida 250 with two laps remaining and withstood a chaotic final rotation, told Fox Sports he earned “the biggest win of my life.”   

Kligerman battled and overcame pole-sitter and Stage 1 winner Ben Rhodes with two laps to go.  

As Turn 4 claimed at least its fifth accident, Rhodes and veteran Johnny Sauter, battling for P2, spun out along the backstretch. The turn also triggered a multi-machine mele as Kligerman paced Corey Heim when the eighth caution light flashed. It was Kligerman’s fourth career win and first since 2022. 

“I can’t believe we’re here,” he said. “I love this place.” 

The love affair didn’t last long. About an hour later, the No. 75 Chevrolet failed post-race inspection and was disqualified. Runner-up Corey Heim was deemed the winner. Henderson Motorsports will appeal the decision.

 X (Twitter) users responded to Kligerman’s misfortune …

 

The Truck Series owned the Friday night sports landscape … 

Sixteen years after last competing in a Truck race, “nervous” Cup Series regular Michael McDowell  “Normally, I’ll be on the bus watching these crazy truckers. Tonight, I’ll be one of them” … 

Special story, special visit … 

Rhodes may have collected two circuit titles, but he generally struggles during qualifying sessions. Not Friday as the 27-year-old earned his first pole since 2018 … 

The truck season went green … 

 Well, that didn’t take long. One year after the Trucks compiled a series-record 12 cautions at Daytona, early aggressive driving led to Kaden Honeycutt spinning out and crashing on Lap 4, one rotation earlier than last year … 

 Rookie Toni Breidinger couldn’t control the truck through Turn 4 on Lap 16, bringing out the second caution … 

After snapping his pole-position slump, Rhodes claimed Stage 1 off a one-lap shootout. It was his first stage triumph since 2023. He immediately dropped to 32nd after remaining on pit row to fine-tune the engine. Within 10 laps, however, Rhodes drove through the pack and rejoined the lead pack … 

After experiencing Stage 1 issues, Matt Crafton, who led only one lap last season, turned the fastest lap through 35 rotations, clocking 47.805 seconds. He claimed the lead near the end of Stage 2 and had ThorSport teammates Rhodes and Ty Majeski, plus Ford compadre Chandler Smith, behind him, securing the 25-year veteran’s first stage win since 2023 … 

ThorSport dominated Stage 2 … 

Giovanni Ruggiero, in his series debut, earned the lead with 26 laps remaining after Josh Reaume pitted. Over the next few laps, the Toyota rookie proved his mettle by outdueling Rajah Caruth from the outside on a restart and then saw Chandler Smith approaching. Ruggiero may have proven he belongs … 

Trouble developed on Lap 83 as Jack Wood got turned into the outside wall, igniting an eight-car crash. Top drivers like Caruth, Crafton, McDowell, who led briefly, and Breidinger, who rebounded from an earlier incident …  

Crazy ending …

Flag plant. Will it need to be replanted? …

Public Service Announcement: Daytona 500 time change …