MARTINSVILLE, Va.: Parker Kligerman will be a busy man in 2023.
Big Machine Racing confirmed Saturday morning at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway that Kligerman who debuted with the organization with a top-five finish at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway earlier this month will drive the No. 48 Chevrolet Camaro fulltime next season beginning at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway.
Kligerman will return to a full-time driver role in the Xfinity Series for the first time in a decade, when he drove the No. 77 Toyota Camry for Kyle Busch Motorsports during the 2013 season.
“This is so awesome,” said Kligerman. “I am very pumped. We want to be successful; we want to go win and we intend to do that, but we want to have fun along the way too.”
Kligerman, 32, began his NASCAR career running fulltime in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series for two seasons with Brad Keselowski Racing before graduating to KBM.
Since 2013, Kligerman hasn’t had a fulltime driving job but has been pivotal in several part-time roles that has elevated the performance of that respective organization, including Henderson Motorsports, while also working for NBC.
In July, Kligerman returned the part-time Truck Series team back to Victory Lane with a thrilling victory at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.
He has three wins in 110 Truck starts, including Mid-Ohio. He’s made 30 Cup Series starts and 56 in Xfinity with a best finish of third in 2013 at Road America.
“I think we have everything to do it,” added Kligerman. “From getting the call in Mid-Ohio to our first run together at Talladega Big Machine Racing has felt like somewhere I want to be.
“I’m thrilled to be joining the championship-caliber team Scott Borchetta has put together and I can’t wait to continue the building process.”
In addition to his Xfinity Series championship campaign, Kligerman will continue to run a partial NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series schedule with Henderson Motorsports next season.
He also confirmed Saturday that he will maintain his television responsibilities with NBC but will shift his focus to Sunday and primarily on the Cup Series when the network takes over coverage early next summer.
For team owner Scott Borchetta, the addition of Kligerman is the next step in propelling his team forward as they enter their third fulltime Xfinity season in 2023.
“Big day for Machine Racing,” added Borchetta. “We are adding a new Big Machine to the family. Our affiliation with RCR this year and everything that Richard has provided for Patrick Donahue and the team. We have proven that we can run up front getting that first win with Tyler Reddick in Texas.
“I’ve always been a fan of Parker and I think he’s coming to us at the right time with his talent and experience. We are going to have a lot of fun too. We are going to make a noise.
“We are excited to get going. We got a star in the car.”
Kligerman who holds just three Xfinity top-five finishes in 56 career starts is equally looking forward to working with veteran crew chief Patrick Donahue as the two will unite for a championship effort after the team spent the 2022 Xfinity Series season with a rotating list of drivers.
“He has a tremendous amount of experience, he’s done a great job building this organization,” sounded Kligerman. “I hope to use his experience and my experience to continue that growth and progress (of Big Machine Racing). “Someone as experienced as Patrick is a huge plus and I am very excited to work with him.”
Outside the race car, Kligerman has served as an analyst and pit reporter for NBC since 2015. He’s produced and developed multiple original programs for the network such as “Proving Grounds” and “In The Wall.”
He will relocate to North Carolina from New York before the start of the new season.
Follow Chris Knight on Twitter @Knighter01.
