DARLINGTON, S.C.: In the penultimate NASCAR Xfinity Series race of the regular season, Parker Kligerman appeared to be in a position to maintain a healthy cushion for the 12th and final Playoff spot, but following contact from Sam Mayer late in Saturday afternoon’s Sport Clips Haircuts VFW 200 at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway, the Big Machine Racing driver, now finds himself on the outside looking in.
The race wasn’t great for Kligerman and the Patrick Donahue-led team; however, the group maintained a steady pace and even overcame a loose wheel in Stage 3 to put themselves in contention for a top-10 finish.
Then the tide turned.
Mayer, who was having an eventful race for himself, was like Kligerman, trying to overcome a series of issues throughout the race to challenge for a strong finish – but while in 13th, Mayer ran over Kligerman’s No. 48 Chevrolet Camaro, sending him into a spin and triggering the final caution of the race.
The race restarted in overtime and in two laps, Kligerman was able to pick up a few positions and finish 24th at the checkered flag. However, Playoff rival Riley Herbst embraced a solid day behind the wheel at the track dubbed “Too Tough To Tame,” claiming stage points and finishing sixth.
Kligerman’s late race headache and Herbst’s strong finish allowed the Stewart-Haas Racing driver to gain 21 points throughout the 148-lap race to leave Herbst with a one-point advantage heading to Kansas Speedway for next Saturday’s Kansas Lottery 300 – the final race of the Xfinity Series regular season.
The Westport, Conn. native was agitated post-race and although he did not have a race-winning car, his No. 48 Big Machine Chevrolet Camaro could have contended for a top-10 finish.
“We were probably an eighth-to 10th-place car. I am proud of the way we executed this weekend and even with having a loose wheel to come back from that and make a bunch of adjustments and then just get flat run over by the No. 1 car, that’s just so disappointing,” said Kligerman.
“Sam’s a friend of the team; his dad is too. I know he’s won races, but he just does dumb stuff like that all the time and I don’t know what the reasoning is, but he’s gotta clean it up.”
Despite his small deficit to Herbst, Kligerman believes his Big Machine Racing team can go to Kansas Speedway next weekend and, execute to the fullest and put themselves into the Playoffs.
“We are going to make it fun and exciting for TV at Kansas and make a show out of it and we will find ourselves in,” added Kligerman. “I felt like we were in a decent position. I know how well Herbst was running, but we weren’t far behind. We’ll put on a show next week.”
Mayer – a two-time winner for JR Motorsports at Road America (Wisc.) and Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International this season said he battled brake issues throughout the day, and his inability to communicate with his team stemming from radio issues throughout the race contributed to the contact on Lap 142.
“Yes, we’re going to have to talk, and it sucks,” said Mayer. “Obviously, my radio issues all day got in the way, whatever that was. We had brake problems in and out all day and I could never relay that to the team to help fix it. The motor was hot all day.
“There was nothing right about today and it sucks. I hate that it took our deal down and it took their deal down. It ruined both days. It sucks.”
Mayer, who finished 11th, said his No. 1 JR Motorsports team needs to correct issues ahead of the seven-race Playoff schedule.
“The car was fast. We’re going to have some other internal stuff fixed going into the Playoffs. Too many issues in one day. Hopefully, we’re getting it all out of the way.”
Follow Chris Knight on X (Formerly Twitter) @Knighter01, IG Threads @TheKnighter01, or email at: [email protected].
