By David Morgan, Associate Editor
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. –Parker Kligerman’s win in Friday night’s NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Daytona International Speedway was short lived after his truck was found to be too low in post-race inspection, disqualifying him from the victory.
As a result, second-place finisher Corey Heim was awarded the win, which gives him an early berth into the Playoffs in his third full-time season piloting the No. 11 TRICON Garage Toyota.
“Well, it is my first time having this kind of scenario happening either way, so certainly glad to be on the right side of it. It sucks for Parker and those guys,” said Heim. “It seemed like they put themselves in a position at the right time to win the race, but obviously, there is another level to it after the race. Grateful to be in the spot to take advantage of that.
“Huge props to everyone at TRICON Garage, Toyota, Safelite – first win under the Toyota GAZOO Racing banner, so that is cool. We will move to Atlanta and try to get another one.”
Kligerman’s Henderson Motorsports team has announced its intention to appeal the disqualification.
ORIGINAL STORY:
The little team that could.
Parker Kligerman, who stepped away from full-time NASCAR competition last season, jumped back behind the wheel for Henderson Motorsports and their No. 75 Chevrolet Friday night at Daytona International Speedway and made the most of it, winning the Fresh from Florida 250.
Running outside the top-15 with less than 10 laps to go, Kligerman jumped down into the bottom lane in a train of bowties as they charged toward the front.
With four laps to go, he had found a pair or dancing partners in the Fords of Ben Rhodes and Layne Riggs, falling in behind Rhodes, with Riggs planted squarely on his tailgate.
A lap later, he darted to the outside to join forces with the Toyota of Tanner Gray, who gave him the shove he needed on the final lap to dart out in front of the field when they started wrecking behind him, holding off the charge of Corey Heim as they sprinted toward the tri-oval for the final time, awaiting whether or not NASCAR would pull the trigger and call the caution.
Fortunately for Kligerman, the caution call came with his Spiked Coolers sponsored Chevrolet still out front, giving him his first Truck Series win since Mid-Ohio in 2022.
Parker Kligerman wins the Truck Series race at Daytona! pic.twitter.com/mUUYToAySi
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) February 15, 2025
“Daytona, come on! Let’s go! Biggest win of my entire life,” Kligerman shouted as the crowd roared in celebration with him.
“Thank you, Don and Charlie Henderson. I wish they were here right now. Scott, we did it finally! Scott Borchetta, thank you for getting us this beautiful truck; Chris Carrier, who makes this whole thing happen.
“I’m out of breath. I can’t believe it. I was just making moves. Every move I made felt like it worked. For some reason it really did.
“These guys built an amazing truck. I can’t believe we’re here. Thank you, Spiked Coolers. Finally get them in victory lane after the last two years means a lot.
“This has been so close the last couple of years. This means so much to win in the biggest place. We’re doing all the TV stuff today, talking about how much this place means.
“And all of you fans here at Daytona, thank you so much! God, I love this place. I love racing. I love winning.
“I’m ready for the next chapter of my life, but this one means a lot.”
Heim would be credited with a runner-up finish, while rookie Giovanni Ruggiero rebounded to third after getting shuffled from the lead late in the race.
“Nothing short of crazy there the last 20 laps,” Heim said. “Honestly, pretty impressed with everyone that we kept it straight for as long as we did. They piled it up a little bit on the last lap. Compared to last year, it was such a big upgrade as far as the quality of racing.
“Definitely was out of control there at the end, being three-wide middle and old tires, being free.
“Hats off to Gio and Tanner. William was up there with us at the end, and everybody did a really good job at TRICON Garage. Toyota as well, our Tundra TRD Pro was good all night. I feel like we put ourselves in good position. Scott Zipadelli did a great job opening the box.
“We will take the Safelite Tundra to Atlanta and try to get one better.”
Ty Majeski came home in fourth-place, with Grant Enfinger scoring a fifth-place result.
The remainder of the top-10 went to Justin Haley, Chandler Smith, Daniel Hemric, Jason White, and William Sawalich.
Frankie Muniz, running his first race as a full-time Truck Series driver for Reaume Brothers Racing, banked his best career finish with an 11th place result.
“It was intense,” Muniz recounted. “When I caught them, you saw everyone moving around but I was still half throttle. I went to the top; I was trying to push the top but then I went to the middle and then the bottom had a run so I went there. And thankfully I did because it helped us get through.
“The thing about Daytona, I’m not calling it luck, but you don’t know what the right move is. I’m just so happy especially after the year we had last year, when it felt like getting punched in the gut, it is positive after the race. I feel really good. I am just so ready for next week.”
The race was slowed for cautions on eight different occasions, including two multi-truck incidents. The first multi-truck crash broke out on Lap 83, involving Rajah Caruth and Toni Breidinger, among others.
The final caution would collect Johnny Sauter, Ben Rhodes, Layne Riggs and a number of other drivers.
Next up for the Truck Series is a trip to Atlanta Motor Speedway for next Saturday’s running of the Fr8 208 at 1:30 pm ET on FOX Sports 1.
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