UPDATE: Parker Kligerman has been disqualified after failing post-race technical inspection, handing the victory to Corey Heim. FULL STORY HERE.
As is tradition, Parker Kligerman climbed from his No. 75 Hendrick Motorsports truck after his winning drive and triumphantly planted the checkered flag into the infield grass at Daytona — a gesture he's been doing since his first win at Talladega in 2012. The full-time NBC Sports pit reporter and now, part-time driver, earned a huge win for a little team at the Florida superspeedway, while earning his fourth career victory in the Truck Series, and his first win since Mid-Ohio in 2022.
"Daytona Regan [Smith, reporter], come on! Let's go!" he shouted while standing at the start/finish line. "Biggest win of my entire life." He thanked Don and Charlie Henderson (team owners) and prominent music industry executive Scott Borchetta, who has backed Kligerman for years.
"I'm out of breath. I can't believe it. I just was making moves. Every move I made felt like it worked. For some reason it really did."
As he continued thanking all those who helped him get here, he turned to the grandstands and said: "And all of you fans here at Daytona, thank you so much! God, I love this place. I love racing. I love winning."
Kligerman retired from full-time competition at the end of the 2024 season, giving up a solid ride in the Xfinity Series as the 34-year-old moved into the next chapter of his life: broadcasting. But even in "retirement" he hasn't lost that competitive fire, as showcased Friday night. As the field got strung out single-file late in the running, the experienced racer was one of the first to try re-form the inside line, running around 15th with just six laps to go. Others quickly joined him, and he managed to cut a path all the way to the front, leading just as a race-ending caution was flown for a trailing wreck behind him.
Corey Heim finished second and Gio Ruggiero -- making his Truck Series debut -- finished third. Ty Majeski and Grant Enfinger rounded out the top five. Of note, Frankie Muniz earned a career-best finish of 11th after avoiding the last-lap drama.
Photos from Daytona 500 - Friday
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