Parker Kligerman: Red Horse Racing Texas Motor Speedway Race Report

Capturing his sixth  top-five NASCAR Camping World Truck Series finish since joining the Red Horse Racing stable nine races ago, Parker Kligerman drove his No. 7 Toyota Tundra up into the top-five early Friday night in the WinStar World Casino 350 at Texas Motor Speedway and never relinquished his track position. Running a solid race after starting from the 10th position, Kligerman was within striking distance of the lead prior to the final round of pit stops. After a two-tire stop and taking over the lead with 26 laps remaining, Kligerman slid back into the second position with 10 laps to go and came home with his fourth runner-up finish of the 2012 season.

 

From the drop of the green flag, Kligerman made his move to the front from his 10th starting spot. He first broke into the top five just 10 laps into the event and never looked back. First reporting to crew chief Chad Kendrick that he was just a little tight in the center of the corner on lap 15, Kligerman would wait for his first set of changes under the first caution of the night on lap 32. With a quick four tire change and minor adjustments, Kligerman restarted in fifth.

 

Throughout the next long green flag run, Kligerman pushed his way solidly into the top-three, working with his spotter and Kendrick to find the best line around the track to hunt down the leaders. The second and final caution on lap 66 created the second round of pit stops for the No. 7 Red Horse Racing crew, giving Kligerman another round of adjustments and four fresh tires. Restarting fifth after some competitors only took right side tires, Kligerman marched back to the third position in just a few short laps.

 

Just past lap 100, Kendrick brought the No. 7 Toyota Tundra down pit road under the green flag to get enough fuel and adjustments to make it to the checkered flag. Making a daring pit strategy call, Kendrick decided on a two tire change that would put Kligerman at the front of the field with a sizable lead over those who took four. As the laps clicked away, Kligerman radioed to his crew that the combination of new and worn tires had made his Tundra too loose to hang on to. With 10 laps to go, he was passed for the lead but remained close by in second to take the checkered flag.

 

“I hate to finish second and you don’t want to be the one that gives up a win when you’re so close, but we gave it everything we had tonight and I’m proud of this Red Horse Racing team,” Kligerman recapped.

 

“This Toyota Tundra chassis has been great for us at every race so far and Chad Kendrick made great calls in the pits today and even a little strategy at the end to try and win it. It’s good momentum going into the next two races, which realistically I think we can go to victory lane at both Phoenix and Homestead. It’s going to be a tight battle for this championship right down to the wire.”  

RHR PR