Parker Kligerman: Red Horse Racing Kentucky Speedway Race Report

The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series rolled into Kentucky Speedway on Friday for the second time this season, with Red Horse Racing driver Parker Kligerman carrying momentum from two top-five finishes at intermediate tracks since joining the organization four races ago. Kligerman’s affinity for and success at the 1.5-mile tracks on the circuit helped him utilize the speed in his No. 7 Red Horse Racing Toyota Tundra, overcoming a spin just past halfway to claim a second place finish in the Kentucky 201.

 

Jumping to the top of the speed charts on his first laps during the first practice session for the second week in a row, championship contender Kligerman showed the capabilities of his Red Horse Racing Tundra early in the weekend. Reporting that he had very little complaints about his No. 7 machine, Kligerman and crew chief Chad Kendrick put together a qualifying setup that helped the 22-year-old grab the fifth starting spot.

 

Sparing no time to show his speed after the drop of the green, Kligerman maintained position within the top-five for the first 15-lap run of the evening. Crew chief Chad Kendrick made a fuel only pit call under the first caution period on lap 16 to get Kligerman the second position on the restart. Hanging tight with the top-five and running times as fast as the leaders, Kligerman would get his first opportunity for a four tire change and adjustments on a lap 47 pit stop. Taking four when others took two tires, Kligerman restarted from the 10th position but made it known he was not staying there for long, making his way back into the top-five less than 30 laps later.

 

Kligerman was continuing his move forward with the No. 7 Red Horse Racing entry while battling for the third position on lap 81 when he got loose under another competitor and went for a spin in the infield grass. Making no contact and sustaining no damage, Kligerman’s pit crew gave him four fresh tires and the green light to charge his way back to the front. Making evasive moves and taking his competitors three and four wide from his 12th place position on the lap 84 restart, Kligerman did make his way back to the front and pushed back into the fourth position with 34 laps remaining. Though he had made a valiant effort to get to the front as quickly as possible, the leaders had checked out in front of him, riding several seconds ahead.

 

Cheers came over the radio as Kligerman would get another shot at the front three as the final caution of the night came on lap 108. Bunching up the field for the restart, Kligerman snatched the third position just a few laps after retaking the green flag, and battled side-by-side for the second position for nearly five laps. With encouragement over the radio and lap times faster or consistent with the leader, Kligerman began to chip away at the lead as he took over second with only seven laps remaining. The time remaining was not enough for Kligerman to make up the distance, but his exceptional efforts after a spin landed him a second place finish.

 

“I’m disappointed that I let my team down and didn’t get the best restart I could on our early fuel-only stop; I could’ve had the lead but I just didn’t judge it right. And then I spun out racing for third. But I can’t be too upset because this Red Horse Racing organization gave me another really fast Toyota Tundra and it allowed me to come back to finish second, which in the big picture, is a great points finish. We didn’t put a mark on this Tundra and that’s what you need to do to be effective in this championship hunt. This is definitely a championship caliber team and I’m going to be a championship caliber driver for these next six races and get that win we deserve.”

 

Red Horse Racing PR