Parker Kligerman Bristol post race report

In just his second start driving under the Red Horse Racing banner in the No. 7 Red Horse Racing Toyota Tundra, Parker Kligerman made an impressive march through the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series field Wednesday night at Bristol Motor Speedway. From his ninth place starting position, Kligerman and crew chief Chad Kendrick improved on the handling conditions of his Tundra with just one pit stop in the UNOH 200. Keeping his equipment spotless, Kligerman maneuvered his way to his career best finish at the half-mile track, crossing the stripe in second place.

Following the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) practice sessions on Wednesday afternoon, Kendrick and Kligerman went to the drawing board to make plans for loosening up their No. 7 Tundra on the entry and exit of the turns. Finding a better balance during qualifying, Kligerman asked for just a little more help so he could keep the front end of his Toyota glued to the bottom of the track.

From his ninth place starting position, Kligerman quietly rode inside the top-10 and called out his first assessment of the truck to Kendrick after climbing into the seventh position, claiming he was now loose on entry and exit, but was worried more about getting help on exit. Under the first caution on lap 82, Kligerman had driven up to the top-five and brought his Tundra down pit road to the attention of Kendrick and the crew for the first and only pit stop of the night. The No. 7 pit crew went to work to remedy the loose handling conditions and clicked off a fast four-tire stop. A small mishap followed as Kligerman made his exit from the pit stall as he stalled out the engine, but quickly re-fired and joined the field in the seventh position.

The adjustments gradually kicked in for Kligerman as he methodically picked his way through traffic, knocking on the door of the top-five with less than 75 laps remaining. Kendrick radioed to his driver at that time thathis Tundra was just as quick as the leaders and it was time to make his moves to the front. Not wasting any time, the Connecticut- native slid into fourth place just a few short laps later, riding right behind teammate Todd Bodine.
 
Following a restart with just over forty laps remaining, Kligerman took over the third position from teammate Bodine and set his sights on the top two. His chance for taking over the next position came with under ten laps to go, setting him up inside teammate and leader Timothy Peters on the final green-white-checkered restart. Not able to stay door-to-door with Peters as the green flag was displayed, Kligerman tucked in behind the No.17 Tundra and easily held off the competition for the second place finish.
 
“I’m just so proud to be a part of a one-two finish for Tom DeLoach, especially on his birthday,” Kligerman noted. “I got a bad restart there on the green-white-checkered and Timothy took off. I’ll beat myself up over that bad restart but I’m happy with the finish. The guys on this Red Horse Racing team never give up and have worked every day for the last three weeks to get these fast Toyota Tundras on the track. The entire organization is one whole team. They promised me I’d have the best equipment they could put together and it showed at Michigan and again here tonight. To come out of Bristol in second with a chance to win just makes me that much more excited and ready for Atlanta.”

RHR PR