Parker Kligerman explains last-lap wreck with AJ Allmendinger at Daytona

On the last lap at Daytona, the NASCAR Xfinity Series race ended under caution as Parker Kligerman spun AJ Allmendinger. The two had worked so well together all night and then, one bad move ruined it all.

These were two winless drivers hoping to get a win on the biggest stage in the sport. It’s hard racing, it happens. Parker Kligerman had no obligation to AJ Allmendinger other than the two being friends and Chevy teammates.

After the race, Kligerman talked about the last lap and what happened.

“I’m going to see the replay here for the first time, I go left,” Kligerman explained, watching the replay. “Yeah, and it just… he tries to come with me. So I hate it. AJ and I were awesome we were the best two that weren’t Toyotas all day. And I just had a run, and I had to go, and I felt like it was a run I had to take to try and put myself on the bottom to win this race. I felt like the bottom was going to win it into four and yeah I don’t know what to do there.

“So, I hate it. I love him like a brother you know, he and I have been in this for a long time together and I don’t want to turn someone like that, but I would have liked to have been able to finish it under green as well. … We did everything right, we never led a lap but I got to think we were probably the most in the top three, so we had a really strong car, strong night overall, but God, I just want to win one of these things so bad.”

Parker Kligerman earns points back after penalty

Parker Kligerman and his team were penalized after last week’s race. They had a 20 point penalty to their regular season score and were also deducted 5 playoff points. Tonight’s P3 finish is massive for the 48 team.

“Oh yeah it’s huge. You know, I mean, this was a big important night. We knew it was a big opportunity. You know last year we came in a worse position and had a big night. Something about Daytona in the summer I love but I just I don’t know none of it feels like it even matters without a win. I gotta win one of these damn races, it’s ridiculous at this point. I just want to win.”

This is a big deal for Kligerman and his team. They are 44 points above the cutline with four races to go until the playoffs.