Report: Parker Retzlaff under fire for helping Harrison Burton to win over Kyle Busch
Last night in the Coke Zero Sugar 400, Parker Retzlaff gave the push of a lifetime to Harrison Burton, allowing the 21 car to win. There is only one problem with that, as far as NASCAR alliances go, that is.
Parker Retzlaff was suited up for the No. 62 Beard Motorsports Chevy Camaro. This is a ride that has long been associated with Richard Childress Racing. Austin Hill drove a few races for Beard in the past. They are able to put fast cars on the track at Daytona thanks to RCR.
You can even take that RCR connection further. Retzlaff races full-time in the Xfinity Series for Jordan Anderson Racing. JAR is in a technical alliance with RCR. Jordan Anderson himself is the son-in-law of former Childress crew chief Larry McReynolds.
Prior to the final restart, Kyle Busch lined up in the lead. Harrison Burton was on the outside of the front row. Christopher Bell was lined up behind Busch and Retzlaff behind Burton. The 62 car was reportedly given instructions over the radio before the restart.
According to The Racing Underdogs on X.com, Retzlaff was told “do not push that 21 to a win.”
When the race was over and it was all said and done, someone on the radio was heard saying, “We did the exact opposite of what they asked us to do.”
So, did Parker Retzlaff make a mistake? He would have had to give up a row to line up behind Kyle Busch, and then he wouldn’t have been guaranteed to get to the No. 8 at that point.
Parker Retzlaff wanted to do the best for his team
Parker Retzlaff also has his own agenda. When he signed up for that No. 62 ride, he didn’t do it to help another driver win. Retzlaff is young, only 21, and in his second-ever Cup Series start he had a legit chance to win.
I do not like punishing drivers who race for the win. Not when they race clean and make a real effort for the victory.
“Everyone works too hard to not have a shot at it,” Retzlaff told Bob Pockrass of FOX Sports. “I definitely didn’t want to push a Ford to te win in a Chevy. But I knew I needed to get Harrison clear to make it a race between me and him to race to the line there. I had a little bit of nose damage and my line broke apart down the backstretch. I pushed him clear and my line broke apart and I had no chance to get clear.”
Parker Retzlaff is a good racecar driver. He has had issues with DNFs in his two years in the Xfinity Series. But his talent is obvious. If he is able to get those DNFs under control and continue to mature, we are going to hear more from this driver before it is all said and done.