Close, But No Daytona Win For Kligerman Or Allmendinger

A.J. Allmendinger (16) is pushed by Parker Kligerman (48) in overtime Friday night at Daytona Int'l Speedway. (HHP/Jim Fluharty photo)

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – It all went wrong in a split second for both Parker Kligerman and A.J. Allmendinger Friday night at Daytona Int’l Speedway.

After contending for the win all race long, Kligerman and Big Machine Racing endured a bittersweet ending to the Wawa 250 at Daytona Int’l Speedway Friday night.

On one hand, they secured a much-needed top-five finish and gained ground against the playoff cut line, but tangled with an ally on the final lap of overtime, thus preventing Kligerman from breaking through for a long-awaited Xfinity Series victory.

After the field had taken the white flag, Kligerman was pushing Chevrolet teammate A.J. Allmendinger in third, looking to work with Allmendinger to make a move on race leader Ryan Truex.

Throughout the night, the duo had worked well together in the draft, and looked out for one another while staying in the top five virtually the entire race. The unstated plan was to work together until the end, where the final few miles would then become a deal of “may the best man win.”

However, in a sudden shuffle thanks to a series of pushes and an attempt to get to the bottom lane, Kligerman built too much momentum with the help of fourth-place Chandler Smith and got into the right rear of Allmendinger’s bumper as the latter tried to move down with him.

Allmendinger then spun off the nose of Kligerman’s car entering turn one, ruining a stellar Daytona race, where he led 35 out of the 102 laps run.

The Los Gatos, Calif., native was poised and deserving of a shot at Friday night’s trophy, which would’ve been his first of the season, and Kligerman recognized that after the race.

But it wasn’t just about Allmendinger’s bad luck on the final lap. Kligerman, too, rued the situation that developed and was frustrated at again coming short of visiting victory lane in the Xfinity Series.

“I just feel like I’ve put myself in position time after time and this race team has helped me do that. I hate it for A.J. [Allmendinger] and I mean, we were awesome together. We were the two best [cars] that weren’t Toyotas all day,” said Kilgerman. “I just had a run and I had to go; I felt like it was a run I had to take to try and put myself on the bottom to win the race.

“I felt like the bottom [lane] was gonna win it; I really do. I hate it. I love [Allmendinger] like a brother. He and I have been in this for a long time together and I don’t want to turn someone like that. I would’ve liked to have been able to finish under green as well.”

Despite the last-lap contact, Kligerman still captured his third top five and 10th top 10 of the year.

A frustrated Allmendinger, meanwhile, kept his comments vague after the race.

“We had a shot to win and didn’t,” he said, citing the situation that played out at the end.

“We had a fast No. 16 Campers Inn RV Chevy all night. I’m proud of my guys for their effort and the progress we’ve made,” he added. “It’s disappointing; I felt like we did everything right, but it just didn’t work out there at the end.”

It was a tough end to a newsworthy two weeks for the 42-year-old, who announced on Aug. 15 that he would return to full-time racing in the NASCAR Cup Series next year in Kaulig Racing’s No. 16 Chevrolet.

Kligerman’s frustration was very similar.

“We had such a strong Spiked Coolers Chevrolet Camaro, and we did everything right. We never led a lap, but I think we were probably the best of the top three,” he said. “We had a really strong car, [and it was] a strong night overall, but God … I just want to win one of these things so badly.”

After being penalized by NASCAR on Wednesday for an unapproved spoiler modification found at Michigan Int’l Speedway, Kligerman needed a good night at Daytona. The team was docked 20 driver and owner points and five playoff points, dropping them uncomfortably close to the playoff cut line.

However, the team bounced back to ninth in the standings with Friday’s finish, gaining 29 points against the 13th-place cutoff.

“It’s huge,” said Kligerman of the points gain. “You know, I mean this was a big important night when it was a big opportunity. You know, last year we came in a worse position and had a big night. [There’s just something about Daytona, in the summer that I love, but none of it feels like it even matters without a win.

“I just have to win one of these races. It is ridiculous at this point. I just want to win.”

Allmedinger and Kilgerman enter the next Xfinity Series race at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway looking to stack up points and momentum with just four races to go in the regular season.

Allmendinger finished 35th after qualifying fourth in May, while Kilgerman was sixth in the spring.

But trying to focus forward didn’t take away the sting of losing Friday night for either veteran at the World Center of Racing.

Coverage of Darlington’s Sports Clips Haircuts/VFW Help a Hero 200 is slated for Saturday, Aug. 31 at 3:30 p.m. ET on USA, the Motor Racing Network, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, channel 90.