Kligerman Brings Zilisch, JRM No. 88 To Daytona NXS Win

Connor Zilisch (left) and Parker Kligerman celebrate winning Friday night at Daytona Int'l Speedway. (Scotte Sprinkle/Motorsports Hotspot photo)

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Parker Kligerman was hired by JR Motorsports to finish strong in his relief role for Connor Zilisch Friday night at Daytona Int’l Speedway.

The ultimate super sub did that in spades at the end of the Wawa 250 powered by Coca-Cola.

After subbing into the No. 88 Chevrolet at the first caution flag – taking the reins for the injured Zilisch, still healing from the broken collarbone he sustained in victory lane at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) Int’l two weeks ago – Kligerman rallied the car and JR Motorsports to a heartwarming NASCAR Xfinity Series win.

Roaring to the lead on a lap-95 restart, thanks to help from veteran teammate Justin Allgaier, Kligerman successfully completed a charge to the front and then held serve through an overtime slugfest to take the checkered flag as a large chunk of the field crashed behind him.

Kligerman worked clear on the final restart after front-row rival Austin Hill got sideways and lost momentum due to an ill-placed bump from behind by Leland Honeyman Jr. in the outside lane.

That broke up the top groove and allowed Kligerman to take control that he never relinquished the rest of the way.

Allgaier and Sammy Smith ended up locked in a side-by-side duel for second on the final lap, allowing Kligerman to maintain the lead unchallenged until the field was frozen for a massive multi-car accident in turn three coming toward the finish line.

It allowed Kligerman to bring his ride-for-the-night to the flagstand in celebratory fashion before celebrating with Zilisch on the frontstretch – fist bump, flag plant, and all.

Though Kligerman took the car across the finish line, since Zilisch was the driver of record at the initial green flag, it was the 19-year-old rookie sensation who was credited with his series-leading seventh Xfinity Series triumph of the season.

It made for a wild night, emotionally and otherwise, for both drivers of the No. 88 at the World Center of Racing.

Parker Kligerman (88) takes the checkered flag Friday night at Daytona Int'l Speedway. (David Rosenblum/NKP photo)

“It’s different in every way, because I didn’t expect to get a call from (team owner) Dale (Earnhardt) Jr. on the day I was leaving for vacation, saying ‘Hey, man, would you come drive this thing?’” admitted Kligerman, who became the first relief driver since Denny Hamlin in 2007 to drive to victory lane in the Xfinity Series.

“I hate the circumstances for Connor. He’s an amazing generational talent. I feel honored to have gotten the call to grace the seat that he’s been in, that Kyle Larson’s been in,” Kligerman added. “For me, it’s such a neat thing that this will not be on (motorsports statistics website) Racing Reference at all.”

Zilisch’s seventh win during his prodigious first full season matches Christopher Bell for the rookie record, set in 2018.

But Friday night marked the second time this season Zilisch has watched another driver wheel his race car to victory, after Kyle Larson also did so at Texas Motor Speedway in May while Zilisch was recovering from a back injury sustained in a last-lap crash at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway.

“It’s weird,” Zilisch said. “It was really weird the last time I did it, and I never thought I’d have to do it again … but I love Parker. I’ve been a fan of Parker for a long time. He’s another one I’m OK watching win inside my race car.

“I’m glad that I got to start the race and get the points for my team.”

A race that was delayed starting by nearly a half hour due to lightning, and later halted for another 40 minutes at lap 21 by a second weather disturbance, wasn’t overly chaotic until a four-car incident in turn four with 12 to go in regulation bunched the field up and sent the field into clutch gear.

From then on, wild was the order of the night, with an 11-car pileup breaking out at the exit of the tri-oval with four laps left and sending the race into extra distance.

With Kligerman already in firm control at that point, Smith and Allgaier followed close behind in overtime to complete a one-two-three sweep for JR Motorsports, continuing the organization’s remarkable season.

February Daytona Xfinity winner Jesse Love was fourth after leading 14 laps early, and Haas Factory Team’s Sam Mayer scored his fourth straight top five in fifth place.

Brandon Jones, Dean Thompson, Garrett Smithley, Brennan Poole, and Carson Kvapil closed the top 10.

By virtue of a fifth-place run in the opening stage and a win in stage two, Allgaier earned enough points on the night to regain the series lead from Zilisch, taking a three-point edge with two races left in the regular season.

The NASCAR Xfinity Series heads next to Portland Int’l Raceway for the Pacific Office Automation 147, airing Saturday, Aug. 30 at 7:30 p.m. ET on The CW, the Motor Racing Network, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, channel 90.