NASCAR: 4 drivers who could use a change of scenery in 2024

NASCAR drivers in need of a chance: No. 4 – Parker Kligerman

Current team: Big Machine Racing (Xfinity Series)

Parker Kligerman will also be a big eyebrow raiser. He is this list’s biggest enigma, with this season being his first full season in any of NASCAR’s top three series since 2013. But given how he ran in that decade of part-time racing from 2014 to 2022, there is reason to believe that he not only deserves a full-time ride, but a full-time ride that is truly competitive.

After wrapping up the 2013 Xfinity Series campaign in ninth place in the standings, Kligerman was actually set to run a full-time Cup Series schedule in 2014 for Swan Racing. And for the first eight races of the season, he was able to do that, though he did not have any truly strong showings, largely due to the team’s status as a backmarker team.

However, his Cup Series campaign came to an abrupt end after the race at Darlington Raceway, when lack of sponsorship forced Swan Racing to initially suspend operations before eventually shutting down altogether. Kligerman went from being a full-time driver to unemployed in less than a week.

Kligerman didn’t compete in any more races in 2014. He was able to land some part-time deals in the Xfinity Series and Truck Series from 2015 to 2017. In 2017, he had his most memorable moment, when he was able to win the Truck Series race at Talladega Superspeedway, marking his first Truck Series win since 2012 when he won at the same track.

From 2018 to 2022, things largely remained the same, though Kligerman was able to make his return to the Cup Series in 2018 with a part-time deal with Gaunt Brothers Racing. In the Xfinity Series and Truck Series, it was business as usual, as he continued landing part-time deals. He earned another Truck Series win in 2022, this time at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.

Then 2023 brought him back to full-time racing, when he signed with Big Machine Racing. Thus far, he has had solid showings for a team that has largely run mid-pack since their launch in 2021.

Most notably, he looked to have a shot to win at Atlanta Motor Speedway before a collision with Daniel Hemric coming out of turn four coming to the checkered flag ultimately resulted in a fourth place finish, which was still his best Xfinity Series finish since 2013.

Should Kligerman continue to be consistent and put up additional strong showings throughout the 2023 season, there is no reason why he shouldn’t be considered for a more competitive ride that would give him the opportunity to contend for wins and a championship in the Xfinity Series.

Best fits: Kaulig Racing (Xfinity Series), JR Motorsports (Xfinity Series), Stewart-Haas Racing (Xfinity Series)