Article by Dustin Albino, Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images
Parker Kligerman had been contemplating the next chapter of his professional career prior to taking a full-time gig with Big Machine Racing in the Xfinity Series ahead of the 2023 season. But he wanted to taste Victory Lane once more.
After spending two seasons adapting to the grind of the Xfinity Series, team owner Scott Borchetta hired Kligerman to be the driver of the No. 48 Chevrolet. Kligerman, a racing journeyman, hadn’t competed in an entire schedule in any series in a decade. Simultaneously, he beefed up his broadcasting resume as a pit reporter for NBC Sports.
Last month, Kligerman announced that after two seasons with Big Machine Racing, resulting in a pair of Playoff appearances, he would depart the team and stop pursuing full-time opportunities in NASCAR at the end of 2024.
“It became apparent to me that the amount of sacrifices I was making in my life were getting to a point where I was going to have to make a decision,” a reflective Kligerman told Jayski. “Do I want to keep going down that path where I have to sacrifice more and more, having to spend more time away, upend my life and move to North Carolina full time? And chances of going to the next level. Personally, I wouldn’t be content just being in Xfinity; I want to go to Cup.”