Kligerman Lays Claim to Mid-Ohio Truck Victory

by
Peter Stratta
July 9, 2022

Photo Credit to Erin Newlin

Parker Kligerman Takes Third Career Truck Win at Mid-Ohio

LEXINGTON, Ohio – “The small team that could” gets a popular win at Mid-Ohio, as Parker Kligerman is victorious with the Henderson Motorsports No. 75 Chevrolet. In just his eighth start of 2022, Kligerman led 56 laps en route to a dominant victory. Kligerman had to hold off a late charge by Zane Smith, as the 38 was all over PK’s bumper in the closing laps. At the checkered flag, Kligerman just beat Smith to the line by a truck-length. This is Kligerman’s first Truck Series win since Talladega in 2017.

After starting second, Kligerman hardly ever looked back all day. The 75 took a dominant Stage 1 win, only to be passed on the last lap of Stage 2.

The second Stage win would go to Zane Smith, as the 38 studied Kligerman’s driving style for several laps, only to pounce late. Smith, who started 13th, quickly moved forward and proved himself to be a winning threat.

The final Stage would be an extended dogfight between these two, as Smith took command on a restart inside of 10 laps left. Not giving up though, Kligerman would get back by the 38 for good on a restart with three laps left. Although Smith kept touch with Kligerman, the 38 could not pass the 75 again, eventually being right on his tailgate at the finish line.

“It’s hard to put into words,” Kligerman said on what this win means for himself and this team. “I was really emotional on the cooldown lap, because this whole team is like a team of second chances. Two years ago, I thought my driving days were done. This team gave me a call, wanted to get back racing, and it’s just been a steady improvement throughout. Charlie Henderson, Don Henderson, the whole Henderson family, all the employees at Food Country USA, to give us this opportunity to come out here and do this, it’s unbelievable what you can achieve when you put a talented group of humans together. We were doing this on an absolute fraction of what trucks we’re up against.”

“To win at Mid-Ohio, finally on a road course! I started in road courses, and came into NASCAR thinking ‘oh that’ll be easy,’ but it’s taken more than a decade to get a win. Finally we’re here, so proud of Chris Carrier, Pat, Phil, Heath, Josh and Kerry, John Paul, everyone who makes this possible. This is the small team that could, but we’re not a team that doesn’t win, we win.”

By winning the third race of the Triple Truck Challenge, Kligerman also takes home a $50,000 bonus check. PK also continued his winning tradition of planting the checkered flag into the grass at Mid-Ohio.

Behind Kligerman and Smith, top finishers were Carson Hocevar, Stewart Friesen, Christian Eckes, Chandler Smith, Kaz Grala, Derek Kraus, Colby Howard, and Hailie Deegan.

Mid-Ohio was also the second-to-last regular season race for the Trucks. Ty Majeski, Christian Eckes, and Carson Hocevar all clinched a Playoff berth on points. Two spots remain heading into the regular season finale.

The Truck Series regular season finale is in two weeks from Pocono Raceway. The CMC Brakeleen 150 will send the final two drivers to the 2022 Playoffs, and also decide the regular season champion. Coverage begins Saturday, July 23 at noon on FS1, MRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90. Will we see a last-chance Playoff upset win? Many contending drivers could turn the standings on their head.