NASCAR is a game of perseverance and patience. More so, it is mentally and physically challenging to constantly perform and be in your top form. And on top of all these, there are many uncertainties when a racer drives on the track. The ones who stay strong through this all are deemed successful and eventually make it to the Hall of Fame of NASCAR. However, it is tough! Recently NASCAR Xfinity driver, Parker Kligerman, announced his retirement. The sudden move, especially after getting a P2 at the recent Atlanta race, had many wonders about the reason behind it.

Recently talking about the reason, he said, “I think couple months ago it sort of hit me. It was a feeling that started small, as a thought and then it kept growing and growing. And before you know it, you cannot ignore it. And it’s a lot of discussion, internal and external. Was able to talk with Scott a lot and he was so supportive and so gracious and kind. It just felt right.” This majorly seems like a personal decision of Kligerman. However, some NASCAR drivers don’t think it’s as black and white as it seems as they blame NASCAR.

What is the real reason behind Parker Kligerman’s retirement?

Parker Kligerman is stepping down from full-time motorsports competition following the season. He has a chance to cap off his career with a NASCAR Xfinity Series championship if he can make the playoffs in the next two weeks. Currently, is in the 11th position in the playoff picture with a +74 points cushion above the cutoff line. Behind him is Sammy Smith with +44 points. The #48 driver has raced in all three NASCAR series. He’s had 113 Xfinity Series starts,  30 Cup starts and 117 Truck Series starts. But out of the three, he has only managed three wins in the Truck Series.

The reason for his retirement is also partly not being able to win races. He detailed the retirement decision on his ‘The Money Lap’ podcast with fellow racer and co-host Landon Cassill. Where he said, “I just found myself thinking, ‘Okay I’ve done this, and I’ve not been nearly as successful as I wanted to be, of course.’ As I think about it now, I think I’ve done 257 and I’ve only won three so haven’t been as good as I’ve wanted to be but I think that just started to sit in my mind a little bit.” Kligerman wished to reach the Cup, but according to him, that was not possible. Although the reasons for his retirement are not clear, his fellow Xfinity colleague, Jeff Burton, blames the harshness of the NASCAR sport for it.

After Kligerman made the announcement, Burton took to X to write, “This sport isn’t fair and hard. It takes talent, money and resources. I told Parker Klingerman last week keep digging as I got wind of this. He’s a good dude and a wheelman. He will land on his feet on his next journey.” 

Also ex-Xfinity Driver, Tommy Joe Martins, echoed Burton’s comments as he blamed the system and wrote, “Think he’s proved everything he needs to prove. Guy is a great racecar driver. Competitive at every track type. He’s marketable, personable, and well respected in the garage. He makes every team he’s on better. Maybe one day in our sport that will be enough.”

Well, looking at that, he is most likely going to qualify for the playoffs this year. His retirement comes as a surprise. This is why it has raised speculations of having some underlying reasons that Kligerman doesn’t wish to share. For the past two years, he’s had a great run in Xfinity, where in 2023 too he qualified for the playoffs and got knocked out in the round of 12. Maybe this year he can go even further than that and also fight for the championship. This could have maybe opened up some Cup rides for him as he wanted.

However, as of now, only Kligerman knows the real reason behind his exit, personal or something else. Although he has spoken about his retirement plans, thankfully he won’t be completely leaving the sport.

Kligerman’s retirement plans

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Kligerman is a versatile figure in the NASCAR world, serving as both an analyst and a pit reporter for NBC Sports. He contributes to the weekday show NASCAR America and provides on-track insights during select NASCAR Cup and Xfinity Series races. Notably, Kligerman holds the distinction of being one of the youngest correspondents to ever report from the pits during a NASCAR Cup race, showcasing his early talent and dedication to the sport.

Broadcasting is where he is more inclined towards post-retirement. On the same lines, he said, “I started to talk to Scott (Borchetta, team owner) and told him I think I’m ready for the next chapter, I don’t exactly know what that is right now. There’s a lot of opportunities on the TV side and that will be something I want to pursue and be a part of. I’m not really pressuring myself to figure that out.”

As for his more recent future is concerned, he is eyeing the Xfinity Championship. “I think right now, going back to the racing side, I’m focused on what I’m doing right now, performing at a really high level, championship racing. Bristol is a great track for us, a lot of the playoff tracks are good for us. My focus is making the championship four and ending out on top and hopefully I can make that happen,” he added. Do you think this is the correct decision by Kligerman? Share your thoughts in the comments below.