Memories of NASCAR’s “Unbelievably Stupid Call” Robbing Retired Xfinity Star Riles Up Racing Community

NASCAR came under fire several times in 2024. Ranging from missing pylons to faulty Goodyear tires in Bristol, the sport’s executives were taken to task for many things. However, their botched on-track calls probably drew the greatest criticism. These appeared during a massive 28-car wreck in a Talladega Cup race and when an Xfinity veteran came agonizingly close to a sign-off victory.

The latter incident is still raw in NASCAR fans’ minds. Parker Kligerman has competed in the sport for 15 years. He has garnered immense popularity not just for his racing but also for being the co-host of ‘The Money Lap’ alongside Landon Cassill. Although 4 months have passed, his legion of fans consistently chastized the higher-ups for robbing him of a much-deserved win.

NASCAR’s decision still evokes repulsion

Parker Kligerman burst into the NASCAR scene in 2009 as a 19-year-old driver with loads of promise. He was a development driver in Penske Racing and a competitor in the ARCA Series and won 9 of 21 ARCA starts in his rookie year. Following that, Kligerman went on to run over 100 races in the Craftsman Truck Series and 30 in Cup. Yet his mainstay has been the Xfinity Series, where he has 113 starts and has gathered a ton of experience. In 2024, he clinched 15 top-tens and 5 top-fives – and one of those finishes is entwined with a heartbreak.

The Charlotte Roval race was a spectacular one for Parker Kligerman… initially. He drove his No. 48 Chevrolet from the 22nd spot to the lead, fighting road course aces like Shane Van Gisbergen and AJ Allmendinger. Kligerman also successfully defended the position from the best car of the race driven by Sam Mayer. However, Leland Honeyman Jr.’s last-lap caution made all the difference.

NASCAR waited a whole 20 seconds to wave the caution flag, depriving Kligerman of the white flag by the margin of a single second. During overtime, Sam Mayer drove to Victory Lane, as Kligerman faded to 6th. This loss stung him more, especially because Parker Kligerman was preparing to retire. He bid adieu to his NASCAR racing career at the end of 2024 to fully focus on his role as an NBC Sports analyst and podcast host. However, the Charlotte Roval race tugged at his heart.

“This hurts. I said on the cooldown lap, I want to cry, but I won’t, and it’s gotten close a couple of times as I think about it.” His rivals – SVG, Austin Hill, and even Sam Mayer – rallied to show support. Jeff Burton, NBC broadcaster and 21-time Cup race winner, attacked the higher-ups: “We got to get this fixed. I’m sorry. As a fan, I should see a light and say that’s it. They should not have to go back and say, ‘Well, wait a minute, there’s a timestamp,” he said.

Although 4 months have passed since the incident, fans still remember it like yesterday.

Fans reignite their frustration about the Roval

Trending

1

Tony Stewart & Leah Pruett Invest $2.25 Million in a Life-Changing Cause

2

Shell-Shocked Dale Earnhardt Jr Explores 50-Year Old Unsolved Mysteries of His Dad’s Daytona Legacy

3

Shutting Down of Nearly $100 Billion Worth Company Has Bubba Wallace’s Wife in Shambles

4

Kelley Earnhardt Reveals Dale Jr.’s Irresponsible Yet Heartfelt Gesture, Upsetting JRM Financials

5

Roger Penske’s Plan to Overtake NASCAR Revealed by Latest F1 Hire

Well, NASCAR has gotten on its fans’ nerves numerous times. It followed the Damaged Vehicle Policy rules when Josh Berry got flat tires in Kansas, but flouted them during the Talladega ‘Big One.’ Then Bubba Wallace cut a chicane and incurred a penalty, while William Byron did the same and officials ignored it. Somebody wrote how Kligerman’s fiasco was the strongest example of this bias: “Extreme recency bias says Kligerman getting shafted at the Roval this year.” The fact that Kligerman could not succeed in one of his last chances to win a NASCAR race still itches people. So one fan said it is hard to get over this: “I had honestly forgotten about that and now I’m mad again.”

Moreover, Parker Kligerman put on a stellar performance. Shane van Gisbergen is an 80-time Supercars race winner from the opposite side of the world. AJ Allmendinger has won 11 road course races in NASCAR. Kligerman beat both at the Charlotte Roval. So it’s easy to understand why the loss hurt more. One fan confessed their excitement: “i was jumping up and down in the stands, having someone so cool from CT to root for was awesome and then ALMOST getting to see his first and only Xfinity win in person would have been awesome.” Somebody else went to the extent of saying they almost lost all faith in the sport. “This is the one for me. Had the worst meltdown I’ve had in a while from that. Almost quit the sport on the spot.”

The act itself riled up fans for a second time. 20 seconds elapsed after Leland Honeyman Jr. rammed his car into the tire barriers. If NASCAR had waited only a second further, Parker Kligerman would have won. So somebody bashed the officials: “I’m not a Kligerman fan and that made me angry. Dude is two feet from the line and they decide to throw the yellow. Unbelievably stupid call by NASCAR.”

Evidently, wounds from the Charlotte Roval incident are still fresh. Unless NASCAR refines its rulebook, more wounds might open up.