The NASCAR Truck Series race at Daytona was filled with drama from the start. Unpredictable conditions and intense on-track action shaped the night. A light afternoon drizzle may have left some residue on the track, or perhaps it was just the nature of superspeedway racing, where slips, slides, and wrecks are almost inevitable.

Kaden Honeycutt, Toni Breidinger, and Clay Greenfield each triggered cautions in a similar fashion. On Lap 4, Honeycutt lost control in Turn 4 and slammed into the inside wall. A few laps after the restart, Breidinger spun off and crashed into the same inside barrier. Then, on Lap 69, Greenfield lost traction and veered into the wall, setting up a dramatic final stretch.

Amid the chaos, Parker Kligerman seized his opportunity, navigating the late-race incidents to take the checkered flag in what he called the “biggest victory of my entire life.” But the true twist came after the race.

An anti-climatic finish for Parker Kligerman as victory slips away at Daytona

Parker Kligerman was the leader at the time of the caution before hitting the start-finish line on the final lap with Heim to his inside. Finally, he secured his long-awaited victory at Daytona, improving on his previous best finish of fifth place, which he achieved in 2022. The moment was nothing short of monumental for the veteran driver.

Just as Kligerman was basking in the glory of his win, NASCAR officials dropped a bombshell—his No. 75 truck failed post-race inspection. The Chevrolet Silverado was deemed too low at both sides in the rear. As a result, Kligerman was disqualified, handing the win to Corey Heim. The incidents of today perfectly sum up the reputation the Daytona International Speedway has earned over the years.

Henderson Motorsports has announced its intention to appeal the disqualification, hoping to reclaim what was a hard-fought victory. The team will present its case to NASCAR, arguing potential mitigating factors that may have contributed to the truck’s non-compliance. Until then, the official record will show Heim as the winner, while Kligerman and his team are left wondering what could have been.

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Fans rally behind Henderson Motorsports after Kligerman stripped of his win

The disqualification of Parker Kligerman’s No. 75 truck sent shockwaves through the NASCAR community, and fans wasted no time voicing their frustration. When Henderson Motorsports announced on X their intention to appeal, a wave of support flooded the social media platform.

Many questioned how the truck passed pre-race inspection but failed post-race, with one fan exclaiming, “It passed pre-race inspection, wtf?!” and another adding, “THERE’S NO WAY IT CAN PASS TECH TO ENTER AND THEN BE DQ’d POST RACE.” Others called out what they saw as a clear bias against smaller teams. They argued that the sport favors powerhouse organizations.

One fan wrote, “This MEGA team vs small team bull—- needs to stop, period,” while another added, “Absolute bull—-! We stand behind you.” Corey Heim drives for TRICON Garage, which has a technical alliance with Joe Gibbs Racing. This fan feels that this may be the reason why Heim was favored. Heim is also a reserve driver for 23XI Racing and Legacy Motor Club, two powerful Toyota-led organizations in the Cup Series.

Some speculated that NASCAR made the ruling to compensate for criticism of an early caution called in the final lap, with a fan noting, “My first thought was NASCAR read too much criticism for throwing the yellow too soon and decided to make it ‘right.’” 

With the appeal process underway, all eyes remain on NASCAR’s decision. Will Henderson Motorsports and Kligerman get justice, or will the ruling stand? Stay tuned for more updates!