Parker Kligerman has become synonymous with heartbreaks. Imagine this, you fight from the back of the field and take the checkered flag in the Truck Series season opener after a series of heartbreaks in the last season have left you to join the broadcasting booth. And the opportunity to win your first race back is ruined by a disqualification. For Parker Kligerman, that reality keeps on getting worse. His appeal was rejected and the result stands resolute.

Despite the heartbreak, Kligerman remained optimistic. “I want to be at this level, I got to nail this restart,” he said after the race. The appeal panel stripped him of the victory and awarded the win to Corey Heim. This decision frustrated NASCAR fans who rallied behind Kligerman as he discussed the loss.

Days after the Daytona incident Parker Kligerman took to social media to express his disbelief and disappointment. “Thank you all for the support. This has been one of the hardest weeks of my racing life. The truck raced legally. And won legal. Due to an unfortunate circumstance in tech, it was measured at an improper height,” he wrote. He added that he would discuss the situation on Landon Cassill’s The Money Lap podcast.

While Kligerman’s frustration was evident, NASCAR fans rallied behind him. Many questioned NASCAR’s officiating and didn’t agree with post-race inspections that could overturn a hard-fought victory. One fan voiced their frustration, and said, “I am so tired of NASCAR’s BS rulings after the race, in all series. If you spend all the money and time on pre-race tech, how can you expect a vehicle to be at a specific ride height after a race at Daytona?” The sentiment was echoed by many. If NASCAR fully inspected cars before the race, why should a minor post-race measurement erase a win?

Notably, NASCAR implemented stricter post-race inspection rules in 2019. They allowed officials to disqualify cars that failed to meet specific measurements. Before this, penalties resulted in point deductions or fines, but the win itself would still stand. However, Kligerman is not the first driver to lose a win due to the ride height rule. In 2019, Ross Chastain faced a similar fate when his truck failed post-race inspection at Iowa Speedway. That disqualification cost him a hard-earned victory.

Despite the setback, Kligerman’s career is far from over. Having retired from full-time racing, he has transitioned into broadcasting. He will join NBC Sports and the CW network to cover the Xfinity Series. However, fans are now looking forward to his upcoming The Money Lap podcast, where he plans to share more details about the Daytona disqualification.

Fans rally behind Kligerman: “You are the winner”

Parker Kligerman’s disqualification has reignited discussions about NASCAR’s rules and officiating. Fans took to social media to express their frustration and admiration for the driver. Many refused to accept NASCAR’s decision, as they called Kligerman a winner. One fan summed it up perfectly, saying, “Winner in my eyes. You did the damn thing, PK.” What makes the situation even more infuriating is NASCAR’s role in the inspection process. According to some reports, NASCAR officials asked Kligerman’s team to raise the front to pass the inspection. According to the team, without the change, the inspection caused their disqualification by 1/4th of an inch.

Another fan echoed the same and wrote, “Regan Smith won Talladega in 2008, regardless of what the record book says. PK won Daytona in 2025, regardless of what the record book says.” Notably, in 2008 Talladega Regan Smith took the checkered flag ahead of Tony Stewart. However, NASCAR officials found him violating the yellow line in an attempt to pass Stewart. He was stripped of his win as Stewart awarded the victory to end a 43-race winless streak.

Others pointed to the inconsistency in NASCAR’s rulings. One fan questioned, “If they 100% tech the vehicles before the race, there should be ZERO tech after a race unless parts are replaced during the race. It’s just very stupid the way they do things.” The problem of NASCAR’s inconsistent rulings isn’t new. In the Cup Series race, fans questioned the racing body over the lack of a caution flag in the last lap when there was a clear accident on the track. For Kligerman, it must have stung even more, given he suffered the loss of a victory from a similar incident back in the Charlotte Roval race last year when the caution flag waved right as he took the checkered flag.

While some asked NASCAR to look into the height rule, a user suggested Parker damage his car after winning the race. “You will win again, Parker. And when you do, you gotta #mooncar the shit out of it afterward. Leave ’em nothing to measure,” joked one fan. Many believe that race-winning teams often manipulate the ride height by intentionally damaging the vehicle during the cooldown lap. One such incident that gained fans’ attention was 2025 Daytona 500 winner William Byron’s contact with the wall after the race, although Byron emphasized the incident was not a case of tampering with the car.

Another reminded him, “You keep that flag, buddy. You earned it. NASCAR can NEVER admit to their mistakes.” The overwhelming support showed just how much Kligerman meant to the fans. He had built a strong connection with the NASCAR community. They believed in him, regardless of what the official record books said.