While the 2024 NASCAR season has already thrown curveballs at many drivers, there is one driver who has steadily been bringing in better finishes each time he’s out on track. Ever since he finished 25th at the season opener, Parker Kligerman has been consistently improving each race. Although it seemed like Kligerman would continue inching away at the top ten in Phoenix, it could have all gone up in flames after the #11 Big Machine Racing found itself on course to collide with not just one, but two cars as the frontrunners wrecked with about 50 laps to go. Fortunately, the 33-year-old managed to weave past the chaos, finishing 10th in the process. While many asked Kligerman how he managed to make it through, the Chevy driver’s response is bound to send you into a fit of laughter.

Parker Kligerman reveals how he threaded the needle at the Phoenix wreckfest

After Hailie Deegan’s run-in with the barriers around lap 60 sent the race into a caution, then race leader John Hunter Nemechek entered into a three-wide battle with teammate Chandler Smith and Riley Herbst, who were all gunning to catch up to Justin Allgaier. In a power struggle for a second, Smith ended up making contact with Nemechek’s left rear, sending him spinning into Herbst, who tried to make a lucky escape but failed.

Over a dozen drivers fell victim to the wreck caused by the battle up front, but one man managed to avoid it all. The moment John Hunter Nemechek spun, he immediately turned around 180 degrees on the track and was facing Kligerman’s #11 Chevrolet dead in the eye.

Thankfully for Kligerman’s top-ten prospects, the #11 narrowly missed contact with Nemechek and flew right by. But that wasn’t all. Kligerman was now approached by the out-of-control #98 of Herbst, but with a last-second flick of the wheel toward the wall, the #11 was out in the clear once again.

The near misses that could have almost ended Kligerman’s race drew praise from broadcasters all over, with Daniel Suarez also commenting on how skilfully the Big Machine Racing driver had managed to avoid disaster. However, when Kligerman was asked about what was going through his mind as the wreck unfolded in front of him and he came eye-to-eye with John Hunter Nemechek when the latter was spinning, the #11 driver revealed a hysterical reality.

In a post shared on X by Kligerman’s podcast, ‘The Money Lap’, Kligerman took the opportunity to make light of his close call. He shared what was truly going on within the #11’s cockpit. Kligerman stated, “You know I just did what every great race-car driver does, and that was close to my eyes and hope for the best and come out of the other side and take credit for it.” 

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It’s safe to say Parker Kligerman couldn’t have asked for a better outcome than to finish 10th and continue climbing that ladder with Big Machine Racing toward the top five. However, not all was smooth sailing, as the 33-year-old had to fight constantly against his car in the later stages.

Despite avoiding heartbreak, Parker Kligerman had to tussle against all odds to make it to the top ten

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Whilst Kligerman managed to escape his close calls with Nemechek and Herbst, the #11 fell victim to damage on the left rear on a restart while the Big Machine Racing driver was in fifth. The damage bent the rear left fender out of shape, creating a huge pocket that increased aerodynamic drag. Kligerman shared a picture of the damage on X and stated how the “car was superloose and draggy after that”. With that said, the #11 still came home in tenth, a result that Kligerman is rather pleased with.

Reflecting on his struggles later on in the race and how it hampered his sprint toward the top five, Kligerman was interviewed by FrontStretch. When asked if anything would have helped, Kligerman stated, “I think that when we get to the top five there, not getting destroyed in the left rear would have helped. I think that was like a big parachute, our car was super loose on the last run.” 

Up until that point, Kligerman’s team had made minor adjustments in the pit stops that had allowed his car to unleash its true potential, leading many to believe he would finish within the top 5. Nevertheless, a top-ten result at Phoenix was just what the team needed.

Parker Kligerman concluded, “I think that hurt us, but I think it’s a solid day, first top 10 for the team here at Phoenix and it’s a place I’ve really struggled at, so I felt like this is the most competitive I’ve been. I think today was a successful day overall, qualifying 12th, getting the top 10, I wish we had some stage points but we learned a lot and we’re gonna be better here when we’re in the Championship 4.”

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From dodging a race-ending wreck to limping the damaged Chevy home in tenth, Parker Kligerman sure had a wild weekend at Phoenix, ultimately coming out on top of all the curveballs.