Tag: Daytona

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Motorsport

NASCAR disqualifies Kligerman in Daytona for underweight truck after flag-planting victory

Parker Kligerman during qualifying for a NASCAR truck series

Full-time television analyst and part-time NASCAR driver Parker Kligerman won the Truck Series season opener and quickly placed the checkered flag by the Daytona International Speedway logo.

Kligerman had celebrated all three of his previous truck victories in this way, including his first one at Talladega in 2012. So, it seemed fitting on Friday night for what Kligerman described as “the biggest win of my entire life” during an excited post-race celebration.

However, the celebration was short-lived: NASCAR disqualified Kligerman when his truck was found to be too low during a post-race inspection. Corey Heim was declared the new winner, and the change in the standings gave actor Frankie Muniz his first top-10 finish in his NASCAR career. Muniz is running the full Truck Series schedule this year as he balances a second career as a motorsports driver.

Kligerman, who retired from full-time racing at the end of last season and will have a larger role as a television analyst this year, said on Saturday that he would appeal the disqualification while preparing to cover the Xfinity Series race for The CW network.

“Biggest win of my life. Thank y’all for the wonderful messages. Over 700 texts,” he posted on social media. “I will not be commenting any further until we are able to present what I believe is a very, very valid case.”

“Until then, I’m fully focused on my job (as Xfinity analyst) because the drivers and teams deserve the full focus on the massive stage ahead of them,” he added.

Parker Kligerman celebrates after the win

Kligerman crossed the finish line first on Friday night, which would have been his fourth career Truck Series victory and his first win since Mid-Ohio in 2022.

His post-race celebration was a hit, and he energized the crowd by thanking the fans in the grandstands, saying, “All of you fans here at Daytona, thank you so much! God, I love this place. I love racing. I love winning.”

Kligerman stepped away from full-time racing at the end of last year and is now focusing on a growing broadcasting career. He had the support of Scott Borchetta, founder of Big Machine Label Group, throughout his career and was a fan favorite, despite never winning in 152 races in NASCAR’s top Cup and Xfinity Series.

Though he had a respectable career, Kligerman, now 34, decided to shift his future toward broadcasting. The CW has the full Xfinity Series schedule, and called Kligerman “one of the youngest correspondents to ever serve as a pit reporter for a NASCAR Cup race.”

The disqualification added to Kligerman’s racing disappointments. He almost won the Xfinity Series race last fall at The Roval at Charlotte Motor Speedway, but NASCAR threw a late caution flag just seconds before he crossed the white flag, which would have made the race official. He ended up losing in overtime, and a win would have advanced him to the Xfinity Series playoffs and been his first victory in that series.

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Motorsport

Bubba Wallace celebrates his first Daytona win in Daytona Beach, joined by his newborn son and a fresh perspective

Bubba Wallace crosses the finish line

Bubba Wallace made a promise to himself to “enjoy the little stuff” this season, and it was clear during his victory.

“Can I get a Rolex for this one?” Wallace joked, referencing the award given to winners of the Rolex 24 at Daytona sports car race.

Wallace, driving the No. 23 Toyota for 23XI Racing, won the first of two qualifying races for the upcoming Daytona 500. His strong performance made him one of the top contenders for the “Great American Race.”

“Man, what a night,” Wallace said. “I’ve wanted one of these Duel wins for so long.”

He will now start the Daytona 500 on Sunday in third place, behind Chase Briscoe, who is in pole position, and Austin Cindric. Wallace’s victory marked Toyota’s dominance early on at Daytona International Speedway, where Briscoe won the pole in his new Joe Gibbs Racing car.

The 31-year-old Wallace celebrated his first win at Daytona by spraying Coke at his crew, hugging Denny Hamlin, co-owner of 23XI Racing with Michael Jordan, and lifting his newborn son in the air, much like the iconic scene from “The Lion King.” His baby wore noise-protective headphones and a checkered-flag bib while sucking on a pacifier.

Wallace and his wife Amanda welcomed Becks Hayden Wallace in late September. Wallace shared that he “lost it walking out on pit road” carrying his 4-month-old son and teared up while celebrating with his family after the win.

“It is the coolest thing having a kid,” Wallace said. “You never know if you’re ready. I regret not having one earlier. He’s brought so much joy and a new perspective. I feel like I’m walking lighter because of him. Four months old, and he’s already changed my life.”

Wallace has been open about his mental health struggles. His experience at Daytona has been filled with more stress than success, having failed to win in 15 races at the track. He has, however, finished second twice in the Daytona 500.

Bubba Wallace celebrates with his son

“Tired of talking about it,” he joked.

“I felt like every time I’ve strapped into a race car at Daytona 500, I’ve been able to win, and just things haven’t worked out like that,” Wallace said, noting that he’s finished in the top 15 in 12 of his 15 Daytona races. “You have to show up and have that drive and passion that you’re going to win. But you also have to put yourself in the right spot.”

He almost won in 2018 and 2022 but fell short in both Daytona 500s.

“I think you’ve got to crawl before you can walk,” he said. “Second-place finishes I guess wasn’t crawling enough. So maybe the Duel win is. Now we can put ourselves in a little bit better spot.”

“I feel like we’ve done just about everything right. But just about everything isn’t good enough to win the 500. It’s got to be perfect, and we’ve just got to really focus on how to do that and when that time comes be in the same spot here Sunday.”

Wallace said the day before that he “couldn’t care less” if President Donald Trump attends the Daytona 500. Trump had previously accused Wallace of being involved in “a hoax” five years ago when a noose was found in his team garage stall.

In July 2020, Trump suggested Wallace should apologize after NASCAR supported him following the noose discovery at Talladega Superspeedway. Federal authorities later determined that the rope, used to pull the garage door shut, had been hanging since October and was not a hate crime. NASCAR and the FBI referred to it as a noose.

Wallace declined to discuss the possibility of Trump attending the race.

“We’re here to race,” Wallace said. “Not for the show.”

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Motorsport

Rolex 24 at Daytona to Mark Start of IMSA SportsCar Season in Florida

Rolex 24 at Daytona to Mark Start of IMSA SportsCar Season in Florida

Daytona International Speedway is known as “The World Center of Racing” all year, but during the last two weeks of January, it truly lives up to its name. The track’s garage is filled with a mix of diverse accents and high-tech machines as drivers from all over the world take turns behind the wheel of cars that are shared during the 24-hour race.

The prestigious Rolex 24 at Daytona, which has been a major event for 63 years, brings together renowned drivers and luxury automakers to race on the track’s 3.56-mile road course.

The Rolex 24 is celebrated for its rich history in motorsports, and the 2025 event will showcase a field of 61 cars, including some of the world’s best drivers, such as those who have won at Daytona, Indianapolis, Le Mans, and other iconic tracks. This race has earned a reputation similar to the “International Race of Champions,” with competitors from NASCAR, Formula One, IndyCar, Formula E, and the World Endurance Championship coming together to race in a challenging, round-the-clock event.

Ricky Taylor, who won the overall Rolex 24 in 2017 and 2021, commented on how exciting it is to race with legendary drivers like Jeff Gordon, Fernando Alonso, and Scott Dixon.

These drivers, who have won prestigious events like the Monaco Grand Prix, Indy 500, and Coca-Cola 600, have shown that winning the Rolex 24 is a true mark of achievement. For drivers, racing alongside these superstars is a unique experience that provides an opportunity to learn from the best.

There are several reasons the Rolex 24 continues to be such an important event in motorsports:

It’s highly coveted and tough to win: Many of the biggest names in American motorsports, including Gordon, Dan Gurney, Mario Andretti, and AJ Foyt, have won at Daytona. However, many NASCAR champions, such as Jimmie Johnson, Kurt Busch, Tony Stewart, Kyle Busch, and Dale Earnhardt Jr., have fallen short in their pursuit of the trophy. The challenge of winning comes from the difficulty of sharing a car with multiple drivers and the risk of errors in the heat of competition, especially during the early hours of the race.

Aston Martin (Aston Martin)

The race has a rich history: The Rolex 24’s history began in 1962 when NASCAR founder Bill France created the Daytona Continental. France’s vision was to bring together top drivers from various racing disciplines at his new speedway, and this continues today with the Rolex 24, which has become a must-attend event in motorsports.

This year, an example of this global mix will be seen in the Trackhouse Racing Corvette, which will have two American drivers, Ben Keating and Connor Zilisch, alongside two New Zealand drivers, Shane van Gisbergen and Scott McLaughlin. Van Gisbergen, a four-time NASCAR winner, and McLaughlin, a seven-time IndyCar winner, will race together in their sixth and third Rolex 24 starts, respectively.

The cars are also stars: The Rolex 24 has been a battleground for manufacturers since the 1960s, including the iconic “Ford vs. Ferrari” rivalry. This competition continues with new cars and hybrid engines introduced in 2023, allowing teams to vie for wins at both Daytona and the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Automakers like BMW, Porsche, Lamborghini, Acura, and Cadillac are competing in the top division of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, with Aston Martin set to join in future events. In the GT classes, which feature production-based models, a variety of brands, including Ford, Chevrolet, Ferrari, Lexus, Mercedes, BMW, Lamborghini, and Aston Martin, are all represented.

With such a strong history, a star-studded lineup of drivers, and some of the best cars in the world, the Rolex 24 at Daytona is one of the most prestigious endurance races in motorsports. It serves as the perfect way to kick off the motorsports season, with all eyes on Daytona for an exciting and competitive event.