Parker Kligerman

Parker Kligerman Bio

Parker Lindsley Kligerman, born on August 8, 1990, in Westport, Connecticut, is an American professional stock car racing driver, color commentator, and motorsports media personality. He competes part-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, driving the No. 75 Chevrolet Silverado RST for Henderson Motorsports, and has also competed in the IMSA SportsCar Championship with Forte Racing. Beyond the cockpit, Kligerman serves as a color commentator for NASCAR on The CW, a studio analyst for NASCAR on TNT Sports, and a pit reporter for NASCAR on NBC, a role he has held with the network since 2015. He is a former development driver for Team Penske and co-founded the motorsports media brand The Money Lap with fellow driver Landon Cassill in 2023.

Early Life and Background

Parker Lindsley Kligerman was born in Greenwich, Connecticut, and grew up in nearby Stamford until the age of 11, when his family moved to Westport. He spent his formative years in Westport before relocating to pursue a career in NASCAR. Kligerman currently resides in Stamford, Connecticut. As a young racing enthusiast, he found his way into stock car competition through the development ladder and eventually caught the attention of top-tier teams in the sport.

Path to NASCAR

Kligerman began his climb up the stock car ladder in 2008, when he drove the No. 77 Cunningham Motorsports entry in two ARCA RE/MAX Series races as part of the Penske driver development program. He moved into a full-time ARCA ride with Cunningham in 2009, finishing second in series points and earning both the Rookie of the Year award and the Bill France Four Crown. That same year, he made his NASCAR Nationwide Series debut in Team Penske’s No. 22 at Kansas Speedway, where he won the pole, signaling his rapid rise through the development ranks.

Parker Kligerman Career

Early Career (2008-2010)

Kligerman’s professional career began in the ARCA RE/MAX Series, where he made his debut in 2008 at New Jersey Motorsports Park. His standout 2009 sophomore campaign produced ten ARCA wins and a runner-up finish in the final standings, establishing him as one of the most promising young drivers in the country. In 2010, he transitioned to the NASCAR Nationwide Series with Team 42 Racing, posting a ninth-place finish at Bristol and an eighth-place result at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve while running a limited schedule.

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Breakthrough (2011-2012)

Kligerman moved to the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series in 2011, joining Brad Keselowski Racing in the No. 29 Ram to compete for Rookie of the Year. He returned to the same truck in 2012 before a midseason release led him to Red Horse Racing’s No. 7 Toyota for the remainder of the year. On October 6, 2012, Kligerman captured his first Truck Series victory at Talladega Superspeedway, a breakthrough that briefly kept him in championship contention before a late-season crash at Phoenix ended his title hopes. He finished the year fifth in the standings.

NASCAR Nationwide and Cup Series (2013-2019)

In 2013, Kligerman joined Kyle Busch Motorsports to run the full Nationwide Series schedule in the No. 77 Toyota Camry, finishing ninth in points. That same year, he made his Sprint Cup Series debut at Texas Motor Speedway in the AAA Texas 500 with Swan Racing, finishing 18th. Swan expanded to a second full-time team in 2014 with Kligerman behind the wheel, though financial difficulties ended the partnership midseason. He later served as a standby driver for Stewart-Haas Racing when Kurt Busch attempted the Indianapolis 500 and Coca-Cola 600 double in 2014. Kligerman made additional Cup starts with Gaunt Brothers Racing in 2018 and 2019, recording a career-best 15th-place finish in both the Daytona 500 and the 1000Bulbs.com 500.

Henderson Motorsports Era (2017-2022)

Kligerman rejoined Henderson Motorsports in 2017, balancing a partial Truck Series schedule with his growing NBC Sports broadcasting duties. That October, he returned to Talladega’s victory lane in a dramatic last-lap finish, picking up his second career Truck Series win. After running ten Truck races in 2020 and twelve in 2021, he confirmed his return to Henderson’s No. 75 for 2022. On July 9, 2022, Kligerman earned his third Truck Series victory at the O’Reilly Auto Parts 150 at Mid-Ohio, holding off Zane Smith in a decisive battle.

Big Machine Racing Era (2023-2024)

On October 29, 2022, Big Machine Racing announced that Kligerman would drive the No. 48 full-time in the 2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series season. He responded with a consistent regular season that carried him into the Xfinity playoffs for the first time in his career and the first playoff appearance for Big Machine Racing, though he was eliminated at the Charlotte Roval. He returned to BMR in 2024, only to be dealt a major setback when the No. 48 was levied an L1 penalty following the Michigan race, costing the team points and resulting in a fine for crew chief Patrick Donahue. Kligerman announced in September 2024 that he would retire from full-time racing at season’s end. He was leading late at the Charlotte Roval in October 2024 when a late caution erased what appeared to be his first Xfinity victory, and he was eliminated from the playoffs.

Driving Style and Strengths

Kligerman has built a reputation as a confident superspeedway racer, with three of his Truck Series wins coming at plate tracks and road courses, including Talladega and the Mid-Ohio road course. His ability to execute in the closing laps of chaotic restrictor-plate races has defined much of his career success. Off the track, his technical knowledge and calm broadcast presence have made him a valuable partner for crew chiefs and TV analysts alike.

Notable Races and Milestones

Kligerman’s signature moments include his first Truck Series win at Talladega in 2012, his return to victory lane at the same track in 2017, and his Mid-Ohio triumph in 2022. He made his Cup Series debut in the 2013 AAA Texas 500 and has run a variety of sports car events, including the 24 Hours of Daytona.

Parker Kligerman Career Wins

Across his career, Kligerman has collected three NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series victories, beginning with his 2012 breakthrough at Talladega and continuing with his 2017 Talladega win and 2022 Mid-Ohio triumph. He has also recorded ten ARCA RE/MAX Series wins, including his first victory at Toledo Speedway in 2009.

Truck Series Highlights

Kligerman’s three Truck Series wins came in the No. 7 Red Horse Racing Toyota at Talladega in 2012, the No. 75 Henderson Motorsports entry at Talladega in 2017, and the No. 75 at Mid-Ohio in 2022. He has 53 top-ten finishes and 2 poles in the series.

ARCA and Other Wins

Kligerman scored ten career ARCA RE/MAX Series wins between 2008 and 2016, with his first victory coming at Toledo in 2009 and his most recent at New Jersey Motorsports Park in 2016. He was a two-time award winner in 2009, taking Rookie of the Year and the Bill France Four Crown.

Parker Kligerman Family

Family Background and Racing Lineage

Public information about Kligerman’s immediate family and parents is limited. He has spoken about growing up in the Connecticut towns of Greenwich, Stamford, and Westport before moving south to pursue a professional racing career.

Personal Life

Kligerman currently resides in Stamford, Connecticut. Outside of racing, he is the co-founder and president of Focus Now Solutions, the company behind the focus-enhancing beverage Focus7 Shot, and is a member of Lime Rock Group, LLC, which owns Lime Rock Park. He has been a part of NBC Sports’ coverage team since 2014, working as a TV analyst and pit reporter while continuing to race part-time.

2025 Season Performance

Kligerman’s 2025 campaign has been a mix of frustration and celebration. At the season-opening Fresh From Florida 250 at Daytona in February, he unofficially crossed the finish line first in the No. 75 Henderson Motorsports truck but was stripped of the victory after the truck failed post-race inspection for being too low, with Corey Heim being awarded the win. He rebounded later in the year when he was called upon as a substitute driver for the injured Connor Zilisch at JR Motorsports, piloting the No. 88 to victory lane at the Wawa 250 at Daytona. Zilisch was credited as the race winner under NASCAR rules, but the result marked another memorable day for Kligerman. Beyond his driving duties, he has continued to juggle his broadcasting roles with The CW, TNT Sports, and NBC Sports, balancing life as a part-time competitor with a full-time media career.