Backup driver Parker Kligerman claims Xfinity win for Zilisch in Daytona shocker

In a stunning twist, fill-in driver Parker Kligerman won the NASCAR Xfinity race at Daytona while Connor Zilisch watched on from the pit box. Zilisch started the race, but Kligerman took over during the first caution period. He then drove a perfect race, going from last to first to claim — then accidentally snap — the checkered flag in celebration.

JR Motorsports teammates Sammy Smith and Justin Allgaier finished second and third, respectively. This is the first time the winning car was driven by two different drivers in the same race since Denny Hamlin won for Aric Almirola at Milwaukee in 2007!

“I didn’t expect to get a call from Dale Jr. on a day I was leaving to go on vacation,” said Kligerman after climbing out of the roof hatch. “I hate the circumstances for Connor. He’s an amazing, generational talent, and I feel honored to have gotten the call… Thank you to Justin Allgaier. He was a real teammate — we go way back and that meant a lot. And Sammy Smith gave us some great pushes so that helped a ton.

“It’s such a me thing that this will not be on Racing Reference (stat page) at all,” concluded Kligerman with a smile.

Watch: Kligerman ‘honored’ to sub in and win in relief for Zilisch, No. 88 team

Zilisch, who only ran the first 13 laps, will get credit for the victory under series regulations because he started the race. Kligerman has never ‘officially’ won a NASCAR Xfinity Series race, but there’s no one who will claim he didn’t win this one.

Stages 1 and 2

Inclement weather was a constant threat as the race tried to get underway. In the early running, points leader Zilisch stayed in the back, nursing a broken collarbone and planning to step out of the car during the first caution period.

Despite a spin by Harrison Burton, the first caution was for more weather in the area, which ultimately led to a red flag. Burton also struggled with some pain after being struck by some kind of metal debris inside of his race car, and even complained about potential fiberglass in his car. Later during the stoppage, he told The CW that he was fine.

When the race resumed, things were hectic at the front. On the final lap of Stage 1, Carson Kvapil and Taylor Gray were among those involved in a minor incident as the field fanned out three-wide. Jeb Burton was trying to score stage points in his battle to make the playoffs, but ran out of room as Kvapil came down on his car at the entrance of Turn 3. Sammy Smith won the opening stage for JR Motorsports under caution.

The second stage was also full of aggressive driving throughout the field. Parker Kligerman, who had taken over the No. 88 from Zilisch, actually led the race briefly before being shuffled into the pack.

As the laps ticked away, Richard Childress Racing got control of the race with Love and Hill leading the pack. But once again, the stage ended under caution after incident exiting Turn 4. Jeb Burton pushed up the track, and turned Stage 1 winner Smith around. Love and Hill were side-by-side for the lead, opening the door for Justin Allgaier to snatch the lead and the stage win away as the caution flag flew.

Stage 3

Ryan Sieg, RSS Racing Ford

Photo by: Jonathan Bachman – Getty Images

Anthony Alfredo slowed with no power at the start of the final stage, forcing another quick yellow. Later on, Rajah Caruth spun to the apron on the backstretch, but NASCAR chose not to throw the yellow.

As the leaders got themselves sorted out up front, Ryan Sieg controlled the race with Kligerman behind him. Things were fairly clean up front, but with eleven laps to go, Gray lost a tire near the back of the pack. He spun, and Jeremy Clements had nowhere to go, slamming into him.

The race resumed with just a handful of laps to go, but a big wreck quickly followed as Sieg got turned in the tri-oval. He came across the track, collecting several others in a major accident.

The pileup pushed the race into overtime with Kligerman in control. He ended up having two teammates directly behind him, and the trio controlled the race all the way until the race-ending wreck that broke out behind them. The incident was triggered by contact involving Hill and Nick Sanchez, who were slamming doors while racing four-wide.