An unexpected and disheartening turn of events unfolded for Parker Kligerman and Henderson Motorsports. Just over an hour following the conclusion of the race, NASCAR revealed that Kligerman’s No. 75 truck failed the ride height inspection, being deemed too low at the rear, resulting in a disqualification from his victory.

In response, Henderson Motorsports plans to file an appeal. On Saturday morning, Kligerman shared his thoughts publicly, expressing confidence in his team’s position, stating they have a “valid case” in their pursuit to reverse the disqualification. The appeal hearing is anticipated to take place early next week (Tuesday).

Kligerman initially celebrated after making an impressive move from outside the top ten to claim the lead in the closing laps, marking his fourth career triumph in the Truck Series. Unfortunately, this elation was short-lived as he was subsequently positioned in 36th place (the final spot) after the disqualification. As a result, Corey Heim and TRICON Racing were awarded the victory, marking Heim’s 12th win in the NASCAR Truck Series.

“It’s quite surreal to find myself on this side of such an unusual scenario,” Heim stated, still astonished by his unexpected rise to first place. “It’s tough for Parker [Kligerman] and his team; they played their cards right to secure the win. However, there are complexities to consider after the race. I’m appreciative of the opportunity to capitalize on this turn of events.”

The final top ten results are as follows: Heim, Gio Ruggiero, Ty Majeski, Grant Enfinger, Justin Haley, Chandler Smith, Daniel Hemric, Jason White, William Sawalich, and Frankie Muniz. This race marked Muniz’s first top-ten finish in NASCAR at the national level, coming in his fifth Truck Series event.

Controversy Leading up to the Daytona 500

Interestingly, this incident marks the second consecutive day prior to the Daytona 500 where the initial race leader did not end up winning. During the second Duel race, Erik Jones appeared to have the victory secured, but NASCAR issued a caution just moments before the finish. The field was frozen, and the win was awarded to Austin Cindric. Jones completed the lap believing he had won until a review confirmed the change in outcome.

Parker Kligerman is no stranger to losing in heartbreaking circumstances. Just last October, he was on the brink of securing his first NASCAR Xfinity victory when a caution flag appeared seconds before he was set to take the white flag. Celebrations erupted in his pit, only to be cut short when NASCAR informed them that the caution was called before the white flag was displayed, resulting in an overtime finish. Video replay showed Kligerman was mere inches from victory when the caution was triggered, leading to another disappointing loss.

Daytona 500 – Friday Highlights