Parker Kligerman clinches first NASCAR Xfinity Series playoff spot
KANSAS CITY, Kan. —What seemed like an uphill fight for Parker Kligerman became easy sledding as he claimed the final NASCAR Xfinity Series playoff spot.
Entering the regular-season finale Saturday at Kansas Speedway, Riley Herbst had a one-point advantage over Kligerman. In seven of the eight non-drafting-dependent oval races in 2023, Herbst had also outscored Kligerman.
Herbst also started 8th while Kligerman started 15th.
START OF RACE: Herbst +8, Kligerman -8
This gap got much smaller during a restart on lap 6 and evaporated by lap 19.
On the first restart, Herbst dropped from 8th to 14th. Then, the next restart dropped him from 12th to 15th – while Kligerman went from 15th to 8th.
Now inverse of how they started, Kligerman gained two spots and placed sixth in stage one. Meanwhile, Herbst clawed to ninth at the end of the stage.
STAGE ONE: Kligerman +5, Herbst -5
In stage two, everything changed.
During a restart on lap 65, Kligerman missed a shift and Herbst bumped into him. Herbst cut a tire and had to pit, which put him 30th, two laps down at the end of stage two.
Meanwhile, Kligerman cruised to a seventh-place run and earned four more bonus points.
STAGE TWO: Kligerman +31, Herbst -31
Herbst wasn’t done. After taking the wave around at the end of the stage and getting the free pass during a caution shortly thereafter, he got back on the lead lap.
Herbst nearly drove into the top-10 before problems struck again. He pitted under green and was two laps down when a caution flew for Rajah Caruth spinning.
Riley Herbst couldn’t fight back this time. He finished 23rd, two laps down, while Parker Kligerman finished fourth.
END OF RACE: Kligerman +25, Herbst -25, Brandon Jones (-78; finished second)
For the first time in eight editions, Parker Kligerman will make an appearance in the NASCAR Xfinity Series playoffs.
Here is how the playoffs will be seeded as they start Friday at Bristol Motor Speedway (7:30 p.m. ET; Broadcast: USA, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Ch. 90):
- John Hunter Nemechek 2049 (+43 to the cutline)
- Austin Hill 2039 (+33)
- Justin Allgaier 2026 (+20)
- Cole Custer 2017 (+11)
- Sam Mayer 2015 (+9)
- Chandler Smith 2009 (+3)
- Josh Berry 2009 (+3)
- Sheldon Creed 2008 (+2)
- Sammy Smith 2006 (-2 to the cutline)
- Jeb Burton 2006 (-2)
- Daniel Hemric 2003 (-5)
- Parker Kligerman 2002 (-6)
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Jonathan Fjeld View All
Jonathan Fjeld is the co-owner of the The Racing Experts, LLC. He has been with TRE since 2010.
A Twin Valley, MN, native, Fjeld became a motorsports fan at just three years old (first race was the 2002 Pennsylvania 500). He worked as a contributor and writer for TRE from 2010-18. Since then, he has stepped up and covered 24 NASCAR race weekends and taken on a larger role with TRE. He became the co-owner and managing editor in 2023 and has guided the site to massive growth in that time.
Fjeld has covered a wide array of stories and moments over the years, including Kevin Harvick's final Cup Series season, the first NASCAR national series disqualification in over 50 years, Shane van Gisbergen's stunning win in Chicago and the first Cup Series race at Road America in 66 years – as well as up-and-coming drivers' stories and stories from inside the sport, like the tech it takes for Hendrick Motorsports to remain a top-tier team.
Currently, he resides in Albuquerque, N.M., where he works for KOB 4, an NBC station. He works as a digital producer and does on-air reports. He loves spending time with friends and family, playing and listening to music, exploring new places, being outdoors, reading books and writing among other activities. You can email him at fjeldjonathan@gmail.com