There won’t be any more ride sharing for Big Machine Racing in 2023.
On Saturday at Martinsville, team owner Scott Borchetta revealed that Parker Kligerman has been hired as the full-time driver of the No. 48 Big Machine Chevrolet in the NASCAR Xfinity Series for 2023.
Kligerman ran one race in the car this season, starting ninth and finishing sixth at Talladega Superspeedway. While doubling as a TV analyst and pit reporter for NASCAR on NBC, Kligerman also competed in 12 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series events for owner Charlie Henderson, winning the July race at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.
“The mission has always been to be with one driver and build the race team,” said Borchetta, who had a revolving door with 10 different drivers in the car this season and picked up a victory at Texas with Tyler Reddick behind the wheel.
“Parker brings experience and a huge desire to do this, and that was our first conversation: ‘Hey, do you still have the fire to go and run for a championship?’”
Kligerman’s answer was an enthusiastic “Yes.”
The tipping point for Kligerman was the Talladega race.
“This happened so fluidly, so seamlessly—it felt like when we did Talladega it was just so seamless,” Kligerman said. “And the short span from talking to signing was quick. We were all aligned with the same goals, the same thought process…
“For me in my career right now, I’ve told everybody that will listen, in the last two years, I’ve never driven better in my life.”
As his schedule permits, Kligerman also will continue to race the No. 75 truck for Henderson.
- Austin Hill sweeps Atlanta in thrilling NASCAR Xfinity showdown - September 7, 2024
- Harrison Burton ready to roll the dice in the Playoffs with nothing to lose - September 7, 2024
- Despite back-to-back DNFs Ryan Blaney poised for title defense - September 7, 2024