DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Daytona International Speedway produced back-to-back races this past weekend as Parker Kligerman and Ryan Blaney scored victories in the final race of the Xfinity and Cup Series regular season.
On Friday night, Parker Kligerman climbed into Connor Zilisch’s No. 88 JR Motorsports Chevrolet on Lap 13 after the 19-year-old stepped out to protect a broken collarbone. Kligerman controlled the Wawa 250 through two overtimes, surviving a final-lap crash that froze the field and delivered JR Motorsports a top 3 finish sweep with Sammy Smith and Justin Allgaier.
“It’s weird,” Zilisch said. “It was really weird the last time I did it, and I never thought I’d have to do it again… But I love Parker. I’ve been a fan of Parker for a long time. He’s another one I’m OK watching win inside my race car.
“I’m glad that I got to start the race and get the points for my team.”
Saturday’s Coke Zero Sugar 400 ended with another photo finish. Blaney surged from 12th in the final three laps and edged Daniel Suarez by 0.031 seconds, with Justin Haley a close third. The victory, Blaney’s 15th, vaulted him to second in regular-season points and secured Alex Bowman the final playoff berth after Bowman’s crash earlier in the race left his hopes hanging on a non-winner.
“What a wild last couple laps, honestly,” Blaney said. “I was with Cole, I kind of asked him on the restart, if you go to the top I’m going with you. We kind of just waited and waited and then the opportunity came, and he made a good move to get to the top, and we were able to really get good shoves.”
Blaney sealed the deal with an uncharacteristic burnout, celebrating what he deemed the breaking of a curse.
“The last two laps we had was pretty awesome. How we came from lap 14th or wherever we were to get the lead. I didn’t know if we got it initially, at first, the burnout stuff’s kind of aw man, it’s so cool to win here. It was a big night,” he said.
“Also, I mainly did it for Advance Auto Parts because that paint scheme at speedways has been cursed. I’ve gotten right hooked with that scheme more times than I can count. The CEO, Shane (O’Kelly), told me tonight ‘I think we paid our dues with that paint scheme at speedways. I got a really good feeling tonight.’ It was super cool to pay that off and have him here and their whole team here to see us. It was a big night. It was cool a lot of things just culminating and I thought it deserved one.”
