In an unusual twist at Daytona International Speedway on Friday, Parker Kligerman piloted the car across the finish line in the NASCAR Xfinity Series race, yet Connor Zilisch credited with Daytona Xfinity win will stand as the official victor according to NASCAR rules. The sequence unfolded after Zilisch, recovering from a broken collarbone, handed the car over to Kligerman early in the contest, who then captured the checkered flag as the race concluded under caution.
Kligerman Crosses Line, Zilisch Earns Official Victory
Parker Kligerman, called up on short notice, drove the final laps and led the car to victory, although NASCAR’s unique rules meant Connor Zilisch would be officially recorded as the winner. Zilisch, who just two weeks earlier sustained his injury in a victory lane mishap at Watkins Glen, managed to start the race and complete 13 laps before the planned driver change during a caution. Kligerman then climbed in and steered through a tense, accident-filled overtime to secure the win. The finish was marked by a large, 14-car incident that caused the event to end under caution.
“I’m still going to count this as a win, I’m going to take the checkered flag,”
—Parker Kligerman, Driver
Connor Zilisch acknowledged Kligerman’s effort, saying,
“I think everybody knows Parker won the race today.”
—Connor Zilisch, Driver
Official Rules Determine Winner in Driver Change Races
NASCAR regulations dictate that the starting driver receives the official race result, regardless of who drives at the finish. As specified in Section 12.4.1.H of the Xfinity Series Rule Book, if a substitute takes over after the green flag, only the original driver is awarded stage points—further, only the starter’s season results are affected. This means that while Kligerman’s on-track performance brought the car to first place, the win is registered for Zilisch. NASCAR clarified,
“If a driver change occurs after taking the green flag, only the driver of record will receive Stage Points provided the driver of record is eligible for Points in the Series. A win by the replacement driver will not count towards eligibility for the driver Playoffs.”
Kligerman reflected on his surprise opportunity, saying,
“I didn’t expect to get a call from Dale Jr. on the day I was leaving to go on vacation and (he) said ‘Hey man, would you come drive this thing?’”
—Parker Kligerman, Driver. He added,
“Obviously, hate the circumstances for Connor. He’s an amazing generational talent. I feel honored to have gotten the call.”
—Parker Kligerman, Driver
Historical Precedent and Race Highlights
This scenario has precedent in the series, most notably in 2007 at Milwaukee, where Aric Almirola started the race before Denny Hamlin, arriving late due to travel obstacles, took over and finished first. Despite Hamlin driving to victory, the win officially went to Almirola, echoing the situation Zilisch and Kligerman found themselves in at Daytona.
The Daytona event itself was shaped by multiple crashes and strategy calls. The race was extended into overtime following a severe accident involving Ryan Sieg and several others. In the end, JR Motorsports demonstrated team strength by placing Sammy Smith in second and Justin Allgaier in third, resulting in a sweep of the podium positions. Allgaier’s result gave him the points lead by a slim margin—he now leads Zilisch by three points as only two regular-season contests remain.
Finishing just outside the podium, Sam Mayer claimed fourth and Jesse Love rounded out the top five. The race, originally scheduled for 100 laps, went 104 laps due to the overtime extension, reflecting the chaos and unpredictability that often define restrictor-plate racing at Daytona International Speedway.
Looking Ahead in the Xfinity Series
Stage victories in Friday’s race were secured by Sammy Smith and Justin Allgaier, bolstering their championship aspirations as the regular season nears conclusion. The next action in the Xfinity Series takes place Saturday, August 30, at Portland International Raceway, where teams and drivers will continue to jostle for playoff positions and critical points. The unusual ending at Daytona will remain a talking point as the field heads west, especially with Connor Zilisch credited with Daytona Xfinity win amid both triumph and debate.
