After a tumultuous 2012 season that saw him drive in both the Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series ‘ for Penske Racing, Brad Keselowski Racing and Red Horse Racing, expect an announcement next week that Parker Kligerman will compete full-time on the Nationwide Series for Kyle Busch Motorsports in 2013. Kligerman was released from Penske’s #22 Nationwide Dodge in early August in favor of Ryan Blaney, and departed BKR’s Truck Series operation shortly afterward, also in favor of Blaney. He won for Red Horse at Talladega Superspeedway in only his seventh start. While Kligerman declined to confirm the deal today, he did say he is ‘excited about my prospects for 2013’ and feels he will ‘have every opportunity to be successful’ with his new team. ‘It’s the right place for me, at the right time.’ KBM General Manager Rick Ren was unavailable for comment today.(Godfather Motorsports)(11-21-2012)
UPDATE: According to a Tweet from Mike Bagley, Parker Kligerman announced on SiriusXM’s The Morning Drive Tuesday morning that he will drive the #77 for Kyle Busch Motorsports in the Nationwide Series in 2013.(12-18-2012)
UPDATE 2: Kyle Busch Motorsports posted a YouTube video announcing Kligerman was joining the team.(12-18-2012)
UPDATE 3: Eric Phillips has been promoted to the position of crew chief for the #77 Camry team with driver Parker Kligerman in the NASCAR Nationwide Series for the 2013 season. Since joining KBM for its inaugural Truck Series season in 2010, Phillips has guided the #18 team to 17 victories, 8 poles, 2,243 laps led, 38 top-five and 54 top-10 finishes across 72 starts. Under his guidance, KBM became the first team since the Truck Series originated in 1995 to capture the owner’s championship in its inaugural season and led the series in wins in each of its first two seasons. Phillips ‘ 27 career Truck Series wins rank second to KBM General Manager Rick Ren (28) on the all-time list.(KBM)(12-20-2012)
