During Friday’s Xfinity Series race at Daytona International Speedway, veteran NASCAR Cup driver Denny Hamlin applauded Parker Kligerman’s performance after he took over car duties on Lap 13 from Connor Zilisch and drove to victory. Hamlin also praised Dale Earnhardt Jr. and JR Motorsports for their role in fostering young drivers, highlighting their commitment to developing future stars in the sport.
On his Sunday Actions Detrimental podcast, Hamlin offered detailed insights into JR Motorsports’ approach and expressed his concerns about the standard model used by many teams to fill rides in the Xfinity Series.
Hamlin Highlights Opportunities Provided by Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Hamlin expressed his admiration for Earnhardt Jr.’s efforts to provide chances for talented drivers who may otherwise struggle to secure quality rides, especially those from local short tracks aiming to break into national racing circuits.
“I’m really happy for Parker and it’s just awesome for him to get that call from Dale Jr. (to fill in for Zilisch, who is still recovering from a broken collarbone suffered two weeks ago at Watkins Glen),”
—Denny Hamlin, NASCAR Cup driver
He pointed out that the Xfinity Series predominantly contains drivers who bring their own sponsorship money to secure rides, but noted that Dale Earnhardt Jr. consistently reserves a seat for promising talents without pay commitments, allowing them to demonstrate their abilities.
Hamlin cited Josh Berry as an example of such a driver, noting that his opportunities at JR Motorsports led to a Cup ride with Wood Brothers Racing. Hamlin applauded the balance that JR Motorsports maintains between sponsored drivers and those chosen for their inherent skill.
“But it’s good to see Parker get that call because Dale Jr. picked who he thought could win in that car at that track. He’s like, ‘I’m gonna go pick the best available driver,’ that being Parker Kligerman at Daytona to replace Zilisch during the race. And Parker is one of the better superspeedway racers in the Xfinity series over the last few years.”
—Denny Hamlin, NASCAR Cup driver
Examining Why Kligerman Doesn’t Have a Full-Time Ride
Anticipating questions from listeners, Hamlin addressed why Parker Kligerman, despite his talent, does not hold a permanent full-time ride in the Xfinity Series.
If Kligerman is so good, why doesn’t he have a permanent full-time ride?
Hamlin stated this situation reflects significant flaws in NASCAR’s current business model, where funding and sponsorship often outweigh pure driving talent when deciding team lineups.
Kligerman reportedly earns more as an analyst and pit reporter for NBC Sports than he would as a driver in the series, illustrating the financial challenges even skilled racers face in securing competitive seats.
“That is the crux and the problem that will continue to hamper the best talent and the best opportunities making it in the Xfinity Series. Just because many of the rides are going to be taken up by pay guys and there’s just not going to be that many opportunities.”
Hamlin emphasized the necessity for top teams to find a balance by accepting some drivers bringing sponsorship money while still reserving at least one seat for the most talented drivers available.
“You’re going to need something like this where one of the top teams is like, ‘Okay, well, I’m going to be okay with two or three pay drivers and then maybe I got one seat for whoever I actually want or whoever I actually think is pretty good.’”
—Denny Hamlin, NASCAR Cup driver
Looking Ahead: Potential Improvements for Driver Opportunities in Xfinity
Hamlin hinted that changes on the horizon, such as the upcoming partnership between the Xfinity Series and new title sponsor O’Reilly Auto Parts starting next season, may improve conditions for drivers seeking competitive rides based on merit rather than budget.
His comments underscore widespread challenges in NASCAR’s development series, where financial constraints continue to influence driving careers despite the depth of talent available.
By praising Dale Earnhardt Jr. and JR Motorsports’ efforts to foster young talent, Hamlin highlighted a critical pathway that could shape the future landscape of NASCAR racing and support the emergence of promising drivers like Parker Kligerman.
