Parker Kligerman got here oh so near notching his first profession Xfinity Collection victory throughout this previous Saturday’s Spherical of 12 finale on the Charlotte Roval.
As a substitute, it was Sam Mayer who took the checkered flag in extra time, thanks to at least one controversial ruling from NASCAR. With Kligerman main the race with two laps to go, Leland Honeyman bumped into the tire barrier. Slightly than throw the warning out instantly, NASCAR waited till Kligerman was a cut up second from taking the white flag, which might have made the race official. Kligerman’s group initially celebrated on pit street earlier than officers knowledgeable them that the driving force had not taken the white flag earlier than the warning got here out, thus sending the race to extra time.
Denny Hamlin, talking on Monday’s “Actions Detrimental” podcast, stated that whereas NASCAR made the right name to throw the warning, it got here fully too late.
“Ultimately they made the best name, however what had been they doing ready that lengthy is my query,” Hamlin stated. “… We’ve seen automobiles brush the wall and carry on going and that freaking yellow comes out faster than you may shake a stick at it. I really feel dangerous for Parker, however it was a warning. It was the best name. I used to be rooting for Parker such as you wouldn’t imagine. … I simply don’t perceive why — this occurred with Ryan Preece at Indy, like that automotive was wrecked for 10-15 seconds and he was not shifting.
“That automotive was not shifting out of these obstacles and even when it did transfer out of the obstacles, there was going to be fu*king tires in every single place.”
Denny Hamlin irate at NASCAR over Xfinity Collection controversy at Charlotte Roval
It ended up being a day of heartbreak for Kligerman, who lately stated the 2024 season could be his ultimate full-time season of NASCAR racing. Mayer made the race-winning move on Kligerman in the course of the two-lap dash, and Kligerman pale to complete P6. Not solely did he miss out on a win, however he did not advance to the Spherical of 8 within the playoffs consequently.
“I need to cry,” Kligerman stated after the race. “However I’m not gonna. I actually love this, and I actually, actually wished that. It could have meant the world.”
Hamlin additional assailed in opposition to NASCAR, calling for officers to be held accountable for “not doing an excellent job.”
“They’re simply not doing an excellent job,” Hamlin stated. “It’s occurring too typically and it’s irritating since you proceed to listen to the identical factor: ‘We’ll have a look at it.’ Each week it’s the identical factor: ‘We’ll check out it, and we’ll make changes. We decided based mostly on the data we had at hand.’ I imply, simply copy and paste each week you’re gonna get these identical quotes.
“Finally, you must maintain individuals accountable and say, ‘They’re not doing an excellent job.’ Or they’re not getting sufficient assets to assist them do their jobs higher. It’s one or the opposite. There is no such thing as a in between. Both the group up there that’s making the calls don’t have sufficient assist, or sufficient know-how and knowledge, or they’re simply not good at it.”
