Charlotte
Race Report
Parker Kligerman started the Drive for the Cure 250 at the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL in sixth and finished in sixth capturing his 16th top-10 result of the season. This a positive for the 33-year-old who has maintained an upbeat demeanor through the highs and lows of the playoffs. Post-race, he reflected on his championship run fondly but was understandably disheartened after missing the ‘Round of 8’ by four points.
“Really I’m disappointed not just for the chance to go race for a championship, but I have absolutely loved the experience of being in these playoffs and making it,” he shared on pit road following his intense battle at the line, “I loved coming into Kansas in the situation we were and having to put in a perfect race. And then same situation here. I’m just sad to lose that going forward.”
Overview
Event: Drive for the Cure 250 presented by BlueCross BlueShield of North Carolina
Date: Saturday October 7, 2023
Time: 3:00 p.m. eastern
Location: Charlotte Motor Speedway 5555 Concord Parkway South, Concord, NC 28027
Layout: 17-turn, 2.28-mile ROVAL Road Course
Laps: 67 laps
Miles: 155.44 miles
Stage Lengths: Stage 1 ends on Lap 20, Stage 2 ends on Lap 40, Final Stage ends on Lap 67
TV: NBC and the NBC Sports App
Radio: Sirius XM Channel 90 and PRN. For the station near you click here.
Driver Points: 2054, ranked 9th
News and Notes:
The team heads to the Charlotte ROVAL only one point behind Daniel Hemric for the final playoff transfer spot.
The road course is an opportunity for Parker, as he ran second, seventh and third at the last three road course races.
“Now we go to a place that I expect to be really awesome and I look forward to,” says Parker. “I’m sure we can go score points in both stages and be in contention to win the race again. I think we’re in a great spot, we’ve got a ton of momentum. Everyone is doing a great job, the Big Machine Spiked Light Chevy is awesome and fun to drive. It’s a cool spot to be. And we’re certainly disrupting the series a bit, breaking up the status quo with such a young team. Going in and having a solid run at the Roval or put us in victory lane and go into the next round of the playoffs and see if we can make it to the championship four. I just believe we can, and we’re doing all the right things to get there."
NASCAR announced this week the 2024 schedules, start times and networks for the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. NASCAR will etch another first into the record books in 2024 when the Cup Series visits Iowa Speedway in the nation’s Heartland, the latest installment in a trend that has seen Cup Series debuts at the Chicago Street Race, the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and World Wide Technology Raceway – among other venues – in recent years.
The 7/8-mile short track in Newton, Iowa hosted the Xfinity Series and CRAFTSMAN Truck Series from 2009 to 2019, but this time the sport’s biggest stars in the Cup Series will head to Iowa on Sunday, June 16, 2024, airing live on USA Network at 7 p.m. ET.
“NASCAR is committed to delivering an annual schedule that continues to be bold and dynamic across all three national series while maintaining the famed destinations that our fans love,” said Ben Kennedy, NASCAR Senior Vice President of Racing Development and Strategy. “The 2024 NASCAR National Series schedules strike a great balance between visiting many of our traditional tracks that continue to put on a great show, and newer locations like our first Cup race in Iowa and our highly anticipated return to the streets of Chicago that create ‘bucket list’ moments and attract new fans to America’s leading motorsport.”
The 2024 Cup Series season will commence with the already announced third installment of the Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum in Los Angeles, Calif. on Sunday, Feb. 4 on FOX and FOX Deportes at 8 p.m. ET. For the first time in Cup Series history, a NASCAR Mexico Series race will precede the main event on Sunday afternoon featuring the most talented drivers from Mexico’s premier motorsports series.
The running of the 66th annual DAYTONA 500 at Daytona International Speedway again marks the start of the Cup Series regular season on Sunday, Feb. 18, airing live on FOX at 2:30 p.m. ET.
Additional highlights to the NASCAR Cup Series schedule include:
Both 2024 races at Richmond Raceway will now take place in prime time – the first on Easter Sunday, March 31 (7 p.m. ET, FOX) and also on Sunday, August 11 (6 p.m. ET, USA Network).
A return to the concrete high-banks at Bristol Motor Speedway for the spring race (Sunday, March 17, 3:30 p.m. ET, FOX).
NASCAR’s annual All-Star Race (Sunday, May 19, 8 p.m. ET, FS1) will return to historic North Wilkesboro Speedway. Kyle Larson took home the $1 million prize this season in NASCAR’s return to the venue for the first time since 1996.
Round two in the streets of Chicago on Sunday, July 7 (4:30 p.m. ET, NBC), which saw Shane van Gisbergen take the checkered flag in an action-packed 2023 event.
NASCAR will return to the traditional oval at The Brickyard at Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the Brickyard 400 on Sunday, July 21 (2:30 p.m. ET, NBC) after a three-year stint running the road course.
The NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs will begin one week later in 2024, with the regular season finale taking place at Darlington Raceway (Sunday, Sept. 1, 6 p.m. ET, USA Network) and Daytona International Speedway hosting the penultimate race of the regular season (Saturday, Aug. 24, 7:30 p.m. ET, NBC).
The opening race of the NASCAR Playoffs will be at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Sunday, Sept. 8 (3 p.m. ET, USA Network) with the crowning of a champion in the desert at Phoenix Raceway on Sunday, Nov. 10 (3 p.m., NBC).
Watkins Glen International (Sunday, Sept. 15, 3 p.m. ET, USA Network) will also join the NASCAR Playoffs mix and help set the tone in a new-look Round of 16.
The Xfinity Series schedule is highlighted by a triumphant return to Iowa Speedway on Saturday, June 15 (3:30 p.m. ET, USA Network) – the series’ first visit to the short track since 2019. Other highlights include:
The return of an unpredictable stop on the Playoffs schedule, visiting Talladega Superspeedway for a second time in 2024 on Saturday, Oct. 5, which will air live on NBC at 3:30 p.m. ET.
The series will also join the Cup Series on the streets of Chicago for the second consecutive year over the Fourth of July Weekend (Saturday, July 6, 2:30 p.m. ET, NBC).
Bristol Motor Speedway and Kansas Speedway will swap stops on the schedule, with The Last Great Colosseum becoming the regular season finale (Friday, Sept. 20, 7:30 p.m. ET, USA Network) and the Playoffs opener taking place at Kansas Speedway (Saturday, Sept. 28, 3:30 p.m. ET, USA Network).
The CRAFTSMAN Truck Series will return to Martinsville Speedway for the penultimate race in the Round of 8 (Friday, Nov. 1, 6 p.m. ET, FS1), setting the stage for the finale at Phoenix Raceway on Friday, Nov. 8 (8 p.m. ET on FS1). Additional changes in the Playoffs include:
Richmond Raceway becomes the regular season finale (Saturday, Aug. 10, 7:30 p.m., FS1) while Milwaukee Mile Speedway returns to the schedule – this time as the Playoffs opener on Sunday, Aug. 25 (4 p.m. ET, FS1).
Kansas Speedway becomes the first cut-off race in the Round of 10 (Friday, Sept. 27, 8:30 p.m. ET, FS1) and Talladega Superspeedway becomes the opening race in the Round of 8 (Friday, Oct. 4, 5 p.m. ET, FS1).
For tickets to 2024 NASCAR events, visit www.nascar.com/2024schedule.
NASCAR Xfinity Series
Elimination time: Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course up next
This weekend’s race will be the sixth time the Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course has hosted a NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoff race (2018-2023). The Charlotte Road Course has occupied two spots on the postseason schedule – in 2018 and 2019, the Charlotte ROVAL hosted the second race in the Round of 12 and then from 2020 to 2023, the 2.32-mile road course hosted the Round of 12 elimination race (the third race in the Playoffs).
There have only been five races on the Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course. The inaugural race was on September 29, 2018 and was won by Chase Briscoe but it’s AJ Allmendinger who is a popular name at the track, being the only other victor on the road course (2019-2022).
Although we won’t have a previous winner in the field this weekend at the Charlotte ROVAL, there is one Playoff contender who is no stranger to winning the Round of 12 elimination race – Cole Custer (2019). Back in 2019, the Round of 12 elimination race (29th race of the season) was held at Dover Motor Speedway. That season, Custer made his way to the Championship 4, ultimately finishing in second.
With both Briscoe and Allmendinger competing in the NASCAR Cup Series, the Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course will see a new winner in Victory Lane this weekend. With a chance to be the first in the field to take the checkered flag on the 2.32-mile road course, drivers will be sure to be all gas, no brakes for practice on Saturday, October 7 at 10 a.m. ET followed by qualifying at 10:30 a.m. ET on the NBC Sports App.
Playoff Bubble Shuffle: Kligerman, Burton, Berry, Mayer under the cutline
Following the second race of the Round of 12 at Texas Motor Speedway, John Hunter Nemechek (by virtue of win) and Cole Custer (by virtue of points), clinched their way into the Round of 8, joining Justin Allgaier who secured his spot with a win at Bristol Motor Speedway.
As the series heads to the Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course, Austin Hill (44 points above the cutline), Chandler Smith (+32), Sammy Smith (+18), Sheldon Creed (+9), and Daniel Hemric (+1) hold the remaining five Playoff spots, but a lot can change, especially on a road course.
One point below the cutline is Big Machine Racing’s Parker Kligerman, who is in his first Xfinity Series Playoff appearance. Jordan Anderson Racing’s Jeb Burton, who is 19 points below the cutline, will be fighting to clinch his way in as he was knocked out in the Round of 12 in his only other Playoff appearance (2021). JR Motorsports’ Josh Berry, who made it all the way to the Championship 4 round in his debut in the Playoffs last season sits 27 points behind the cutline while JRM teammate Sam Mayer (-34) will push to make the Round of 8 for the second time in his career. Both drivers are looking to join their JRM teammate Justin Allgaier in the next Playoff round.
Xfinity Clinch Scenarios heading into the Charlotte Roval
Three drivers have already clinched their spot in the NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoffs’ Round of 8 kicking off at Las Vegas Motor Speedway – Justin Allgaier and John Hunter Nemechek with their respective wins and Cole Custer by virtue of points. With only one last shot to race their way in, let’s take a look at how the rest of the field will need to perform to make sure their names are listed in the five remaining Playoff spots:
Can Clinch Via Points
If there is a repeat winner or a win by a driver who cannot advance to the next round, the following drivers could clinch by being ahead of the 7th winless driver in the standings. The same point requirements listed below would hold true if a new win comes from among Cole Custer, Austin Hill, Chandler Smith, Sammy Smith or Sheldon Creed.
Austin Hill: Would clinch with 11 points
Chandler Smith: Would clinch with 23 points
Sammy Smith: Would clinch with 37 points
Sheldon Creed: Would clinch with 46 points
Daniel Hemric: Would clinch with 54 points
Parker Kligerman: Would clinch with 55 points
Jeb Burton: Could only clinch with help
Josh Berry: Could only clinch with help
Sam Mayer: Could only clinch with help
The following drivers could clinch on points with a win by Daniel Hemric:
Austin Hill: Would clinch with 12 points
Chandler Smith: Would clinch with 24 points
Sammy Smith: Would clinch with 38 points
Sheldon Creed: Would clinch with 47 points
Parker Kligerman: Could only clinch with help
Jeb Burton: Could only clinch with help
Josh Berry: Could only clinch with help
Sam Mayer: Could only clinch with help
If there is a new winner from Parker Kligerman or another winless driver lower in the standings but still eligible to advance to the next round, the following drivers could clinch by being ahead of the 6th winless driver in the standings.
Austin Hill: Would clinch with 13 points
Chandler Smith: Would clinch with 25 points
Sammy Smith: Would clinch with 39 points
Sheldon Creed: Would clinch with 48 points
Daniel Hemric: Could only clinch with help
Parker Kligerman: Could only clinch with help
Jeb Burton: Could only clinch with help
Josh Berry: Could only clinch with help
Sam Mayer: Could only clinch with help
Can Clinch Via Win
The following drivers would clinch on their win alone: Austin Hill, Chandler Smith, Sammy Smith, Sheldon Creed, Daniel Hemric, Parker Kligerman, Jeb Burton, Josh Berry, Sam Mayer
Putting it all on the line at the Charlotte ROVAL
NASCAR Xfinity Series drivers have one more shot to keep their Playoff run going before heading to the next round of the Playoffs starting at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Here’s a look at how the 2023 Round of 12 contenders have done on the Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course:
John Hunter Nemechek: Clinched into the Round of 8 with his win at Texas Motor Speedway, Nemechek heads to the Charlotte ROVAL with one start on his resume where he posted a seventh-place finish.
Justin Allgaier: A more seasoned driver on the Charlotte Road Couse, Allgaier has made five starts, posting two top-five and three top-10 finishes.
Cole Custer: Currently third in the Playoff standings, Custer has made two starts at the Charlotte ROVAL, posting top-10 finishes in both races.
Austin Hill: Fourth in the standings, Hill has three starts at the road course under his belt. He posted a best finish of 18th in 2021.
Chandler Smith: Fifth in the Playoff standings and the current leader of the 2023 Sunoco rookie class, Smith will head to the Charlotte ROVAL this weekend to make his series debut on the road course.
Sammy Smith: Sliding into the sixth Playoff spot is Sammy Smith who will also be making his series debut on the Charlotte Road Course this weekend.
Sheldon Creed: Currently seventh in the Playoff standings, Creed has made one start at the Charlotte ROVAL where he posted a 16th-place finish.
Daniel Hemric: Currently in the final Round of 8 transfer spot on points, Hemric heads to Charlotte with four starts in the books on the road course with two top-five and three top-10 finishes.
Parker Kligerman: One point below the Round of 8 cutline, Kligerman will be looking to punch his ticket into the next round this weekend. He will be making his series debut on the road course this weekend.
Jeb Burton: In the 10th spot is Burton who has made two starts at the Charlotte ROVAL, posting a best finish of 13th in 2021.
Josh Berry: Twenty-seven points under the cutline is Berry who has made one start on the Charlotte Road Course, posting an eighth-place finish.
Sam Mayer: In the final Playoff spot, 34 points under the cutline, is JRM’s Sam Mayer. He has made three starts at the Charlotte ROVAL, posting one top-10 finish.