Parker Kligerman claimed victory in the Wawa 250 at Daytona International Speedway amid a storm-delayed race filled with crashes and suspenseful moments, stepping in for Connor Zilisch NASCAR Xfinity Series duties. The event, held under challenging weather conditions, became one of the series’ most unpredictable evenings this season.
Early Weather Interruptions and Driver Changes
The race start was postponed due to a lightning delay, adding to earlier qualifying setbacks. Connor Zilisch, who had secured the pole position, was returning after a two-week break caused by a broken collarbone sustained during a celebration at Watkins Glen. Despite earning the top starting spot, Zilisch relinquished driving responsibilities to Parker Kligerman and fell to the back of the grid just before the green flag.
Opening Laps Feature Intense Competition and Rain Halt
In the initial laps, Sam Mayer and Sammy Smith exchanged the lead in a tightly contested battle, until Harrison Burton spun on the backstretch. Rain arrived shortly after, prompting a caution that escalated to a red flag following 20 laps. NASCAR halted the race to dry the track, keeping cars on pit road during a nearly 40-minute pause.
After the race resumed, Mayer and Smith continued their duel, but a collision involving Taylor Gray, Kvapil, and DiBenedetto disrupted the closing stages of Stage 1. Sammy Smith secured the stage victory, with Mayer, Austin Hill, Justin Allgaier, and DiBenedetto finishing closely behind.
Dominance and Disruptions in Stage Two
During Stage 2, Richard Childress Racing teammates Jesse Love and Austin Hill asserted control, combining efforts to lead much of the segment. Love led 15 laps, supported by blocking from Hill, while Kligerman and Smith also took turns leading. The stage concluded with a late incident when Jeb Burton collided with Smith in the final two laps, enabling Allgaier to win the stage. Love, Christian Eckes, Hill, and Sheldon Creed rounded out the top five for this stage.
Final Stage Battles and Crashes Shape the Outcome
With 10 laps remaining, a tire failure for Taylor Gray caused a collision involving Jeremy Clements, reducing the number of competitors. Kligerman took over the lead with five laps to go but faced another caution shortly after when Ryan Sieg spun into Josh Williams, collecting several cars such as Burton, DiBenedetto, and Sawalich. On the final restart, Kligerman successfully defended his position against a group of Chevrolet drivers including teammates Allgaier and Smith, who attempted to block the field on the backstretch.
Just moments before the finish, Sanchez hit the wall following contact with Hill, sparking a multi-car crash that brought the race to a caution-filled close, securing the win for Kligerman.
Race Results and Upcoming Events
The top five finishers were Parker Kligerman in first, followed by Sammy Smith in second, Justin Allgaier in third, Jesse Love in fourth, and Sam Mayer in fifth. The NASCAR Xfinity Series will next compete at Portland International Raceway in the Pacific Office Automation 147, scheduled for Saturday, August 30th, airing at 7:30 p.m. ET on the CW Network.