Parker Kligerman needed 'five more feet' for first Xfinity Series win

There are few words that can aptly describe what Parker Kligerman felt after Saturday's NASCAR Xfinity Series race at the Charlotte Roval.

Heartbreak, misery and anguish couldn't do justice to describe a man that may have just seen his final opportunity to win a NASCAR Xfinity Series race — as well as a championship — pass him by.

It wasn't all Kligerman's fault that he fell short, though. He missed out on the race win — which would've been his first in the Xfinity Series — by feet, as a caution flag thrown by NASCAR a second before he crossed the line to take the white flag forced overtime.

Sam Mayer got around Kligerman in overtime, relegating the veteran driver to a sixth-place finish that had to feel extremely hollow. To make matters worse, the win also would've ensured Kligerman a berth in the next round of the playoffs, continuing his championship chase in his final full-time season.

Kligerman was surprisingly upbeat after the race, but also noticeably disappointed.

"I said I wanted to cry, I'm not going to," Kligerman told NBC Sports.

"I really love this game, and I really wanted that (win)," Kligerman explained. "Would've meant the world. But, it meant the world to be in that position. Thank you to Scott Borchetta and everyone at Spiked Coolers, Big Machine Racing, everyone that makes this possible."

He went on to describe the race from his perspective.

"I was driving my heart out for that last run," Kligerman said, "but I needed what, 10, five more feet? I think if it went green to the end, we had it. We had a gap built to the No. 1. I don't know how to process this. It's going to take a while. Thankful to have the opportunity, I love this game. Just wanted to get a trophy."

When Kligerman was showed a replay of the caution timing for the first time, he was in disbelief.

"You're kidding me," he said to NBC Sports. "What? I've seen enough from the TV side, the heartwrench and guttedness people go through, and you're in that moment and that's why people are in this sport. It's why people buy tickets and why they watch."

Kligerman now has four opportunities remaining in the 2024 season to win an Xfinity Series race, starting with the Oct. 20 race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.