A few weeks ago I highlighted the developmental successes of Roush Fenway Racing. This week I was reminded of another team diligently working on some developmental standouts.
On Saturday, for the fourth time in a row and the fifth time this season, Penske development driver Parker Kligerman won in the ARCA Re/Max Series. Driving for Cunningham Motorsports, he now leads the point standings over second place Justin Lofton by 150 points and third place Frank Kimmel by 335 points.
18-year-old Kilgerman joined the Penske development program this season after time spent racing in the USAC Midget Series and Formula TR Series. Kligerman won the 2006 Formula TR 1600 Pro Series championship after winning 11 of 14 races that season. As a side note, Roush development driver Colin Braun is the 2004 Formula TR 2000 Pro Series champion.
In addition to Kligerman, Penske also signed Nationwide standout Justin Allgaier toward the end of last season to a limited deal. After he won the ARCA Re/Max championship last season, Penske signed Allgaier to a full-time deal in 2009.
So far this season Allgaier has three top-fives, nine top-10s, sits seventh in driver points and first in the rookie of the year standings. Throughout the season rumors have been circulating about Penske’s plans for Allgaier this season and next. While he has yet to win a race, Allgaier is consistently upfront and competitive and there is no doubt Penske is happy with his performance.
Traditionally Penske’s driver development program has not been a great producer of the stars of tomorrow like Roush’s and other’s have been. That being said Ryan Newman is a disciple of the Penske program. Though he doesn’t have a championship, with 13 wins, 68 top-fives, 115 top-10s and 44 poles, Newman is one of the top drivers in the sport today.
While we have written here before about Allgaier, I’m not sure many follow ARCA or have seen the rise of Parker Kligerman. Certainly success in ARCA is not an indicator of success in NASCAR’s upper levels, but it does demonstrate the kid can wheel a stock car. While he does have a lot to learn, at just 18 Kligerman may just be the real deal.
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on Oct 5th, 2009 at 8:51 pm
They may have another one. A young, talented sprint car driver from Alabama by the name of Kevin Thomas Jr. It would be nice to see him to replace Kligerman in that ARCA ride but of course, it’s all dependant on sponsorship.