August 30th, 2010 
T.C. Roger Penske may have yet another star in the making in the person of young Parker Kligerman. While everyone focuses on the continued presence of Cup drivers in Nationwide, and other prospects like Trevor Bayne, Kligerman has been quietly racing and finishing well.
So far this season, Kligerman has only seven starts in the Nationwide Series although he has attempted ten races. He’s driven for underfunded Smith Ganassi Racing and gotten a few starts in Penske equipment masked as K-Automotive #26 Dodges. While the three early season DNQs certainly don’t look good on his resume, his last four starts (Daytona, Chicago, Bristol, Montreal) all turned into very impressive runs. After finishing 13th at both Daytona and Chicago, Kligerman has cracked the top ten in his last two races with a ninth at Bristol and an eighth at Montreal. Not bad considering he was up against Cup regulars at Bristol and a slew of road course aces at Montreal.
Kligerman signed on as a Penske development driver for the 2009 season, and then spent the rest of the year dominating the ARCA RE/MAX Series. He brought home nine wins and lost the championship battle to Justin Lofton by only five points. His very good ARCA season earned him the opportunity to run two races for Penske in the Nationwide Series towards the end of ’09, and Kligerman again didn’t disappoint. In his first ever NNS attempt, he sat on the pole, led laps, and brought his car home with a top 20 finish.
For 2010, Kligerman has been running a limited NNS schedule on very little support, but he is starting to make a very solid case for why Roger Penske & Co. should find a more permanent home for his future. The young driver from Connecticut has been overshadowed this season by his Penske teammates Brad Keselowski and Justin Allgaier, who currently sit first and fourth in the NNS championship standings, but his future appears to be no less bright.
Let’s hope a full slate of Nationwide races in a fully supported Penske car await Kligerman for 2011.
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With Allgaier & Kligerman, Penske jumped lightyears past Jack Roush as the leader in developing talent. Add Keselowski and Penske has wrapped up the emerging talent pool for the next three years in Nationwide & Cup.
And if Hornish doesn’t work out, there’s two open seats that Penske’s open to fill as the economy gets better. With the four car limit, Roush and Hendrick can’t expand like Roger.
The one questionable element in Penske’s camp is the manufacturer. But this is where Roger is smartest. If Dodge isn’t working, he’ll make a change. But for right now, he gets all it’s support.
If well managed, Roger Penske wins a Cup championship in the next five years. His first.
I was impressed with Parker last year, and he seems to be maintaining upswing so I have to agree, think he’s got a solid NASCAR future. IF. As in, if only the economy & some other factors would improve. I keep hearing talent bemoaning and lack thereof, yet when I look around all I see are a bunch of good young NASCAR prospects with nowhere to put them. Like Landon Cassill.
I still think it will be Kurt who scores Penske’s first Cup.
Penske has the best opportunity for driver development than any other owner. When Keselowski wins the Nationwide championship this year that will make him a past champion and the most recent champion as well. This allows for Kligerman to drive a 3rd Nationwide car for Penske next year and that’s not all. With Kurt Busch being a past champion in the Sprint Cup Series this allows the #22 Shell/Pennzoil car to start with no owner points. Hornish keeps his, Keselowski gets Busch’s 2010 points and Allgaier moves up to the #12 Car. This also guaruntees Allgaier ROTY in 2011. Unless someone else jumps up to Cup. So basically the Line-Up’s for the 2011 Penske stable would look like this:
#2 Brad Keselowski Miller Lite Dodge
#12 Justin Allgaier* Verizon (No Logos) Dodge
#22 Kurt Busch Shell/Pennzoil Dodge
#77 Sam Hornish Jr. AAA/Penske Truck Rental Dodge
Nationwide:
#? Parker Kligerman* ? Dodge
#12 Justin Allgaier Verizon Dodge
#22 Brad Keselowski Discount Tire/Ruby Tuesday Dodge
That is what I think Mr. Penske should do. He has the perfect opportunity to advance drivers and I truly believe he should take advantage of it.
I think Penske and Brian Keselowski should make a deal to have Parker Klingerman run the #26 Dodge full time in the Nationwide Series next year.