Daytona DQ the latest heartbreaking NASCAR defeat for Parker Kligerman

Sometimes, life simply isn't fair. 

Hours after Parker Kligerman crossed the line first and won the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Daytona International Speedway, his No. 75 Henderson Motorsports truck was disqualified in post-race inspection for being too low. 

A win that Kligerman described as the biggest of his life was ripped away in an instant.

The team announced that it will appeal the penalty. In a post on X, Kligerman said that the team will present "a very, very valid case."

It's the second time in five months that Kligerman has had a win taken away in heartbreaking fashion. At the Xfinity Series race at the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL on Oct. 12, Kligerman was leading when the field came around to take the white flag. However, a caution came out seconds before Kligerman would've taken the white flag. Had the yellow come out a few ticks later, he would've earned his first Xfinity Series win. 

Kligerman went on to finish sixth in the race, losing to Sam Mayer in NASCAR overtime. The loss also eliminated Kligerman from the 2024 NASCAR Xfinity Series playoffs in his final full-time season. 

Kligerman still has several Craftsman Truck Series starts with Henderson Motorsports scheduled for 2025, but Daytona will always be seen as the one that got away. 

Racing is an inherently cruel sport, and no driver has been more subject to that truth in recent months than Kligerman.