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| Kligerman looking for new ride |
BKR spokesman Tony Caponigro confirmed the change today, saying, “Parker will not be in the No. 29 Truck at Michigan. What happens beyond that is still being discussing internally, but my understanding is that he will probably be looking for a new ride going forward.”
Kligerman finished seventh in Saturday’s Pocono Mountains 125 at Pocono Raceway and is currently sixth in points, 35 behind leader Timothy Peters. He recently had his part-time schedule of Nationwide Series races trimmed by Penske Racing in favor of youngster Ryan Blaney, however, and said both he and Keselowski have been unhappy with the recent direction of the No. 29 team. He hinted that a change is imminent last weekend when he tweeted, “I've enjoyed the last year and a half. Things you'll see soon, r 4 the better 4 everyone!”
"Brad and I sat down after the race Saturday and talked,” said Kligerman. “There were no hard feelings, I think we both knew (a split) was imminent. At end of day, we just weren’t winning races. We were falling back on speed and the resources we needed to contend for the championship were simply not there. Brad couldn’t commit to getting those resources and Penske is not in a position to help us.
Photo Credit: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images for NASCAR"Brad and I sat down after the race Saturday and talked,” said Kligerman. “There were no hard feelings, I think we both knew (a split) was imminent. At end of day, we just weren’t winning races. We were falling back on speed and the resources we needed to contend for the championship were simply not there. Brad couldn’t commit to getting those resources and Penske is not in a position to help us.
"I’ve invested an awful lot of time and effort into winning the 2012 Truck Series championship, and I’m not willing to give it up," he said. "When it became apparent that we were not going to be able to win it together, Brad and I both agreed to go our separate ways.”
Kligerman said there is no truth to rumors that he was fired for talking to other teams.
“It has nothing to do with that,” he insisted. “I never really made a concerted effort to talk to other teams. One team approached me recently to ask about my availability, but that’s about it.”
Kligerman said he appreciates everything Keselowski and Penske have done for him, and thanked them for their support. He also promised to be back on track with a new team at MIS in two weeks, saying, “I hope to have something to announce by the end of today, or tomorrow at the latest. I’m ready to move forward.”
A release from Brad Keselowski Racing said the team “has elected to make a driver change for the Team's No. 29 RAM in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. For the series' next race, scheduled for August 18, 2012 at Michigan International Speedway, Brad Keselowski will pilot the No. 29 BKR RAM. Driver information relating to BKR's continued pursuit of the Series' 2012 Owners Championship will be forthcoming.”
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