DAYTONA BEACH — is making a degree of it.
“Cease and scent the roses,” he retains telling himself.
Although he gained’t have the ability to linger for too lengthy.
Not solely is the 34-year-old Connecticut native returning to the of the this weekend, he’s driving within the race for the primary time. Someplace in there, he needs to catch some shut-eye, too.
Properly, perhaps.
“I do not know once I’ll sleep, however I am a reasonably high-energy particular person anyway,” Kligerman informed the Information-Journal final week earlier than admitting he pulled an all-nighter throughout his first Rolex as a TV commentator.
This all began when he retired from full-time final fall. He completed his second season within the Xfinity Sequence with Massive Machine Racing, and when he stepped again, he and BMR proprietor Scott Borchetta brainstormed “cool” collaborations.
The Rolex was their first thought. Kligerman will be a part of teammates within the within the .
“This has been a bucket-list race for me for 20 years, and I’ve tried so many occasions to make it occur,” Kligerman mentioned. “It could get so shut, and it could fall via, and I would should concentrate on the principle job in NASCAR or no matter.”
Now, right here he’s.
As a result of he’s broadcasted the Rolex a number of occasions, he possesses a really feel for the circulate of the race.
“That is actually lowered my anxiousness and nerves,” Kligerman mentioned.
However he does have to regulate to the automotive, particularly the braking.
In a NASCAR inventory automotive, he goals to hit the brake at 1,250 kilos of strain. He by no means needs to exceed that. In his Rolex journey, that quantity has to leap nearer to 2,000.
“, the funniest half was, by the tip of the second day, we checked out all my peak pressures — 1,250,” he mentioned. “It is like my mind is aware of that quantity actually, very well, however I’ve bought to now push myself to seek out extra and be higher.”
The automotive additionally options extra settings than Kligerman is accustomed to. If his automotive wasn’t dealing with nicely in a NASCAR race, he modified his driving. If one thing isn’t going nicely in his Lamborghini, there’s in all probability a gizmo to repair it.
One other factor he’s discovered: He’s had loads of time to adapt. He jokes this race isn’t the 24 Hours of Daytona.
It’s the 24 Days of Daytona.
“I really feel like all I do know is Daytona now,” Kligerman mentioned with fun. “I am a resident, principally. Possibly I will pay Florida revenue tax, which might be nice.”
Out of the motive force’s seat, Kligerman nonetheless wasn’t positive precisely what his broadcasting duties can be this weekend. “Fluid” is the phrase he used. He’ll in all probability hit the Peacock Pit Field a few occasions. May head to the sales space, too, if time permits.
Two different drivers — Townsend Bell and James Hinchcliffe — are additionally filling twin roles, contributing to the printed, laying down laps and tagging out and in with Kligerman.
Kligerman has carried out comparable feats prior to now.
He raced within the Vans Sequence on the identical day he contributed to the Cup Sequence broadcast, for instance.
Busyness is the theme of his 2025.
Regardless of quitting full-time racing, he’ll run a part-time Vans schedule with Henderson Motorsports. He’ll proceed his Cup Sequence pit reporter work for NBC. He’s additionally posting to his personal YouTube channel.
And earlier this month, he was introduced as an analyst for the CW’s protection of the Xfinity Sequence.
The Rolex is solely the start.
“I simply really feel like, within the motorsports world — and I do not understand how, none of it by design — I’ve bought one of many coolest conditions in America,” Kligerman mentioned.
