After top-10 finishes in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series' (NCWTS) first three events of 2016, Ricky Benton Racing (RBR) Enterprises and driver Parker Kligerman look to keep their fast start rolling in the Toyota Tundra 250 at Kansas Speedway.
The race marks the first stop for the series since Martinsville five weeks ago; time the team has worked frantically to prepare for three-straight weeks of racing (Kansas, Dover and Charlotte).
"We have needed every minute of the time since Martinsville to get ready for this stretch," said crew chief Mike Hester, one of three full-time employees at RBR. "That being said, these guys have worked some long hours and it's going to pay off these next three outings."
While Kligerman is appreciative of the layoff for his team, as a driver, he is eager to get back behind the wheel of the BTS Tire and Wheel Distributors/Advance Auto Parts/Goodyear Commercial Tire Network/Solid Rock Trucking Ford F-150.
"I can't say enough about the work the work that Mike (Hester) and the guys have done to get ready for the next three races," Kligerman said. "A long break like this almost feels like the off season. You kind of forget you are a driver, but you have to remain focused. Being around racing with my day job (at NBC) has helped with that, but you always want to be behind the wheel.
"And if we are going to be heading anywhere after some time off, Kansas is a great place to go."
Kligerman won the pole in his first career Xfinity Series start at Kansas Speedway in 2009. He also won the ARCA race on the 1.5-mile oval the same year.
"I love Kansas," he said. "Since the repave a few years back, it is a flat-out drafting track. Track position is critical here and passing comes at a premium, so we are going to have to have a good qualifying effort and I am sure Mike (Hester) will make some good strategy calls to get us up front."
This week's truck
RBR is bringing T7 from its stable for the Toyota 250 at Kansas Speedway. It is the same truck that Kligerman piloted to an eighth-place finish at Atlanta Motor Speedway in February.
