When drivers run the full Nationwide and Sprint Cup schedules, a substitute driver is needed every now and again to fill in at qualifying and practice sessions on the Nationwide Series side while the primary driver takes care of Sprint Cup Series duties elsewhere.
As Kyle Busch and Carl Edwards ran the two series full-time in 2009, Brad Keselowski plans to do the same in 2010 -- driving the No. 12 entry for Penske Racing in the Sprint Cup Series and the No. 22, also for Penske, in the Nationwide Series.
If Keselowski has to scour the Nationwide Series garage for a fill-in, Parker Kligerman may be his man. Kligerman is a developmental driver for Penske Racing and is hoping to gain some additional on-track experience in 2010.
According to Penske Racing President Tim Cindrick, the plan is to run Kligerman in at least 10 Nationwide races next year, in addition to serving as Keselowski's fill-in at non-companion events.
There may be opportunities for (Kligerman) in the non-companion races, where somebody's got to practice and qualify the 22 car for Brad," Cindric said. "So our idea for next year is to run him in as many quality races as possible.
The Penske organization is the one that seemed to create the ABC driver development program several years ago, entering then-Penske driver Ryan Newman in a series of ARCA, Busch (now Nationwide, and Cup events to get him much-needed experience.
The plan for Kligerman looks to be at least somewhat similar. This is where Keselowski may enter the picture again. Penske is looking at possibilities of also entering Kligerman in some Camping World Truck Series events to give the driver even more track time.
Keselowski owns a truck team that Cindric hinted may be utilized to give Kligerman that much-desired seat time.
A set-in-stone schedule for Kligerman doesn't seem to be determined as of now, but Penske Racing seems to be making several plans for him. Whatever the schedule, Kligerman may wear different hats in 2010 -- Nationwide Series driver, fill-in driver, and Camping World Truck Series competitors may all be titles that describe the young driver next season.
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