NASCAR Driver Parker Kligerman Visits Nearby True Value

Drivers in La Grange and Western Springs aren’t accustomed to going more than about 40 miles per hour on even major Village streets (or, at least, they shouldn’t be.) But on Friday, a driver stopped by who is more accustomed to driving the speedometer well up into the hundreds.

Parker Kligerman, a racer who does double-duty on NASCAR’s Nationwide Series and Camping World Truck Series, is in Chicago this weekend for a pair of events at the Chicagoland Speedway, and swung by on Friday for an event promoting one of his truck’s sponsors, the website PlanItDIY.com.

Kligerman and his blue No. 29 Reese Towpower RAM truck stayed for about two hours at the Village store, the former autographing True Value and PlanItDIY.com merchandise. The line for signatures initially ran out into Hillgrove Avenue. NASCAR Radio station WCCQ 98.3 was also on-hand doing interviews and giving away race tickets.

“It was really neat,” said True Value owner Linda Johnson. “He did a lot of good stuff, a lot of good promotion.”

In Saturday’s race in the Camping World Truck Series (the American Ethanol 225), Kligerman steered his truck to a fifth-place finish (out of 36) and 40 series points. On Sunday, he will drive in the Nationwide Series’ STP 300 in his No. 22 Snap-on Dodge Challenger. The Chicago Tribune reported that Kligerman set the day’s record for a practice lap, driving his 30th in an average 172.695 mph.

PlanItDIY.com is a site devoted to independent hardware and home-improvement stores (like True Value Western Springs), along with how-to videos and information for do-it-yourself home improvement. It also has a tool for locating independent retailers near one’s own community.