Veteran NASCAR journalists Jordan Bianchi and Jeff Gluck voiced their concerns for Chevy driver Parker Retzlaff, who recently assisted Ford driver Harrison Burton in clinching victory at the Coke Zero Sugar 400. Retzlaff’s pivotal decision ultimately harmed fellow Chevy competitor Kyle Busch’s chances for the playoffs.
During the overtime restart at Daytona, Busch and Christopher Bell were positioned on the bottom lane, while Burton and Retzlaff took the top lane. In a thrilling two-lap dash, Retzlaff aided the #21 Wood Brothers Racing driver in surpassing the #8 Richard Childress Racing driver, securing the win and a playoff spot.
Parker Retzlaff, driving the #62 Beard Motorsports Chevy, found himself in a challenging predicament after supporting Burton’s victory. Despite prior warnings against pushing Burton before the restart, his actions inadvertently cost Kyle Busch a potential win and playoff opportunity.
Jordan Bianchi suggested that Retzlaff’s choice might strain his ties with RCR, considering Beard Motorsports’ affiliation with the team. He expressed sympathy for the 21-year-old during an episode of The Teardown, stating, “I feel for him because there’s likely to be some tension, and remember, that team has a sort of quasi-affiliation with RCR… It’s understandable why they’re encouraging this kid to act, but it’s much easier said than done in those high-pressure moments.”
Co-host Jeff Gluck pointed out that Retzlaff made decisions that prioritized his team’s interests, ultimately leading to a seventh-place finish.
“During the race, there was chatter on Parker Retzlaff’s radio that emphasized, ‘Whatever you do, don’t help the #21 [Burton] win,’ since Retzlaff was in a Chevy and they wanted to avoid assisting a Ford. The goal was to see a Chevy succeed rather than eliminate one from contention,” Gluck elaborated. [at 18:55]
Parker Retzlaff shares his initial strategy to assist Kyle Busch.
The driver of the #62 Beard Motorsports car, Parker Retzlaff, revealed that he first thought about positioning himself behind Kyle Busch on the lower lane but ultimately chose not to. He felt he could help Harrison Burton get ahead of the pack and then make a move to claim victory.
After the Coke Zero Sugar 400, the 21-year-old discussed his strategy with the media (via Bob Pockrass):
“I initially wanted to take the bottom lane behind the #8 car and give him a push. I didn’t want to lose my position and miss out on a chance to win the race… I definitely didn’t want to help a Ford win while I was in a Chevy. But I knew I had to get Harrison clear to set up a final showdown between us at the finish line.”
Retzlaff also mentioned that he sustained damage to the front of his #62 Chevy on the last lap, which affected his performance and resulted in a seventh-place finish.
