Beard Motorsports has tapped NASCAR Xfinity Series regular Parker Retzlaff to join the organization at Daytona International Speedway in August, for what will be the 21-year-old driver’s debut in the NASCAR Cup Series.
Retzlaff, the full-time pilot of the flagship No. 31 Chevrolet for Jordan Anderson Racing in NASCAR’s second-tier division, will get behind the wheel of the No. 62 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 at the historic 2.5-mile superspeedway located in Daytona Beach, Florida.
“This is the goal — racing in the NASCAR Cup Series, and especially racing at Daytona,” said Retzlaff. “It’s what I have been working for and it’s what everyone that races in the lower series works toward. It’s an exciting time getting ready to make my first start in the Cup Series and it’s an incredible opportunity to do this with Beard Motorsports.”
“Everyone in the NASCAR garage knows what that team is capable of, especially at the superspeedways, so I’m just really excited and ready for this chance.”
Founded by the late Mark Beard, Beard Motorsports is the only family-owned and operated team competing in the NASCAR Cup Series, right now. Since his passing in 2021, his wife Linda Beard has served as team owner, with their children Amie and Mark Jr. overseeing team operations and management.
Since the organization made its NASCAR Cup Series debut in the 2017 Daytona 500, several drivers have strapped into the seat of the No. 62 Chevrolet, including Brendan Gaughan, Noah Gragson, Justin Allgaier, and Anthony Alfredo.
“We really feel like we are in a great place as a team with the cars we are taking to the racetrack and the people that Darren [Shaw] has put together on this team,” said Amie Beard, executive vice president of Beard Motorsports. “I love that we are able to give the opportunity to race at this level to young drivers. They are always excited to be a part of the team, to be at the track, and interact with guests.”
“Parker [Retzlaff] certainly seems eager to prove himself and we are looking forward to working with him and helping him to further his goals.”
Currently, in his second year of racing in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, Retzlaff has earned back-back top-fives in the season-opener at Daytona, with the 2.5-mile superspeedway counting for two of his three top-fives in the series.
This season, Retzlaff has recorded a career-high two top-five results, as well as three top-10 finishes in the opening 12 races of 2024, leaving him 17th in the NASCAR Xfinity Series point standings.
Last time out for Beard Motorsports, Anthony Alfredo piloted the No. 62 Dude Wipes Chevrolet Camaro to a career-best sixth-place finish, which served as the sixth top-10 result for the family-owned team, and just their second at Talladega.
Additional sponsorship announcements will be made at a later date.
Photo Credit: Craig White, TobyChristie.com
