Parker Kligerman did all he could to win the ARCA RE/MAX points race.

Despite winning the American 200 Sunday afternoon at the Rockingham Speedway, Kligerman finished just short of the points title as Justin Lofton held on to win his first ARCA RE/MAX points championship. The race was the closest in the series since 1974.

Lofton finished with 5,715 points, while Kligerman ended the season with 5,710 points.

“I really wanted to win this race” Lofton said. “It wouild have meant a lot to me to win this race, but to be crowned the champion at ‘The Rock’ means even more.”

Kligerman said he would get updates on where Lofton was running.

“They (his crew) would say things from time-to-time to let me know where he (Lofton) was,” Kligerman said. “When he got into the top five, I was able to see it on the board. I thought I saw him in fourth the last two laps, but I guess he was third.”

Lofton took advantage of winning 10 bonus points during Saturday’s qualifying with his second place run to extend his lead to 25 points. However, after his qualifying run Lofton’s crew changed the motor out of his No. 6 car. The engine change forced Lofton to start from the back of the field.

As Lofton moved his way through the other cars towards the front, he said he only had one problem.

“I was racing the No. 22 and coming out of turn two I tail-slapped him a little bit,” Lofton said. “It was really a work out it was all timing to pass the cars. It really was tough to move up, but it definitely made us work for it.”

After weaving his way for 199 laps through the field and sitting in third place to guarantee himself the points title, Lofton nearly crashed with Casey Roderick on the final lap.

“I was getting greedy,” Lofton said. “I was getting really greedy. I saw an opportunity and I thought my car was a little bit better than the 51. I got in there and I have to thank him for being as good of a driver as he is. He could have turned me.”

“He made me nervous going into turn one,” said Eddie Sharp, the owner of Lofton’s car.

Even Roderick was shocked Lofton was racing so hard on the last lap.

“I was surprised,” Roderick said. “I probably could have given him more room and I hope he’s not mad at me. His right side door was inside of my window net so once I knew he was that close I moved up the racetrack to give him some room.”

The race was red flagged for more than nine and a half minutes after an accident involving James Hylton, who was transported to an area hospital. Hylton was treated and released Sunday evening with an ankle injury.

Ken Schrader finished fourth and Clay Rogers was fifth.