This afternoon Chris Buescher is going to be starting all the way in the back of the NASCAR Cup Series field at Homestead-Miami. The RFK Racing No. 17 team had to replace the steering rack, an unapproved adjustment and will serve their penalty.
Things aren’t all that bad. Chris Buescher did not qualify well on Saturday. P21. So, what’s the difference, for a driver like Buescher, between starting 21st or 38th?
Things are not going to be easy, but it will be fun if the 17-car is fast. Homestead provides drivers an opportunity to actually pass. So, not all is lost. At least he will have his steering fixed
This season, Chris Buescher did not make the playoffs. He was not nearly as consistent as he was in 2023 and he did not win a race until after the regular season. That victory at Watkins Glen was major. He has not finished outside of the top-20 since then.
The only concerning thing is Brad Keselowski was slow in qualifying as well, P18. So, RFK could be lacking speed, at least in the short run. Maybe these Fords will respond when the track starts to cool off and we get later into the evening.
Not a single Ford made the final round of qualifying. Josh Berry was the best Mustang out there at P12. Is today going to be all about the Toyotas and Chevys?
Chris Buescher is a threat, if he can get track position
When I think of potential spoilers for the race today, Chris Buescher is one of them. At least, he would be under normal circumstances. Now that he is starting in the rear, there is more work to do. The track position game will be important.
There are a handful of drivers who you think of on these intermediate tracks. We have seen Buescher be competitive and even win at tracks like Darlington, Michigan, Kansas, and others. At least Buescher and his team won’t have to worry about points racing today.
Between Kyle Larson, William Byron, Joey Logano, Ryan Blaney, Denny Hamlin, Tyler Reddick, Christopher Bell, and Chase Elliott – I think we see a playoff driver win today. The stakes are too high and these teams are pulling out all of the stops at this point.
Chris Buescher and his team are going to have their hands full. No one wants to start from the back. But it isn’t like this is Martinsville or Richmond. There is time and space to move around, find the grooves, and pass cars.
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