Buescher takes RFK Racing from pretender to contender in just two weeks

At the beginning of the 2023 season, RFK Racing (formerly known as Roush Racing for older NASCAR fans) were considered to be a long shot to make the NASCAR Playoffs. Now, with just three regular season races to go before the Playoffs begin at Darlington, Chris Buescher has two consecutive wins in a row that will give him an automatic spot in the big dance, and his teammate/owner Brad Keselowski is within the top 16 in points.

“To be able to take the last couple of years and continuously work to build RFK back to that heyday and to keep working and getting after it,” stated Chris Buescher to the media after winning last week at Richmond and this Monday afternoon at Michigan. “So much has gone into that. So much that is completely over my head. So much effort back at the shop.

“I just think it’s good timing. When we look at where we’re at in the season, sure would have loved to have won at Daytona and said felt like we were pretty much locked in. We’ve been fast at a lot of places and haven’t quite been able to grab that trophy. To grab the last two weeks, that’s certainly good timing as we head into the Playoffs here in just a few short weeks.”

This is the first time since 2009 that a No. 17 Ford for RFK Racing has gone back to back in wins since Matt Kenseth won the ‘09 Daytona 500, and then followed it up with a win at Auto Club Speedway one week later.

Buescher had to wait out a near 20 hour delay between Sunday and Monday to get his fourth career win, as heavy mist stopped the race at lap 75 on Sunday, to complete the remaining 125 to Monday afternoon. Buescher had to fight off ‘Monday Martin’ Truex Jr. late in the race after Truex Jr. showed speed all throughout the 400 mile event, including the last 10 laps of side by side racing.

Keselowski, although would rather be in victory lane at his home racetrack of Michigan rather than at fourth place finish, still sees that his team is moving forward and becoming a powerhouse team.

“It’s been two great weekends. I’m just thrilled to death for our company. There’s a lot of people just working their guts out, trying to push, work within the limits of the rules and regulations, but not leave anything on the table, at the same time executing at the highest of levels, whether it be on pit road, restarts, whatever else it takes. I’m happy for them, their efforts getting them the results they deserve.”

Next week, the NASCAR Cup Series takes on their fourth road course event at Watkins Glen International in the Finger Lakes region of upper-state New York, next Sunday afternoon. If Buescher were to win next weekend, he would be the first driver since Kyle Larson in ‘21 to win three straight races in a row.