36xRacing

36×36: 2024-5-Bristol
17-RFK:
Driver: Chris Buescher – Crew Chief: Scott Graves – Spotter: Mike Herman Jr.
Playoff seed entering race: 16^th (+2 to cut)
Practice: 12^th overall (8^th in 10-lap average)
Qualifying: 34th (2nd/2 RFK cars)

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Chris Buescher entered Bristol weekend as one of the favorites to win. The dirt was gone and the Cup Series could get back to two races a year on the paved high-banks. In the two NextGen era Bristol pavement races, Buescher won and finished fourth.

Apart from the new/old time of year for racing on the pavement, now with the NextGen car, everyone quickly learned this race weekend was going to be something new. Buescher, along with a few other fast entries like Ross Chastain, struggled in messy qualifying track conditions, only putting up a time worthy of starting 34^th.

By the first yellow flag of the race on lap 23, the RFK 17 car had gained eight positions, up to 26th.

“As long as we’re making headway here, we’re pretty good,” said crew chief Scott Graves.

Under the early yellow, the team opted to only change the right-side tires.

Graves reported back to Buescher, “right side wear was pretty heavy.”

By just taking two tires under yellow, Buescher was able to restart in 18th, a huge gain in track position.

Over the next tire stint, the 17 car continued to make progress. The 40-lap run resulted in a gain of another five positions, moving Buescher up to 13th.

At the next caution, Buescher gained three spots in the pits.

“Starting to show cords on the [right] front and rear,” Graves told Buescher.

The rest of stage one is where things truly got crazy.

“Be smooth, take care of the tires.”

Throughout the race, Buescher handled tire wear better than others around him

Buescher was able to hold on as cars started losing control. Austin Dillon was all out of sorts, Kyle Busch was all out of sorts, Chase Elliott was all out of sorts,,, but Buescher kept navigating traffic and moving forward.

As the yellow flew, Buescher finished stage one in third.

Graves reported back that after this 40 lap stint, only the right front tire on the 17 was showing cords, not the right rear.

The tire mess was clear to the field at this point, so what was the best path forward? Buescher thought they should keep it simple, and stick to wrapping the bottom.

“Whatever is easiest on the car, roll with it,” agreed Graves.

Buescher ran in the top five early in stage two. After the first 35 laps, the yellow flew again and the 17 team opted for two tires, putting Buescher in the lead. This presented the opportunity for Buescher to lead the pack and control the pace for tire wear.

The only problem, JGR Toyotas were ready to go.

As Bell tried to make a move on the 17, Buescher was advised, “if he wants to lead, let him lead.”

The two tires didn’t hold on this time. After letting the 20 by, the 54 got past, then the 11 got past Buescher…

Buescher continued to fall back until the next yellow, he found himself in P11. The team opted for scuffs to run out the stage and save a fresh set of tires.

The restart was near-catastrophic as the 17 slammed into the outside wall in the middle of a traffic jam.

Under the stage break, Buescher reported that the car still felt okay and they were good to go for stage three.

Restarting 24^th, the plan was simple: ride around, hug the bottom, wait for others to have their tires fall off, move forward. At the end of the 45 lap stint, this only moved the 17 up to 21^st.

Buescher thought the car, “might be good up top, but it’s filthy [with marbles].”

Again, another 45 lap stint.

“This is ridiculous,” said Buescher, as the yellow flags continued to fly like clockwork.

The 17 car was 18^th for what would be the final restart of the day. For this stint, the goal was to find a rhythm rather than worry about saving.

35 laps into the run, Buescher was 13^th and the leaders were starting to struggle. Buescher’s talent and ability to keep the tires under him was apparent. The 17 was up to 6th by the time the green flag pit cycle started 20 laps later.

As the pit cycle concluded, Buescher was still hanging on to sixth.

Alex Bowman got by with eight lap fresher tires.

“Make ‘em last here, ten more.”

John Hunter Nemechek got by Buescher while Josh Berry lost his tires in front…

“Get us to the finish here.”

Buescher and the 17 team finished the race in 7^th place.

To put it simply, Chris Buescher put up a playoff-level performance today. The points collected in stage one, along with a top ten finish, build a cushion for Buescher against the playoff bubble.

The 17 team’s weekend goals may have been a win at one of Buescher’s best tracks, but 38 points and a relatively undamaged racecar is a fine inventory to take home.

Finish: P7 (S1:3rd) = 38pts
Playoff seed leaving race: 14th (+14 to cut)

Next race: 6-COTA
36×36 featured team: 42-Legacy