Some drivers don't get very many opportunities to finish in the top five during a NASCAR race, and even fewer have a chance to win a race. Chris Buescher, who drives the No. 17 Ford for RFK Racing, has won twice in his career—but he still wants more.
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Buescher showed his road course strength once again as he recorded a top 5 finish at Sonoma Raceway. But the 2022 Bristol Night Race winner isn't here for just top fives and point-racing his other competitors for one of the final six spots in the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs.
P4 with a @FifthThird Ford that was fast & fun to drive. Proud of my crew and how we’ve proven ourselves.. now we’ve just gotta figure out how to win one of these things pic.twitter.com/u3zJMpGPqb
— Chris Buescher (@Chris_Buescher) June 11, 2023
With already 10 winners and 10 races left until the playoffs begin, anything can happen. As NASCAR heads into its off week, playoff contention is a major topic throughout the garage area for teams that haven't found victory lane in a while.
Buescher's fourth-place finish in the Toyota/Save Mart 350 backed up his runner-up finish in the race last season. But, according to Buescher, that just isn't enough for the Texas-born driver. That was his clear message in his post-race interview.
"We came here to win, and we're not holding the trophy right now," Buescher said. "That's not to take away from what everybody at RFK has done and the consistency that we have at road races and what we're able to do no matter which one it is. Can't say enough about how proud I am of everybody working so hard on that. But just wanna win one of these things."
.@Chris_Buescher finished off a strong day with a 4th place finish.
“We were where we needed to be, just needed it to finish a little bit differently for us….but a really strong day”
🎤: @stephen_stumpf pic.twitter.com/TTkMUTJZWw
— Frontstretch (@Frontstretch) June 12, 2023
Wins for RFK have been scarce for a number of years, with Buescher's 2022 victory at Bristol being the only one for the team since 2017.
Clearly, Buescher has emerged as one of the drivers to watch when the series goes road racing, especially since the Next Gen car's arrival in 2022. Buescher has finished inside the top 10 in each of his last seven road course starts. It isn't for lack of trying, and a win in one of these events should fall to him with how consistent he has been.
"All the top 10s and top fives in road racing is great," Buescher said. "It's cool stats, and it's consistency, and that means we'll be ready for when things go our way. It's a good day. Just want more."
He had the speed, but eventual winner Martin Truex Jr. was clearly the best car and driver at Sonoma. The finish for Buescher was great, but he isn't that interested in the points. A win is what matters to the 2015 Xfinity Series champion.
"I hate points racing. I hate every part of it," Buescher said. "I know it's a big part of our sport and continues to be more and more a part of it, but I just want to go race to win, and not worry about the rest of it."
