BROOKLYN, Mich. (June 13, 2015) – Roush Fenway Racing’s Chris Buescher extended his points lead in the NASCAR XFINITY Series after leading 23 laps and finishing a solid fourth in Saturday’s race at Michigan International Speedway.
“This Roush Performance Mustang was really fast,” said Buescher. “I told the guys with about 25 to go that this was fun. This is how we need to show up to the races each week. It was awesome, and they did a heck of a job. It was a great points day, but I really wish we had a chance to run for the win there.”
The NASCAR XFINITY Series traveled to Ford and Jack Roush’s home turf at Michigan International Speedway for the thirteenth race of the season. Teams lined up on pit road for qualifying under cloudy skies on Saturday morning.
After leading a pack off pit road late in round two of qualifying, Buescher netted a 20th-place starting position, as the cars towards the back of the pack benefitted more from the draft at the fast two-mile track.
As the 125-Lap race started, Buescher set his sights on the top-10, advancing 10 positions by Lap 23. Two laps later the caution flag waved, with Buescher informing his team that his car was just a little too free in traffic, but was really good on its own.
Buescher entered pit road in 10th, but a two tire strategy call by crew chief Scott Graves moved the No. 60 into third for the ensuing restart.
With right side tires, Buescher settled solidly into the top-five, running in fourth for the majority of the run before the caution flew on Lap 44.
On Lap 46, Graves called his driver down pit road for left side tires and fuel. Buescher restarted fifth, but dropped back to 11th on the restart, radioing to the team that his car was much too loose. Graves told his driver he would need to wait for the air pressure in the left side tires to build up.
As the run progressed, Buescher made up the lost ground with a car that was one of the quickest on the track. The No. 60 Roush Performance Ford inherited the lead on Lap 79, as green flag pit stops cycled through.
Buescher made his way down pit road from the lead for a green flag pit stop on Lap 88 for right side tires and fuel. Just a few laps later on Lap 91, the caution flew with Buescher in second-place.
With the race leader short on fuel, Buescher again inherited the lead as the No. 22 visited pit road. A fast restart by Buescher on Lap 96 gave him a slight lead over the field, before the caution flew again on Lap 101.
On the following restart, Buescher lost a few positions, dropping back to eighth. He spent the rest of the race fighting back for the lost positions, ultimately crossing the finish line in fourth.
With the fourth-place result, Buescher extends his points lead to 25 over second-place Ty Dillon. The NASCAR XFINITY Series returns to action Saturday evening at Chicagoland Speedway for a race under the lights.
NEXT UP:
NASCAR XFINITY June Chicagoland Race
1.5-mile Chicagoland Speedway
Joliet, Ill.
Saturday, June 20, 2015
9:30 p.m. ET on FoxSports1 and MRN
RACE SUMMARY
Chris Buescher
Started: 20
Finished: 4
Complete Race Results:
POINTS SUMMARY
Chris Buescher
2015 Season Total: First with 489 points
2015 SEASON SUMMARY
Chris Buescher
Starts Wins Top-Fives Top-10s Poles
13 2 7 9 0
