ELKHART LAKE, Wis. (Aug. 30, 2015) – A lengthy caution period at the end of Saturday’s NASCAR XFINITY Series race at Road America left little time for Roush Fenway Racing’s Chris Buescher to charge through the field after an array of pit strategies during the 45-Lap race. Buescher would ultimately crack the top-10, finishing ninth in his Fastenal Ford Mustang.
NASCAR was forced to call Saturday morning’s qualifying session after rain and fog plagued the 4.05-mile road course to start the day. The field was set based on the speeds of Friday’s first practice session, putting Buescher in sixth to start the race.
Early on, Buescher settled into seventh, telling his team that his Mustang was a little too tight. Crew chief Scott Graves called Buescher down pit road for a scheduled pit stop under green on Lap 12 for four tires, fuel and a track bar adjustment.
As green flag pit stops cycled through, Buescher found himself inside the top-five, although he reported to the team that his Mustang was still too tight in the center. Graves opted to keep his driver on the track during a Lap 22 caution period.
On Lap 26, the Fastenal Ford Mustang lined up fourth for the restart. Just three laps later, Graves brought Buescher back down pit road for another scheduled green flag pit stop, again for four tires, fuel and a track bar adjustment.
Buescher returned to the track in 17th, as varying pit strategies began to play out in the field. A caution on Lap 35 stalled Buescher’s progress to the front, as the pace car led the field for six laps under caution.
The Prosper, Texas native restarted 11th with four laps remaining, and worked his way up to ninth by the time the checkered flag flew.
With the result, Buescher holds a 16 point leader over Chase Elliott in the NASCAR XFINITY Series point standings as the series travels to Darlington Raceway, one of Buescher’s favorite tracks.
NEXT UP:
VFW Sport Clips Help a Hero 200
1.37-mile Darlington Raceway
Darlington, S.C.
Saturday, Sept. 5, 2015
3:30 p.m. ET on NBC and MRN
RACE SUMMARY
Chris Buescher
Started: 6
Finished: 9
Complete Race Results:
www.roushfenway.com
POINTS SUMMARY
Chris Buescher
2015 Season Total: First with 835 points
2015 SEASON SUMMARY
Chris Buescher
Starts Wins Top-Fives Top-10s Poles
23 2 10 13 0
