DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (July 4, 2015) – Chris Buescher finished 12th in his No. 60 Bit-O-Honey Ford Mustang under the lights at Daytona International Speedway, despite being involved in the ‘big one’ with 10 laps remaining. With the top-15 finish, Buescher maintains his lead in the NASCAR XFINITY Series point standings.
“Not at all the night we were looking for from our Bit-O-Honey Mustang,” said Buescher. “The speed was there, it was just a matter of getting in the right spot and I didn’t do a good job of that today. We nearly went a lap down through some pit stops and that was pretty lucky that we got a caution when we did. We were able to get back going and avoided the wreck initially, but then got trunked from behind and at that point you are just along for the ride. The guys did a nice job fixing it and it was a good recovery considering where we were. To come home P12 isn’t bad. That is five superspeedway races with this car without having to do any work, and I guess the odds were against us today. It is good to salvage that finish and get out of here with the points lead still.”
The NASCAR XFINITY Series took the green flag at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday evening after a brief delay due to rain showers. Buescher lined up 13th for the 100-Lap, 250-Mile race.
At the start of the race, Buescher dropped back into the mid-twenties, informing the team that he was not making the best lane choices on the track. After two early cautions, when the third yellow flag flew on Lap 14, NASCAR opted to call it the competition caution six laps early.
Buescher visited pit road for fuel only on Lap 16, lining up 13th for the restart on Lap 19. During the next long green-flag run Buescher settled into the top-15. As green flag pit stops started to cycle through, Buescher came down pit road on Lap 56. While making his way down pit road, Buescher radioed to the team that he felt he slid his tires getting onto pit road.
Crew chief Scott Graves was forced to make a quick decision to change four tires during the stop, while the majority of the field opted for two tires. The longer pit stop left Buescher returning to the track without a drafting partner.
The No. 60 Mustang linked up with a couple other cars, trying to form a drafting pack. The caution flag flew as the leaders were approaching Buescher and the small drafting pack. Buescher visited pit road on Lap 82 for fuel and a chassis adjustment.
Shortly after the restart, Buescher was collected in the ‘big one’, which brought the No. 60 down pit road for extensive repairs. Quick damage repair and another accident with a few laps remaining allowed Buescher to gain track position.
Buescher was able to salvage a decent finish, crossing the line 12th in his Bit-O-Honey Ford Mustang. With the result, he maintains his points lead over Chase Elliott.
NEXT UP:
NASCAR XFINITY July Kentucky Race
1.5-mile Kentucky Speedway
Sparta, Ky.
Friday, July 10, 2015
7:30 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network and PRN
RACE SUMMARY
Chris Buescher
Started: 13
Finished: 12
Complete Race Results:
www.roushfenway.com
POINTS SUMMARY
Chris Buescher
2015 Season Total: First with 560 points
2015 SEASON SUMMARY
Chris Buescher
Starts Wins Top-Fives Top-10s Poles
15 2 8 10 0
