Chris Buescher must win Daytona after a disastrous finish at Richmond Raceway cast serious doubt on his playoff chances. Following a strong third-place result at Watkins Glen just last week, his 30th-place finish at Richmond and Austin Dillon’s victory mean Buescher has no choice but to take the checkered flag in the regular season finale at Daytona to qualify for the Cup playoffs.
A Sudden Turn in Playoff Prospects
Buescher entered Richmond with hopes of securing enough points for a playoff spot despite not having any wins this season. However, his uncompetitive performance at the 0.75-mile Richmond Raceway derailed that plan. Meanwhile, Austin Dillon‘s win sealed his position in the postseason, removing some of the available paths for Buescher to qualify. Now faced with a must-win scenario at Daytona—the season’s final regular event—Buescher is under immense pressure to secure his spot.
Without a victory at Daytona, Buescher risks missing the playoffs for the second consecutive year and for the eighth time in nine seasons. Reflecting on Richmond, he acknowledged the day was simply off, saying it was “just a bad day” and the team “just weren’t very good” on the track.
“And I have no clue where we even finished at this point, but obviously it doesn’t really matter. We’re in a must-win heading into Daytona, which is a terrible spot to be in for a plate race. I know we’ll be fast, but so many wild and random things can happen.” —Chris Buescher, Driver
Evaluating Buescher’s Chances at Daytona
Positively, Buescher has a solid record at Daytona International Speedway, a 2.5-mile tri-oval known as ‘The Big D.’ Over 21 career starts, including on the road course and the speedway, he boasts a victory, six top-five finishes, and ten top-10 results. This historical success offers hope that he can rise to the occasion in this critical race.
However, the challenge is compounded by his position within Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing (RFK). Once considered the strongest candidate in the three-driver lineup to make the playoffs, Buescher now shares the same daunting must-win predicament as teammates Ryan Preece and Brad Keselowski. Given that only one driver from the trio can claim victory at Daytona, two will inevitably be excluded from the postseason.
Should none of the three drivers win, RFK risks losing all representation in the playoffs, a difficult prospect for the team and its championship aspirations.
“We won it before (at Daytona), so we’ll certainly regroup from this one, head to that one and be ready to go.” —Chris Buescher, Driver
The High Stakes and What Lies Ahead
The upcoming Daytona race represents a high-stakes plate race loaded with unpredictability and pressure. Buescher’s past performance at the speedway and his evident determination underscore his potential, but the need for a flawless execution is clear. Given the wild nature of restrictor-plate racing, numerous variables outside his control could influence the outcome.
With the playoffs on the line and his track record giving him a fighting chance, Buescher’s performance in Daytona will be pivotal. A win would secure his entry into the 10-race post-season and keep RFK Racing’s championship hopes alive. Failure to win, by contrast, would mark another missed playoff opportunity for Buescher and reflect a steep setback for the team’s season.