'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAHAAoDAREAAhEBAxEB/8QAFQABAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABQb/xAAWAQEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACAAH/2gAMAwEAAhADEAAAAJRAfL//xAAiEAACAQIFBQAAAAAAAAAAAAABAgMFEQAEEhMUBiEkYXH/2gAIAQEAAT8AyXWNXebyqhVuMHDFOUWM3q5a6m1++Jq/Vd59rMyLHqOlWkYkD7fH/8QAGREAAwADAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAECEyFS/9oACAECAQE/AJpStGS+mf/EABkRAQACAwAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAIAMQETUf/aAAgBAwEBPwBYTuprHJ//2Q=='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Chris Buescher has won the second race of the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs at Watkins Glen after passing Shane Van Gisbergen for the lead in the overtime period. He secured his first victory of the season and sixth in his Cup career.
Buescher is a 31-year-old Texas native who drives the No. 17 Ford Mustang at RFK Racing. His previous win was recorded at the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona in 2023 where the Concord-based outfit scored a 1-2 with current teammate Brad Keselowski.
On the final lap at Watkins Glen, Chris Buescher and Shane Van Gisbergen were jockeying for the lead. When the two drivers passed the bus stop, Buescher gave the leader a push, forcing SVG into a mistake. The No. 17 driver quickly moved to the inside to take the lead of the race.
Trending
The No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet Camaro of Van Gisbergen pushed hard to try to get the lead back but ended up getting loose. In turn, the gap increased and gave Buescher a home run to the checkered flag after starting in 24th.
Chris Buescher also beat Carson Hocevar in 3rd and Ross Chastain in 4th. Chastain had entered the race in pole position and led the most laps. The top five was completed by Zane Smith, who scored his second top-5 finish this season in the No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet.
The leader of the playoff grid was Chase Briscoe, finishing 6th ahead of Michael McDowell, Corey LaJoie, Ryan Preece, and playoff rival Austin Cindric respectively. Meanwhile, Buescher’s teammate and playoff contender Brad Keselowski ended the race in 26th.
During the post-race interview, Chris Buescher reflected on his win at Watkins Glen, saying:
“I thought we lost it there, the last one and just to stay right there with him [Shane Van Gisbergen] that was a spot that was better than us, and he missed it. So I tried to cross over and would cut and just hard racing there, but just an awesome finish.”
“To get a win, it’s good. We came here to be spoiler. We’re gonna do that,” Buescher added.
The Ford driver walks out of Watkins Glen with 40 points and his first win on a road course.
Chris Buescher escaped a multi-car wreck on the opening lap at Watkins Glen
Chris Buescher was running about seven positions behind Kyle Busch when the latter’s No. 8 Chevrolet got spun out by the No. 7 car of Corey LaJoie. Buescher, who was almost nose to nose with Busch, managed to move to the right and avoid the multi-car wreck.
The wreck involved playoff contenders like Brad Keselowski, Ryan Blaney, Christopher Bell, and Denny Hamlin. Blaney perhaps got the worst out of the incident as his No. 12 Ford had to retire from the race. Hamlin also dropped to the back of the pack and ultimately finished in P23.
The action will resume next week at Bristol Motor Speedway where four playoff drivers will be eliminated ahead of the Round of 12.
