JOLIET, Ill. (June 21, 2015) – Chris Buescher and the No. 60 Ford EcoBoost team were able to overcome adversity during Sunday afternoon’s rain-postponed NASCAR XFINITY Series race at Chicagoland Speedway to finish fifth, Buescher’s eighth top-five of the season.
“It’s definitely a good points day for us,” said Buescher. It was a solid day for us. I think we outran most of the fulltime [XFINITY] guys. It’s nice coming off Michigan having a top-five run there. We’ve just got to keep it up and be consistent.”
Severe storms at Chicagoland Speedway on Saturday evening postponed the NASCAR XFINITY Series race until Sunday morning. Buescher lined up ninth for the 200-Lap, 300-Mile race under sunny skies.
Early in the opening green flag run, Buescher radioed to his crew chief Scott Graves that his Ford EcoBoost Mustang was really loose on exit. A competition caution on Lap 25 allowed Graves to bring his driver down pit road for four tires, fuel and a track bar adjustment.
When Buescher returned to green flag action, his Mustang was a little too tight. He requested that the team go back on the track bar adjustment during the next pit stop. Buescher battled in 10th for most of the run, until green flag pit stops began cycling through.
On Lap 79, Buescher visited pit road under green for four tires, fuel and a track bar adjustment. Buescher was too fast on pit road, but a timely caution allowed the No. 60 to line up at the tail end of the field, instead of serving the penalty under green.
Buescher lined up 27th, one lap behind the leaders, when the field retook the green flag on Lap 86. Eleven laps later, Buescher had maneuvered into the free pass position as the caution flag waved again, this time allowing the team to get back on the lead lap.
The No. 60 Mustang made its way down pit road on Lap 101, for four tires, fuel and no adjustments. Buescher lined up 20th for the restart on Lap 104, gaining five positions in just two laps. By the time the caution flew again on Lap 127, Buescher was once again inside the top-10.
After pitting for four tires, fuel and no adjustments, Buescher restarted ninth on Lap 133. He maintained his ground until the caution was once again displayed on Lap 150. After a miscommunication between the spotter’s stand and NASCAR officials, several lead lap competitors visited pit road while it was closed.
Eric Peterson, spotter for the No. 60, told Buescher to remain on the track. When pit road was open, Buescher made his last stop of the day for four tires and fuel. After the leaders who pit too soon lined up at the back of the field, Buescher restarted in fourth.
As the laps wound down, Buescher crossed the finish line fifth in his Ford EcoBoost Mustang. Buescher maintains the points lead as the series heads into the last off-weekend until October.
NEXT UP:
Subway Firecracker 250
2.5-mile Daytona International Speedway
Daytona, Fla.
Saturday, July 4, 2015
7:30 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network and MRN
RACE SUMMARY
Chris Buescher
Started: Ninth
Finished: Fifth
Complete Race Results:
POINTS SUMMARY
Chris Buescher
2015 Season Total: First with 528 points
2015 SEASON SUMMARY
Chris Buescher
Starts Wins Top-Fives Top-10s Poles
14 2 8 10 0
