NASCAR Cup Series racing can be cruel to drivers at times. Even for those who have shown decent speeds and consistent results. Chris Buescher from RFK Racing is one of the few drivers who should’ve been locked into the playoffs by now. But he just hasn’t been favored by Lady Luck up until now in the regular season races.

With just seven races at tricky race tracks left in the regular season, it is indeed hard to escape the pressure to deliver. Even Brad Keselowski couldn’t help but highlight how Buescher’s current circumstances add pressure on the whole team to deliver.

Brad Keselowski is concerned about Buescher’s qualification into the playoffs

A total of 11 drivers have secured their spot in the knockout stages of the Cup Series after the end of the regular season. However, there are plenty of talented race car drivers still fighting for those last five spots. Buescher and the #17 team are placed in the 14th, two spots above the cutline, but banking on points to make the playoffs is a slippery slope.

A surprise win by any driver below the cutline or those without the win would make things even tougher for the RFK star. This is exactly what Brad Keselowski highlighted while speaking in an interview with Bob Pockrass. “Anytime you’re not in, you’re stressed about it. And we know that even though he’s got a couple-car gap to the cutoff, a couple of new winners, and that’s gone very fast. We feel that pressure to get him in, feel the pressure to make sure he has the right equipment and the resources around him. We’re doing all we can, and I’m confident that he can get it done.”

He further highlighted the detrimental effects of a driver not making the playoffs from a team owner’s perspective. “From an owner’s perspective, it’s catastrophic to miss the playoffs — whether it’s your sponsorships, your OEM [manufacturer] relationships, your ability to recruit and retain talent in the shop or on the road or pit crew. It’s a really, really big deal.” It’s fair to say that the team has their task cut out for themselves.

However, Keselowski is optimistic that Chris Buescher will turn up in the upcoming race. Considering how close he’s come to being crowned the winner, backed by his consistent results.

Buescher has been on the bitter end of things so far in 2024

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The No. 17 RFK Racing Ford was believed to have won the race at Kansas Speedway in a photo finish. But, an official review by NASCAR overturned the results in favor of Kyle Larson, who had edged Buescher by 0.01 seconds, the closest finish in NASCAR Cup Series history. Not only that, the following week at Darlington, he was close to winning the race, but Tyler Reddick had other ideas. He wrecked into the #17 car during a late-race battle, which opened the door for Brad Keselowski to get his win.

He’s finished inside the top 5 in three of his last four Cup starts. And banking on his consistent run, Keselowski feels that a big result is just around the corner for his driver. “If you look at Sonoma, if you look at New Hampshire, even looking back to Charlotte, we ran really well and in Kansas, where he got as close to winning as you physically can, and Darlington — he’s on a stretch races where he could win any week. He’s doing all the right things, but he hasn’t caught any breaks. When he does, look out.”

It would be a real bummer if a driver like Chris Buescher missed out on playoffs. Hopefully, he keeps collecting enough points to ensure his qualification, or better yet, get a victory for himself and his team.