Chris Buescher Not “Terribly Surprised” as NASCAR Avoids Last Season Repeat With Quick Thinking

It is common knowledge that COTA’s race last year was not up to standards, which was recently shared by Chase Elliott too. However, did it live up to the hype in 2o24? Answering this very question, RFK Racing driver Chris Buescher gave his verdict on the turn of events this year. After the driver showcased an impressive performance during the EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix, finishing at P8, he shared his opinion during a post-race interview saying how authorities have done a better job this time compared to last year.

Chris Buescher amazed at how NASCAR implemented the Turn 1 design at COTA

Chris Buescher engaged in a post-race interview with Frontstretch. The interviewer asked him about the long runs today, and also the cautions arising out of stage breaks. When asked if he expected the same before coming to the race, Buescher promptly replied that he anticipated more to happen. This was perhaps due to his last year’s experience at COTA.

Buescher said, “No, not after last year. I expected a little more, but we certainly had a lot of spun-out cars. Everybody just got back going, so, the restart zone by design was supposed to calm down Turn 1 and not make it look so silly ultimately. So I think it did a really good job of that. I’m not terribly surprised by it, but yeah ,I would have expected a little more.” He added, “We could use a little more opportunity, having to drop to the back to make our way up with our fashion on Ford Mustang. So, proud of these guys, they did a really nice job. Had a good race car, we just got some weeks to work on and we’ll be ready for the next one.”

Despite organizing such high-octane races smoothly, the Circuit of the Americas has been in the news for bad reasons as well. Its Turn 8 has been a point of contention among drivers due to its challenging conditions. The optimal racing line often involves having two wheels in the dirt, which can create a messy track surface. Drivers have expressed frustration about the excessive dirt through Turn 8, affecting lap times and overall performance.

Read More: Chris Buescher Unmasks Awkward Introduction to Boss Brad Keselowski in Pre-RFK Racing Era

Having said that, after a blistering run at COTA, Chris Buescher has no plans to stop as he revealed his plan regarding what can propel him to glory.

RFK Racing’s plan for the Cup Series this year

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Chris Buescher seems to be approaching the current Cup Series season with a clear focus. Despite facing challenges early in the year, including wrecks at Daytona and Las Vegas, Buescher remains optimistic. His recent performances, including a P9 finish at Atlanta, a second-place finish at Phoenix, and a P7 at Bristol, clearly demonstrate his potential. Even at COTA, he managed to remain in Top 10, saving Ford from humiliation.

Rather than solely accumulating points, the 31-year-old aims to secure victories that will qualify him for the playoffs. He said, “The way I see it, we’re not points racing this year. We’ve got to win races and we’re capable of winning races and when we go do that, the rest will fall in line. I don’t think we’re a team that’s going to sit here and say, ‘We’re going to have to battle for this bubble spot of 15th, 16th, 17th for points to try to break into the playoffs’.”

“That’s not going to be our season and with that being the case, I’m not worried about the stage points and what we’ve been able to do there. I don’t like that it shows we haven’t been where we need to be,” continued Buescher. He emphasized that their goal isn’t merely battling for mid-pack points positions. It’s about winning races and securing a spot in the 16-driver playoff field.

Read More: Chris Buescher Observes “Room to Improve” After a Dominating P2 Finish in Phoenix

While driver is determined, we’ll have to wait to see if he can get himself to that coveted playoff spot in 2024. Do you think he’ll be able to do it? Let us know in the comments below!