Chris Buescher Devastated After Falling Short With 'Fastest Car on Track'
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Despite a second-place finish at the Michigan International Speedway, Chris Buescher seemed upset about the "missed opportunity" that cost him the NASCAR Cup Series race win.
RFK Racing had a great race weekend at Michigan, considering all three cars it fielded finished within the top ten. Buescher finished behind race winner Denny Hamlin, while Ryan Preece and Brad Keselowski finished in ninth and tenth.
Despite the remarkable team effort, Buescher took it on himself after the race, especially considering that he had one of the fastest cars. One factor that likely set him back was that his car took longer to refuel, which then followed undesired race restarts. Speaking to FOX Sports' Bob Pockrass, he said:
Chris Buescher, driver of the #17 Kroger/OIKOS Ford, walks the grid during practice for the NASCAR Cup Series Cracker Barrel 400 at Nashville Superspeedway on May 31, 2025 in Lebanon, Tennessee.
Chris Buescher, driver of the #17 Kroger/OIKOS Ford, walks the grid during practice for the NASCAR Cup Series Cracker Barrel 400 at Nashville Superspeedway on May 31, 2025 in Lebanon, Tennessee."I got by the 38 and I just had a big big over. And that's what let the 11, 54, then the 38 by. That moment was my error, and realistically cost us to win today, because we were better than the 11 car.
"Proud of the team for giving me that car, and that opportunity. I'd love to have it back, but that's not an option. A lot of speed, fantastic race for us. Big solid day but just feels like a missed opportunity."
Chris Buescher laments the missed opportunity with arguably the fastest car in the field as he finished second to Denny Hamlin. @NASCARONFOX pic.twitter.com/pwxWVBqHbC — Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) June 8, 2025
Speaking to NBC Sports, Buescher stated that the team needs some luck on their side to win. He said:
"We certainly need a little bit of good luck or fortune on our side. This is a day where we kind of made our own. We were really fast and worked hard to be there and just didn't have any bad luck, so that put us with a shot to win.
"After the last handful of weeks with having speed in the first stage and qualifying and not being able to get the race finish that was certainly big, but it's frustrating to be that close and to know that we had a car that was capable of winning. I just needed to do a better job."
He added:
"That was such a fast Mustang. I really appreciate everybody on this team working so hard to put us in this situation and to have a chance to win. I'm disappointed I didn't get it done. It's on me. I had a couple different decisions I would love to go back and make and ultimately should have had us ahead of the 11. We were faster on the day and I didn't do a good enough job."
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