By: Zach Catanzareti, Staff Writer
Each week, Kickin’ The Tires will highlight the 20th-place finisher from the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. Standing as the middleman in weekends with 40-car fields, there is sure to be a story behind each one.
This has quickly become a normal column for a Chris Buescher appearance in 2018.
For the third time in the last four races, Buescher and his No. 37 JTG Daugherty Racing team came home 20th. This time, it was Sunday at Michigan International Speedway where they jumped to the 20th spot after qualifying 23rd.
And though the finish puts Buescher in the lead in terms of the Kickin’ The Tires “Mid-Pack Champion” it’s not necessarily where you want to be in the Cup Series.
Buescher’s season has been a quiet one to say the least. Making his 100th Cup start two weeks ago at Watkins Glen, Buescher has only had two real stand-out runs this year, both coming at Daytona. Here, he grabbed a fifth in the Daytona 500 and fifth in the July event.
And through 23 races, Buescher’s playoff chances are next to non-existent, sitting 24th, 180 points outside 16th.
And things haven’t been much better for teammate AJ Allmendinger, who is one spot north of Buescher in 23rd, 167 points out. And perhaps his best shot at the post-season passed when Watkins Glen saw its checkereds last week.
For Buescher, an opportunity in the Cup Series does not go without appreciation. As for many drivers, funding was not easy to come by early and he has ridden the “under-rated underdog” persona most of his career. It brought him an XFINITY title with Roush Fenway in 2015 before throwing him into Cup for Front Row Motorsports in 2016.
JTG was a step up in terms of competition for Sundays. However, the pace has not been enough to bring him into the top 10 on at least a semi-regular basis. That is sure to be goal No. 1 for 2019.
But this weekend, Buescher enters Bristol Motor Speedway, a place where he scored a shock top-five run in 2016 for Front Row. However, outside that run, the Texan has no top 20s in five prior starts. This will be a good weekend for Buescher to bring home more than just a top 20.
List of 20th-Place Finishers So Far in 2018
Daytona: Gray Gaulding
Atlanta: Alex Bowman
Las Vegas: Trevor Bayne
ISM: Trevor Bayne (2)
Auto Club: Darrell Wallace Jr.
Martinsville: William Byron
Texas: Gray Gaulding(2)
Bristol: Landon Cassill
Richmond: Ty Dillon
Talladega: DJ Kennington
Dover: Chris Buescher
Kansas: Michael McDowell
Charlotte: Kasey Kahne
Pocono: Clint Bowyer
Michigan: Jimmie Johnson
Sonoma: Kasey Kahne(2)
Chicagoland: William Byron(2)
Daytona: Trevor Bayne(3)
Kentucky: William Byron(3)
New Hampshire: Chris Buescher(2)
Pocono: Jamie McMurray
Watkins Glen: Chris Buescher (3)
Michigan: Chris Buescher (4)
Mid-Pack With Zach: Chris Buescher, JTG Daugherty Racing
By: Zach Catanzareti, Staff Writer
Each week, Kickin’ The Tires will highlight the 20th-place finisher from the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. Standing as the middleman in weekends with 40-car fields, there is sure to be a story behind each one.
This has quickly become a normal column for a Chris Buescher appearance in 2018.
For the third time in the last four races, Buescher and his No. 37 JTG Daugherty Racing team came home 20th. This time, it was Sunday at Michigan International Speedway where they jumped to the 20th spot after qualifying 23rd.
And though the finish puts Buescher in the lead in terms of the Kickin’ The Tires “Mid-Pack Champion” it’s not necessarily where you want to be in the Cup Series.
Buescher’s season has been a quiet one to say the least. Making his 100th Cup start two weeks ago at Watkins Glen, Buescher has only had two real stand-out runs this year, both coming at Daytona. Here, he grabbed a fifth in the Daytona 500 and fifth in the July event.
And through 23 races, Buescher’s playoff chances are next to non-existent, sitting 24th, 180 points outside 16th.
And things haven’t been much better for teammate AJ Allmendinger, who is one spot north of Buescher in 23rd, 167 points out. And perhaps his best shot at the post-season passed when Watkins Glen saw its checkereds last week.
For Buescher, an opportunity in the Cup Series does not go without appreciation. As for many drivers, funding was not easy to come by early and he has ridden the “under-rated underdog” persona most of his career. It brought him an XFINITY title with Roush Fenway in 2015 before throwing him into Cup for Front Row Motorsports in 2016.
JTG was a step up in terms of competition for Sundays. However, the pace has not been enough to bring him into the top 10 on at least a semi-regular basis. That is sure to be goal No. 1 for 2019.
But this weekend, Buescher enters Bristol Motor Speedway, a place where he scored a shock top-five run in 2016 for Front Row. However, outside that run, the Texan has no top 20s in five prior starts. This will be a good weekend for Buescher to bring home more than just a top 20.
List of 20th-Place Finishers So Far in 2018
Daytona: Gray Gaulding
Atlanta: Alex Bowman
Las Vegas: Trevor Bayne
ISM: Trevor Bayne (2)
Auto Club: Darrell Wallace Jr.
Martinsville: William Byron
Texas: Gray Gaulding(2)
Bristol: Landon Cassill
Richmond: Ty Dillon
Talladega: DJ Kennington
Dover: Chris Buescher
Kansas: Michael McDowell
Charlotte: Kasey Kahne
Pocono: Clint Bowyer
Michigan: Jimmie Johnson
Sonoma: Kasey Kahne(2)
Chicagoland: William Byron(2)
Daytona: Trevor Bayne(3)
Kentucky: William Byron(3)
New Hampshire: Chris Buescher(2)
Pocono: Jamie McMurray
Watkins Glen: Chris Buescher (3)
Michigan: Chris Buescher (4)