Failing to exploit any opportunity to gather points – or a victory in this iteration of Chase for the Sprint Cup qualifying – is simply foolish.
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If Buescher reaches the top 30 in points after Richmond, he will become the first Sunoco Rookie since Denny Hamlin in 2006 to make the Chase.
“We changed the vehicle a little bit and it took me a little while to get used to the new pavement”, said Edwards, who ran fourth in Friday’s opening practice as preparations continue for Sunday’s Cheez-It 355 at The Glen.
“We’re really excited. Rob and I work awesome together and [crew chief Todd Fisette] and I work real well together”.
Buescher emerged from the fog at Pocono on Monday to become the surprising victor in a shortened Cup race, compliments of a race strategy call by Bob Osborne, veteran crew chief of the No. 34 for Front Row Motorsports. In his past 14 starts, his best finish was ninth in 2007, and he was a career-worst 41st last season.
BEECH RIDGE: Brad Babb of Windham took the lead from pole sitter Eddie MacDonald with about 40 laps remaining and held on to earn his second straight American-Canadian Tour victory at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway. Once the cars were halted because of the weather, the fog and rain settled in and Buescher was declared the victor.
“It’s really hard, as a driver, to say that you’ve got a problem because you basically put yourself out there to be pulled out of the auto”, he said.
The irony of the moment is not lost on Buescher.
Like I said, 41 is young in terms of age, but in terms of racing age, Earnhardt is clearly on the backside of his career.
There has been speculation that his condition could be career-threatening, but the 41-year-old said his current expectation was that he would be able to race again after suitable therapy. His whole family has. We got it closer. It’s not going to just be him. “We are going to make good use of the next five races”.
For fans watching on television or at the track, Jarrett said they might think one thing in the race’s first 80 laps and then have their whole perspective changed in the final 10 laps. This weekend NASCAR visits its second road course of the season at Watkins Glen International.
“I think starting on the pole is a really large advantage just because there are so many unknowns”, said Edwards.
“I don’t want to go out and do anything but try to be a great example for your teammates. and I think that’s where the focus needs to be”.
“I’m just concerned with getting normal. If he just had a little luck”.
Should we be surprised with Buescher’s victory?
He said all the Roush Fenway Racing drivers, as well as he and Landon Cassill of Front Row Motorsports, were in Utah “practicing and doing some shifting in some Mustangs” to prepare for this weekend’s road-course race.
“It just felt so weird not being there, so here we are”, Earnhardt said. The last seven, eight weeks we’ve been unloading with a lot better speed, running better in the race. “It’s a shame. We still nearly made the second round”. We’ve got a good notebook.
There were already many interesting storylines to follow heading into the final five races of the regular season, and now this adds yet another one.
Last year: Logano made it a sweep at Watkins Glen and a sweep for Ford atop the podium.
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Even though Edwards’ No. 19 Camry was fastest in qualifying, he expects stiff competition today from his Toyota brethren. “Being in the situation I’m in now, having ran for so long, maybe it wasn’t as challenging or as hard a decision to make, to make the right choice”.
