Because the midway level of the NASCAR season nears, extra hypothesis concerning the offseason is effervescent to the floor.
One driver whose future had been a subject of debate across the garages had been Chris Buescher, who has been driving for Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing on a deal that was set to run out on the finish of the season.
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RFK Racing squashed rumors on Tuesday, June 16, once they introduced that that they had agreed to a multi-year extension with the 33-year-old Buescher to maintain him within the No. 17 Ford. Actual phrases of the deal weren’t disclosed.
“RFK Racing has been residence for many of my racing profession, and that is one thing I do not take with no consideration,” Buescher mentioned in an announcement. “I’ve grown up with this group, and I am extremely happy with what we have constructed collectively over the past a number of years. The route we’re heading, the individuals we have now in place, and the dedication all through the corporate make me excited concerning the future.”
Buescher started his profession in NASCAR by working within the RFK store as a teen. In 2009, he joined the group’s driver growth program and in 2015 gained a championship within the second-tier O’Reilly Auto Elements Sequence.
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The native of Texas turned a full-time driver within the Cup Sequence in 2016 and gained at Pocono in his debut season. In all, he has six victories on the Cup degree and 92 top-10 finishes. In 2023, he gained three races and made the playoffs, and was voted NASCAR’s Most Improved Driver.
Buescher has completed within the high 10 in eight of 16 races this season and finds himself in place to make the postseason chase. He is seventh within the level standings heading to this weekend’s street course race at Naval Base Coronado in San Diego. Buescher is presently the one RFK driver inside the highest 16 cutoff line for the postseason Chase, as Brad Keselowski is seventeenth within the standings and Ryan Preece is nineteenth.
“Chris is every part you need in a race automobile driver and teammate,” mentioned Keselowski, who can be a co-owner of RFK Racing. “His expertise behind the wheel speaks for itself, however what actually separates him is his professionalism, preparation and dedication to creating everybody round him higher. He is been instrumental within the progress we have made as a corporation, and we’re excited to proceed constructing towards our targets collectively.”
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See victory lane celebrations with 2026 NASCAR race winners
March 8: Ryan Blaney celebrates successful the Straight Discuss Wi-fi 500 at Phoenix Raceway.
(Meg Oliphant, Getty Pictures)
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See victory lane celebrations with 2026 NASCAR race winners
March 8: Ryan Blaney celebrates successful the Straight Discuss Wi-fi 500 at Phoenix Raceway.
(Meg Oliphant, Getty Pictures)
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See victory lane celebrations with 2026 NASCAR race winners
March 1: Tyler Reddick celebrates successful the DuraMax Grand Prix Powered by RelaDyne at Circuit of The Americas in Austin, Texas.
(Logan Riely, Getty Pictures)
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See victory lane celebrations with 2026 NASCAR race winners
Feb. 22: Tyler Reddick celebrates successful the Autotrader 400 at EchoPark Speedway in Hampton, Georgia.
(Mady Mertens, Imagn Pictures)
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See victory lane celebrations with 2026 NASCAR race winners
Feb. 15: Tyler Reddick celebrates together with his household and crew after successful the 68th operating of the Daytona 500 at Daytona Worldwide Speedway.
(Mike Watters, Imagn Pictures)
Hypothesis has swirled about Buescher’s future with RFK as a result of the group is dropping one in every of its three charters subsequent season, as one which it’s leasing from Rick Ware Racing has been bought to Legacy Motor Membership. RFK Racing president Chip Bowers has mentioned that even when the group cannot purchase a 3rd constitution for 2027, it’s nonetheless dedicated to operating three full-time automobiles within the Cup Sequence, which means one should run Open.
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A constitution ensures the automobile it’s assigned to a spot in each Cup Sequence race no matter qualifying, which generates a steady stream of income for the group. If RFK runs an Open automobile, meaning the driving force of that Ford should qualify to enter each race.
Buescher re-signing with RFK is the newest domino to fall in NASCAR’s upcoming foolish season. The Wooden Brothers introduced final week that Josh Berry is not going to return to drive its No. 21 Ford subsequent season, creating one open seat within the Cup Sequence. One other confirmed transfer is that Corey Heim can be driving the No. 35 Toyota for 23XI Racing subsequent season, pushing present driver Riley Herbst out of that seat. Richard Childress Racing has to fill the seat of the No. 33 Chevrolet following the surprising demise of two-time Cup Sequence champion Kyle Busch.
