Chris Buescher wrapped up the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series as the best-performing driver outside the playoffs, finishing 17th overall and earning recognition for his steady showing behind the wheel of the No. 17 RFK Racing Ford. Throughout the Chris Buescher NASCAR 2025 season, he displayed determination and saw marked improvement in qualifying pace, even though he did not claim a victory.
Performance in Numbers: Buescher’s Notable Stats and Standouts
Led by crew chief Scott Graves, Buescher ended the year with five top-five results, 16 top-10 finishes, and a total of 47 laps led. Although he missed the Cup Series Playoffs for a second consecutive season, his increased speed in qualifying stood out—he bettered his average starting spot from 18.5 to 12.5 compared to the previous year. While a pole position eluded him in 2025, Buescher started on the front row twice, once at Kansas and once at Pocono. These starting positions proved crucial to his strong results on race days.
Michigan Near-Miss and Road Course Prowess
One of Buescher’s finest moments in 2025 came at Michigan International Speedway. He battled fiercely, finishing in second place behind Denny Hamlin in a dramatic race shaped by fuel strategy. Starting from sixth, Buescher led 13 laps, demonstrating both the pace of his Ford and his racecraft, particularly in the Blue Oval’s iconic region.
Buescher also continued to impress on road courses during the Chris Buescher NASCAR 2025 season. After his previous triumph over Shane van Gisbergen at Watkins Glen in 2024, he returned to the Finger Lakes of Upstate New York and secured a strong third-place result in 2025, finishing just behind SVG and Christopher Bell. His fourth-place finish at the Charlotte Roval further underscored his expertise in versatile settings. However, at Talladega, with just two laps remaining, Buescher’s hopes for a breakthrough win dissipated when, while leading, he was spun and crashed heavily after contact from William Byron on the backstretch.
End-of-Season Consistency Sets Buescher Apart
Despite not reaching Victory Lane, Buescher’s consistent performance was reflected in his results during the last 10 races of the season—he finished outside the top 18 only twice. This steady form cemented his status as the highest-ranked driver outside the 2025 postseason field.
“Fast race cars bring points with them. I think if we stick with this over the next handful of weeks, um, that part will come with it. Again, I think we figured for the last couple of months, it’s gonna be a must-win situation. I feel like these playoffs constantly do that, and you get to the end, and one or two slip in on points. But you gotta win races.”
— Buescher on playoff pressure in a post-race interview with Amazon Prime Video at Pocono.
Looking Forward: Expectations for 2026 After a Competitive Year
The 2025 season also saw significant changes at RFK Racing. The team expanded to field three drivers, with Ryan Preece joining Buescher and Brad Keselowski, creating a deeper and potentially more competitive lineup. Although the organization missed both the playoffs and a visit to Victory Lane this year, RFK Racing showed remarkable performance gains, especially in the latter part of the season. As Buescher enters 2026 with additional momentum and experience, observers anticipate he may reclaim the dominant form that saw him lead more than 200 laps in both 2023 and 2024.
With his proven resilience, skilled teammates, and the team’s growth, Chris Buescher positions himself as a driver to watch closely when the next NASCAR Cup Series season begins. Fans and insiders alike hope to see him translate his tenacity and consistent improvements into victories and a playoff berth in 2026.
