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KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Chris Buescher still runs under the radar at the race track.
He’s not mobbed by fans … yet. He is a talented driver coming up in the Roush Fenway Racing ranks — possibly making the jump to Sprint Cup full-time in 2016 — and leads the XFINITY Series points race heading into Saturday’s Kansas Lottery 300 (4 p.m. ET, NBCSN, MRN, Sirius XM NASCAR Radio.)
So get to know him now, before everyone else jumps on is bandwagon. Here are five reasons why you should:
1. He’s not as green as you might think. The 22-year-old has an ARCA championship under his belt from 2012 and has 70 XFINITY Series starts, plus six Sprint Cup Series starts in the No. 34 Front Row Motorsports Ford. “I’ve been testing Cup cars since I was 16 with Roush. I’ve done all kinds of testing — when it was still allowed — from California back to Charlotte,” Buescher reminded reporters at Kansas Speedway on Friday.
2. He’s mentally tough. Buescher is 26 points ahead of defending series champion Chase Elliott with four races remaining. Elliott’s JR Motorsports teammate, Regan Smith, is just 34 points back, followed by Richard Childress Racing‘s Ty Dillon sitting 38 points back.
Sprint Cup Series driver, and Chase contender, Joey Logano complimented Buescher’s composure amid the tight battle.
“He’s been consistent and kind of doing his thing out there,” Logano said of Buescher on Friday. “He’s got some good drivers aimed at him trying to win this championship as well, and it doesn’t seem like the pressure is making him crack yet.”
3. He’s had fun with fans and wants to compete with integrity. “Being under the radar has been fine, but fans are starting to take notice, so they are starting to see one or two T-shirts out there that have a “60” on them, and it’s been neat to build off of. And to build off the wins and try to take that and make it into something constructive for our entire team — to make all these guys see that we are doing everything we can and we’re doing it the right way.”
4. He’s not in a hurry to compete in the Sprint Cup Series full time. Jack Roush has said he expects Buescher to be in a Sprint Cup car sooner rather than later, but the young driver trusts the process and isn’t rushing his ascent.
“I don’t know that I’m fully prepared right now,” Buescher said. “This is a sport where you see way too many people get rushed up into the next level and aren’t ready to perform at that level. There are guys who have been rushed up, weren’t ready and now you don’t hear much from them anymore.
“I had a lot of fun in the Front Row car this year. Our six races went really well, all things considered. From my experience level, I was able to get in it and have it come to me rather quickly. If that’s what 2016 brings (a move to a full-time Sprint Cup ride), I think we’ll be ready for it.”
5. He’s already competing against Cup Series drivers. “It’s been a tough part of this season, trying to run with the Cup guys,” Buescher said, noting he’s one of only two XFINITY Series championship-eligible drivers with more than one win this season.
Buescher has wins at Dover and Iowa. Regan Smith has wins at Mid-Ohio and Dover. XFINITY Series regulars have victories in just eight of the 29 series races this year — that may become nine at Kansas.
“We led a lot of laps here early last year and were extremely fast all weekend. I feel as good about this place as any trying to get another win this year. (Kansas) is a place where we can definitely go gain and possibly get another win.”