Chris Buescher Opens up on Struggles at Homestead: “We Were Definitely Faster Than the 11, But…”

Key Highlights

• Chris Buescher felt his No. 17 Ford was clearly faster than Denny Hamlin’s No. 11 car at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
• Despite superior speed, Buescher struggled to pass due to Hamlin’s effective defensive driving tactics.
• Buescher expressed frustration over the inability to capitalize fully on the car’s improved performance after adjustments.
• His sixth-place finish was the best among RFK Racing drivers, highlighting a strong performance overall.
• Buescher praised his team’s efforts and adjustments that significantly enhanced the car’s pace during the race.

Chris Buescher’s Performance at Homestead-Miami

Although Chris Buescher secured a sixth-place finish at Homestead-Miami Speedway, he encountered difficulties attempting to advance further during the race.

Despite showcasing competitive speed within his vehicle, Buescher struggled to effectively execute passing tactics against Denny Hamlin. He described his race car as “definitely faster“ than Hamlin’s No. 11, indicating that his difficulties were not due to a lack of speed or mechanical issues.

Instead, Buescher’s inability to progress further was primarily attributed to Hamlin’s proficient defensive driving strategies. Throughout their on-track exchanges, Hamlin consistently positioned his car in ways that blocked Buescher’s intended passing lanes, greatly impeding Buescher’s forward momentum.

The tactical selection of driving lines and timely defensive movements by Hamlin effectively neutralized Buescher’s speed advantage. Consequently, despite the clear potential exhibited by his car’s performance capability, Buescher remained unable to overtake Hamlin, ultimately restricting his advancement to a sixth-place finishing position at the end of the event.

RFK Racing’s Strong Run at Homestead

RFK Racing delivered a solid thorough performance at Homestead-Miami Speedway, highlighted by Chris Buescher’s sixth-place finish. Throughout the event, Buescher set a strong pace, consistently running with the leaders and ultimately concluding the race as the highest-finishing driver for RFK Racing. This result emphasized the team’s competitive potential and indicated improvement from previous outings.

“We used this Kroger/Farm Rich Ford Mustang up today, but it was a pretty fun day. We made some progress on it, but we still have some tweaks to be better. We’ll work on that, but this was a pretty solid Homestead given where we were the last go-round.”

“The team made some good adjustments and we had a strong restart and was able to hang on. I wish we could have gotten one more.” – Chris Buescher

Chris Buescher has 3 top 10s in 4 races in 2025. Can he keep it going?

“Early in the season it’s hard to get a true read. I’m proud of what we’ve done but it’s hard to say where we are on the whole,” he tells @prnbrett.

— PRN (@PRNlive) March 15, 2025

In addition to Buescher’s notable performance, teammate Ryan Preece secured a top-10 finish, crossing the line in ninth position. Preece’s steady run contributed positively to the overall team effort, demonstrating RFK Racing’s capability to field multiple competitive cars.

However, Brad Keselowski, co-owner and driver of the organization, experienced a more challenging day, finishing in 26th place. Despite Keselowski’s struggles, RFK Racing’s collective results at Homestead-Miami Speedway, with two cars inside the top ten, reflected positively on their preparation, equipment quality, and execution during this demanding NASCAR Cup Series race.

Chris Buescher’s Reaction to His Race and Denny Hamlin’s Defense

Chris Buescher commended his team’s efforts following his sixth-place finish at Homestead-Miami Speedway, highlighting the effective adjustments made to his No. 17 Ford during the race.

Although Buescher acknowledged the apparent improvement in his car’s performance and praised the team’s responsiveness, he expressed frustration over his difficulty in overtaking Denny Hamlin.

“We were definitely faster than the 11, but we were kind of stuck in one lane and it’s the lane he [Denny Hamlin] wanted to run too. I just couldn’t find a lane to get by, but, overall, it’s good to be that fast down here. I’m excited.” – Chris Buescher

Despite feeling his car was clearly stronger, Buescher admitted that Hamlin’s defensive driving presented a challenging obstacle, making passing tactics difficult to execute.

Ultimately, while Buescher expressed satisfaction with his car’s capability and his team’s strategy, he acknowledged Hamlin’s skillful defense effectively neutralized his speed advantage.

RFK Racing’s Season So Far and Outlook

Through the initial portion of the season, RFK Racing has shown mixed results across its three-car lineup, achieving several significant performances but remaining inconsistent in general.

Chris Buescher’s performance at Homestead represented his fourth top-10 finish this year, highlighting moments of competitiveness. His best result so far came at Phoenix, where he secured a fifth-place finish. Despite these achievements, Buescher himself remains uncertain about RFK Racing’s overall performance level, acknowledging room for improvement.

“Early in the season it’s hard to get a true read. I’m proud of what we’ve done but it’s hard to say where we are on the whole.” – – Chris Buescher

https://twitter.com/PRNlive/status/1900964430415868245

Teammate Ryan Preece also contributed to the team’s highlights by recording multiple top-10 finishes, further emphasizing RFK Racing’s potential.

In contrast, veteran driver Brad Keselowski continues to struggle, unable to consistently match the pace of his teammates.

This season marked RFK Racing’s expansion to three full-time entries, supported significantly by substantial sponsorship from Kroger.

Moving forward, the organization aims to address inconsistencies and build upon its strengths to establish a more competitive and reliable presence each race weekend.

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News in Brief: Chris Buescher Opens up on Struggles at Homestead

Chris Buescher exhibited strong speed during the race at Homestead-Miami Speedway, indicating that he was “definitely faster” than Denny Hamlin, but encountered difficulty completing passes. Although RFK Racing showed competitiveness at Homestead, Buescher acknowledged Hamlin’s effective defensive driving limited his opportunities. Despite these setbacks, RFK Racing continues to build on its positive momentum this season, and Buescher remains optimistic about the team’s ongoing progress and their ability to compete at a high level.

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