Chris Buescher enters a critical phase in the NASCAR Cup Series as he faces a pivotal playoffs battle at Watkins Glen, with his position on the cutline under increasing pressure. With only three races remaining before the 2025 playoffs commence, the RFK Racing driver and his teammates find themselves locked in a struggle, where every lap at the renowned New York road course could determine their postseason fate.
High Stakes Loom for Buescher and RFK Racing Teammates
Buescher, currently occupying 16th in the playoff standings with a slim 23-point buffer above the cutline, has returned to Watkins Glen with greater urgency than in past seasons. A standout moment from 2024 saw him secure a last-lap win at The Glen, overtaking Shane van Gisbergen in the Carousel, which marked his sixth Cup Series victory and a highlight for RFK Racing. However, the dynamics have changed for 2025, as Buescher arrives still fighting for a playoff berth, unlike the previous year when his postseason hopes had already ended before the Glen weekend.
Speaking ahead of the pivotal race, Buescher recognized the new reality for himself and his fellow contenders, stating,
“The situation was very much the same internally, but the repercussions are different this year. So yes, there’re certainly some differences. We know where we’re at on the fight for a playoff spot. Obviously, the wins are best way to guarantee your way in, but I think at this point we do have to be aware of our bubbles.”
—Chris Buescher, Driver
The competition for playoff positions is particularly fierce this season. Thirteen drivers have already clinched their playoff spots with wins. This leaves only three open places for the remaining hopefuls: Tyler Reddick, with an ample 122-point margin; Alex Bowman, 63 points above the cutline; and Buescher, who faces the most uncertain prospects with just a 23-point advantage ahead of teammate Ryan Preece. These razor-thin margins mean a single race can dramatically shift the driver lineup on the edge of elimination.
As both Buescher and his RFK Racing teammates, including Brad Keselowski and Preece, prepare for the upcoming event, their performance at The Glen will be instrumental in determining their playoff destiny. With so much on the line, the team’s strategy emphasizes not only protecting points but also seizing any opportunity for a race win, the surest way to lock in a playoff slot.
Buescher expressed the team’s mindset as the crucial weekend approached:
“As much as I hate to admit that, it’s where we found ourselves. And as we head into it, I think that for us, we wanna go into this weekend, we wanna go get on track and have really, really solid speed and say, all right, we have a chance to win, let’s focus and let’s make that the case for us.”
—Chris Buescher, Driver
Adding to Watkins Glen‘s challenge are the setbacks experienced by both Buescher and Preece earlier in the season. Buescher was penalized with a 30-point deduction for a rear bumper cover violation at Kansas, while Preece faced a 39-point loss after a Talladega disqualification for an illegal rear spoiler shim count. These penalties now add an extra layer of tension to what is already a high-stakes weekend at RFK Racing, with teammates needing to balance aggressive driving and the necessity of survival through consistency.
Qualifying Results Set the Stage for a Playoff Clash
For the upcoming Go Bowling at The Glen race, Buescher will start from 12th on the grid after a commendable qualifying drive. Teammates Brad Keselowski and Preece will begin further back, in 16th and 17th positions, respectively. Buescher also picked up additional experience during the Mission 176 Truck Series race for ThorSport Racing, finishing 22nd in the No. 66 Ford. The extended seat time on the road course could provide a helpful advantage for his Cup Series run on Sunday.
Watkins Glen has proven to be a consistently strong track for Buescher. With nine Cup races here, he counts one win among three consecutive top-10 finishes, highlighting his capability on challenging road courses. His average finish at the Glen (16.1) underscores his consistency, while in the era of the Next Gen cars, Buescher is tied with Tyler Reddick for recording a series-leading 15 top-10 results in 21 races since the new vehicle debuted.
This year’s race will follow a 90-lap format, with stage breaks at laps 20, 40, and 90, which places extra emphasis on maintaining track position and capitalizing on restart opportunities. Notably, the restart zone has been moved to the entrance of Turn 7, adding a new tactical wrinkle to the already demanding road course circuit. Buescher’s past performances suggest that he is capable of executing under pressure and taking advantage of late-race scenarios; a repeat victory would instantly secure him a playoff berth, but a disappointing result might place his position in jeopardy, potentially allowing Preece or another contender to advance.
Uncertainty Lingers as RFK Racing Fights for Limited Spots
With all three RFK Racing drivers—Buescher, Preece, and Keselowski—hovering near the playoff threshold, the organization faces a tense battle where as few as two spots (or perhaps fewer, if a surprise winner emerges in the final stretch) may be available to the trio. This creates an atmosphere of high anticipation, as the final three Cup Series races will ultimately decide which drivers make the postseason grid. As the pressure intensifies, RFK Racing will need to rely on strategy, teamwork, and the consistency their competitors expect from NASCAR veterans to see how many of their cars will still be in the championship chase come playoff time.
