RFK Racing dominates Watkins Glen race as Chris Buescher, Ryan Preece, and Brad Keselowski demonstrated exceptional performance on Sunday at the renowned New York road course, with each team leading laps and collecting valuable stage points throughout the competition. The race, held at Watkins Glen International, featured thrilling strategy calls, determined driving, and remarkable comebacks, underscoring RFK Racing’s current form and ambitions for the remainder of the season.
Chris Buescher sets early pace, defends Watkins Glen victory
Chris Buescher, last season’s Watkins Glen winner, returned with determination as the driver of the BuildSubmarines.com Ford, hoping to defend his 2024 crown and reinforce his team’s playoff position. After starting 12th, Buescher rapidly advanced into the top ten within five laps, showcasing the kind of speed and racecraft that made his previous victory a highlight of the year. Strategic calls kept him on track while many competitors pitted late in Stage One, allowing Buescher to storm to the front and capture the Stage One victory, earning an important playoff point in the process.
Buescher’s front-running momentum carried into Stage Two as he once again stayed out to lead at the green flag. Although he aimed to stretch fuel mileage before making his stop, the car’s rear grip faded, leading to a pit stop that shuffled him back to 31st. Undeterred, Buescher made the most out of his fresher tires, fighting his way back to 15th by the time a late caution period interrupted the run. He ultimately finished the second stage in 13th, keeping his chances intact for the closing segment.
In the final stage, the No. 17 team’s fuel and pit strategy was once again in play. Restarting ninth, Buescher and teammate Ryan Preece pitted together on lap 54, and after rejoining deep in the field, both began their march forward as pit cycles developed. With 24 laps left, Buescher had climbed to 11th, and by the last 14 laps, he found himself chasing Shane Van Gisbergen for the lead—the same rival he famously dueled one season prior. Although Buescher was unable to reclaim victory, he executed a convincing defense of his 2024 win, finishing third.
“I’m really proud of everybody, to bring this BuildSubmarines.com Mustang back here and have this kind of speed,”
—Chris Buescher, Driver
“We had a really fast race car again, just definitely took the opportunity to capitalize on some big stage points there early. Still got back up into second there and was making some pretty good headway. But, just used it up really hard trying to get by a couple cars and get to that track position, and it fell off pretty hard there at the end.”
—Chris Buescher, Driver
Ryan Preece pushes forward with aggressive strategy and consistent finish
Ryan Preece, piloting the Mohawk Northeast Ford, built on last year’s career-best ninth place at Watkins Glen, continuing his streak of strong finishes since joining RFK Racing. Starting 17th, Preece steadily advanced in the opening stages, aided by strategic calls to stay out on track while others pitted. This approach propelled him forward, and he ended Stage One on the podium with a third-place finish, collecting key stage points to strengthen his season’s campaign.
Continuing his momentum, Preece began Stage Two on the front row, briefly seizing the race lead on lap 24. After a scheduled stop on lap 30 dropped him down the order, he utilized fresh tires to climb swiftly back toward the front end. By the end of the stage, Preece had fought into the top ten once again, securing tenth and earning more vital points. His no-stop approach between stages allowed him to resume in sixth as the final segment began, and his pace carried him up to fifth as he pursued Christopher Bell for position. Despite running strong on worn tires, a pit stop on lap 54, required for a full fuel load, resulted in a lengthy drop to 37th. Nevertheless, Preece demonstrated resilience, capitalizing on pit cycles and working back toward the top ten to ultimately bring home 13th place—a result that did not necessarily reflect his strength earlier in the race.
Brad Keselowski’s strategy foiled by misfortune after leading late
Brad Keselowski, in the Nexlizet Ford, entered Watkins Glen fresh off multiple top-five results and a growing sense of momentum as he aimed to solidify a playoff berth. Rolling off 16th, Keselowski quickly gained positions in the opening lap, but employed a conservative approach early, focusing on car preservation and patiently waiting for the optimal strategy window. A timely stop on lap 16 meant he lost track position late in Stage One but prepared him to rise when others cycled through pit lane, resulting in a 21st-place stage finish.
During Stage Two, the plan started to take shape. Running 19th, Keselowski stayed on track during a caution while many others pitted, which elevated him to 15th for the restart. As pit stops began shuffling the field, he ascended into the top five and held on to claim fifth place in the segment, capturing important stage points. The final stage saw Keselowski pit during the stage break, dropping him to 27th, but he quickly advanced as the race developed. Remaining on his planned strategy, he gradually raced up into third by lap 64 and ascended to second with 25 laps to go. On older tires, Keselowski managed to take the lead at lap 7, making his last pit stop at lap 74. After rejoining in 22nd, expectations were high for another charge as pit sequences played out. Unfortunately, a flat left rear tire struck, forcing another unscheduled pit stop and resulting in a disappointing 31st-place finish, despite his strong run throughout the day.
RFK Racing’s team effort signals strong championship intent
The collective performance at Watkins Glen represented a showcase of RFK Racing’s depth and race management, as all three drivers—Chris Buescher, Ryan Preece, and Brad Keselowski—demonstrated race-winning speed, strategic thinking, and resilience following adversity. Each led laps, capitalized on strategy, and showed capacity to fight back from setbacks. Buescher’s solid third-place finish was complimented by Preece’s charge through the field and Keselowski’s front-running stint, even though luck eluded him at the finish. These results, amassed through coordinated team tactics and decisive in-car decisions, help establish RFK Racing’s identity as a formidable force this season.
As the NASCAR season progresses, RFK Racing’s demonstrated pace and ability to lead at crucial moments positions them well in the hunt for championship points, while their ability to adapt strategies in dynamic race situations suggests further strong performances in the upcoming rounds. Watkins Glen proved that RFK Racing is a team ready to contest for wins and consistently challenge the series’ biggest competitors—keeping both drivers and teams firmly in focus for fans and rivals alike.
