RFK Racing heads into the Bristol II NASCAR Cup Series race on Saturday, September 13, with hopes high for drivers Chris Buescher and Brad Keselowski as they look to leverage their strong season performances at the iconic Bristol Motor Speedway in Tennessee. This RFK Racing Bristol II race preview highlights key stats, team strengths, and the historical backdrop as both drivers aim to repeat and expand on their past successes at “The Last Great Colosseum”.
Key Details for the Bristol II Race
The Bristol II event marks a crucial night for RFK Racing, with the race scheduled for Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET, running 500 laps (266.5 miles) in the penultimate round of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs. Fans can catch the action live on USA Network and radio coverage on PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, Channel 90. The weekend builds anticipation from Friday’s Cup Practice and Qualifying sessions towards the main event on Saturday night in Bristol, Tennessee.
RFK Racing’s Standout Season and Playoff Push
With the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs in full swing, the annual Bristol Night Race is especially significant, serving as the last race in the opening playoff round. Jack Roush, founder of RFK Racing, boasts an impressive record at Bristol with 19 wins across all series, including 12 in the Cup Series—second only to the team’s success at Michigan.
Chris Buescher has maintained remarkable consistency, posting the third highest average starting position (11.8) this season, backed by 11 starts inside the top 10. Buescher is among just five drivers to have scored 15 or more top-10 finishes this year, and his average finish of 13.8 is the fifth best among current Cup drivers. Recent form is solid, with three consecutive top-10s at Daytona, Darlington, and WWTR, plus four top-10s in his last five races overall.
Brad Keselowski has also shown strong pace, achieving four top-10s in his last eight races, with a pair of top-fives and an average finish of 13.5. Keselowski moved up to 22nd in points after earning stage points and a 17th-place finish at Gateway last outing.
For Ryan Preece, this season has been career-defining, with personal bests in top-five (three) and top-10 finishes (ten), and he’s landed inside the top-20 in 13 of his last 14 races.
Meet the RFK Racing Teams at Bristol
Brad Keselowski pilots the No. 6 car, with Jeremy Bullins as crew chief and Castrol as the team partner. Chris Buescher drives the No. 17 car, supported by crew chief Scott Graves and sponsored by Body Guard. Ryan Preece completes the trio for RFK, wheeling the No. 60 car under the guidance of Derrick Finley and Kroger/SToK as partners.
Brad Keselowski’s Track Record and Experience
Brad Keselowski will make his 29th Cup Series start at Bristol this weekend. The veteran has three Cup wins at this track (2011, 2012, 2020), ten top-10s, and two pole positions earned in 2020. Keselowski enters this event with a 16.2 average finish at Bristol and has started in the top 10 for five of the previous eight races here, including 16 total top-10 starts over 28 prior events. His Bristol resume also includes leading 1,014 laps, second only to his totals at Martinsville and Richmond, and scoring victories at every level: Cup, Xfinity (one win), and Trucks (one win).
While he finished 16th at Bristol earlier this spring and 26th last fall, Keselowski’s history includes notable finishes in previous fall races, with results ranging from third and sixth to eighth. His tenacity and experience at this venue make him a continuous threat every time the Cup Series returns to the high-banked short track.
Chris Buescher’s Rapid Rise at Bristol
Chris Buescher approaches his 18th career Cup start at Bristol with momentum on his side. After securing a breakthrough victory at the track in 2022—where he surged to the front from a 20th-place start and led a career-high 169 laps—Buescher now has five top-10s here, including three in his last five Bristol races. His best qualifying effort so far is a 12th-place start in 2016, and his overall average starting spot is 23.5 at this venue. Buescher also demonstrated his prowess in the Xfinity Series, collecting three top-10 finishes from five starts, including a third place in 2015.
Ryan Preece’s Steady Progress
Ryan Preece is set for his tenth Cup Series outing at Bristol, coming off a personal-best seventh-place result here in last year’s fall race. Earlier in the current season, Preece started 29th but climbed to finish 20th. He has a pair of top-10 finishes (ninth in fall 2020) and holds a 14.9 average finish at Bristol, which is his best at any track in the Cup Series. Preece achieved his top qualifying position (14th) in his previous fall appearance at this track and typically starts mid-pack, averaging 24.4 on the grid.
RFK Racing’s Bristol Legacy
Since making its Bristol debut with a runner-up finish in April 1988, RFK Racing has seen considerable success here, earning a total of 12 Cup victories. Standouts like Mark Martin, Kurt Busch, Matt Kenseth, Carl Edwards, and Chris Buescher have each taken RFK cars to the winner’s circle at the fabled short track. Notably, RFK swept Bristol in 2003 and secured at least one Cup win every season from 2002 through 2008, showcasing impressive hot streaks and long-term competitiveness.
The team has started 228 Cup races at Bristol, notching 53 top-five and 93 top-10 finishes, and leading more than 3,600 laps. In addition to its Cup wins, RFK’s ford/”>Ford entries have also scored 15 runner-up performances across the Cup, Xfinity, and Truck Series.
Historical Wins at Bristol for RFK Racing
Among the organization‘s memorable Cup triumphs at Bristol are Mark Martin’s wins in 1993 and 1998; Kurt Busch’s four-victory run between 2002 and 2004; Matt Kenseth’s trophies in 2005 and 2006; Carl Edwards’ successes in 2007, 2008, and 2014; and Chris Buescher’s recent 2022 triumph. The team’s Bristol domination also includes victories across the Xfinity and Truck Series by drivers like Burton, Ragan, and Martin, further enhancing its status at this storied track.
Where the Drivers Stand Heading Into Bristol II
Entering this pivotal playoff race, Chris Buescher sits 17th in the points, while Ryan Preece is just one spot back in 18th after the reseeding process. Brad Keselowski occupies the 22nd position, looking to capitalize on recent momentum. The trio’s latest results saw Buescher finish 9th at Gateway, Preece in 13th, and Keselowski in 17th, setting up a dramatic showdown for Bristol as the playoff field narrows.
The Road Ahead for RFK Racing
As RFK Racing prepares for another electrifying contest at “Thunder Valley,” the team’s rich Bristol heritage, current form, and strong lineup of Buescher, Keselowski, and Preece position them as serious contenders for a landmark victory. With a record of peaking at just the right moments in the playoffs, RFK Racing aims to capitalize on its proven Bristol magic, pushing hard towards advancement and championship contention. The coming race will not only test driver skill and team tactics but could also serve as a defining chapter in the organization’s continuing legacy at one of NASCAR’s most challenging and revered short tracks.
