Chris Buescher on race manipulation has become a central topic in NASCAR circles, as the Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing driver openly addressed the complex issue ahead of the upcoming Cup playoff race at Talladega Superspeedway. With concerns about team communications and official scrutiny intensifying, Buescher’s perspective offers an inside look at what drivers and race officials are facing during this high-stakes season.
In recent weeks, the Cup Series has been gripped by discussions around race manipulation, rewarding teams or drivers willing to take risks with sneaky strategies to get ahead. Buescher, known for his honest answers, did not shy from the topic, explaining that creativity, even when controversial, has been ingrained in NASCAR’s history for decades.
Buescher Addresses the Pressure and Scrutiny from Officials
During his recent media availability, Chris Buescher responded to questions about the gray areas of what can be communicated over team radios. Although no longer in playoff contention, the Texas native reflected on how certain remarks might be interpreted by NASCAR officials.
“I think it did make a difference,”
Chris Buescher, Driver
Buescher referred to NASCAR officials’ warnings following last weekend’s race in Las Vegas, acknowledging that the message about potential race manipulation has reached teams’ competitive departments. According to him, the implication is clear: tampering with the integrity of the race carries risks that no team or driver would welcome.
“I know that (the topic of race manipulation) has made it into the media and I think the message we’ve gotten is clear enough to say, ‘Do it at your own risk, but you’re not gonna like the result? Ultimately, I think that’s fair.”
Chris Buescher, Driver
Remembering Past Incidents that Raised Concerns
Buescher pointed back to a troubling incident at Martinsville last season, where racing tactics left him suspicious about the motives behind certain moves. He described a situation where cars were strategically blocking almost the entire racetrack, and at other races, some drivers eased off to avoid pushing rows during speedway events. For Buescher, these actions prompt uncomfortable questions regarding intent and enforcement, noting the fine line that officials must walk between policing fair play and understanding legitimate racing issues.
“We had a terrible scenario at Martinsville last year with cars just riding and blocking basically the entire racetrack,”
Chris Buescher, Driver
He added that such moments challenge officials to determine whether actions are deliberate manipulation or mere balance problems on the track.
“It’s a hard line for anybody to police and you can always say that balance was an issue.”
Chris Buescher, Driver
Team Communication and How Words Shape Perceptions
The meanings behind radio chatter are also a point of tension. Buescher recounted advice given to him during a past race, which was meant solely for his own benefit but could easily be misunderstood by NASCAR’s monitors or outside observers. He used an example from the ROVAL, where the intention of saving tires for a possible late-race restart was misconstrued elsewhere as a possible attempt at creating an unfair advantage.
“I heard one of the things that came from the ROVAL was something that I actually got told in a purely selfish 17 team state of mind was, ‘Alright, save tires here. Don’t push forward in case we have a late-race restart.’ And then I hear that was one of the things that somebody else said later on that almost got them in really big trouble,”
Chris Buescher, Driver
He made clear that, for his crew, the strategy was aimed at maximizing their own performance rather than aiding other teams, underscoring just how delicate and ambiguous referee decisions can become.
“So I’m sitting here like, ‘Well, alright, we realistically wanted to make sure we had some amount of tire race (left) for a late-race restart.’ That was not to help anybody other than ourselves, so it’s certainly a hard place to officiate from. But I think that the warning is loud enough and clear enough that nobody wants to be on the other side of NASCAR having to make a judgement call.”
Chris Buescher, Driver
The Ongoing Challenge NASCAR Faces
Buescher’s comments illustrate the uneasy atmosphere pervading NASCAR as the series attempts to clamp down on manipulation without stifling legitimate tactics. With the memory of past incidents fresh and warnings echoing ahead of crucial races like Talladega, drivers and teams must navigate not only the physical demands of top-tier racing but also the ever-watchful gaze of officials. The challenge for NASCAR is to refine its approach so that it maintains fairness while recognizing the complexities drivers and crew face during high-stakes events.
This tense environment sets the stage for further scrutiny in future races, as teams weigh the risks and rewards of their strategies, and NASCAR continues to define where clever tactics end and manipulation begins.
