Chris Buescher has voiced strong concerns about the current NASCAR playoff structure, arguing that it fails to reward drivers who are consistent throughout the season. With the NASCAR community debating the fairness of the championship format during the 2025 season, Buescher’s comments highlight ongoing dissatisfaction as the sport looks toward possible rule changes for 2026. The topic of Chris Buescher NASCAR consistency comments has become particularly prominent following his remarks ahead of the critical Martinsville playoffs race.
The RFK Racing driver, who pilots the No.17 Ford Mustang, shared his perspective just before the last event before the playoff cutoff. Despite finishing in the top 10 sixteen times during the season, Buescher found himself on the outside of the playoff picture. This situation brought new attention to the playoff criteria, as his steady performance did not translate into playoff eligibility.
The debate about consistency in the sport was further amplified by Buescher openly comparing his own performance with that of other drivers. He believes that while his results have been solid—and at times impressive across various types of tracks—the current playoff rules do not appreciate regular strong finishes unless they are converted into race wins. Buescher’s experience underlines the frustration felt by drivers who miss out on postseason racing despite performing reliably all year.
“Consistency isn’t rewarded very well in this format, so, for us, we’ve been good. We haven’t quite been great and we’ve got a couple little steps to take here or there, but we’ve certainly been able to be a lot better rounded and enabled to be more competitive at any different style of racetrack and that’s been a lot of fun, whether it’s been short tracks, road courses, superspeedways, and mile-and-a-halves…”
Chris Buescher said via speedwaydigest.com.
As NASCAR weighs changes to its championship approach for the coming seasons, voices like Buescher’s add pressure for an integrated system that gives greater value to consistent, quality racing across the full calendar. The current environment, according to Buescher and many others in the sport, prioritizes race wins and dramatic moments over steady, top-level performance each weekend.
The Performance Journey of RFK Racing and Chris Buescher in 2025
Analyzing the performance of RFK Racing in 2025, Chris Buescher has made it clear that while the season brought improvement, there was a gap between their abilities and the major teams dominating the circuit. The Ford-backed No.17 team became more adaptable, showing they could compete on short tracks, road courses, superspeedways, and mile-and-a-half tracks, but the step from good to great was elusive throughout the year.
Buescher’s insights reflect a belief that the incremental progress of the team shouldn’t be overlooked, even when compared against stronger and occasionally dominating efforts from organizations like Team Penske, JGR, and HMS during the season. The driver’s own record of sixteen top-ten finishes without a playoff berth illustrates the unpredictability and competitiveness embedded in NASCAR’s current postseason system.
“We’re close on all of them, and some are a little stronger than others, but we just have this small step to take forward across the board to be in the hunt to win consistently, I guess, is when it really starts to pay off. So, there’s nothing to be ashamed about.”
Chris Buescher added.
While RFK Racing consistently ran at the front, they were unable to translate speed and strategy into race victories, a key factor under the present playoff guidelines. Their approach throughout the year allowed the team to remain competitive at nearly every event, yet they struggled to reach the upper echelon occupied by consistently winning teams. According to the veteran driver, the challenge now lies in converting regular solid performances into wins that secure postseason positions and contend for championships.
Buescher Reflects on the Season’s Ups and Downs
Delving deeper into his NASCAR journey this season, Buescher evaluated RFK Racing’s trajectory and recognized it as “good”—though short of their aspirations. For Buescher, moments of competitiveness were tempered by the inability to sustain momentum from the early stretch of the campaign. He believes both a drop-off in form during later races and episodes of misfortune hindered their quest to move up the rankings and mount a championship challenge.
“You know what, at the end of the day it’s not been a great season. It’s been a good season. The best way I’ve been able to put that is we’ve had moments that have been really good. We’ve been very consistent, but we have a step to take to be very consistently fighting for wins and that’s the big thing.”
Chris Buescher said.
Buescher further detailed how RFK Racing’s early performances were among the best they had shown in recent memory, helping maintain confidence. However, as the season wore on, the team could not maintain that high bar set during the opening races. Despite facing difficult stretches and setbacks, Buescher maintains pride in the overall effort and sees the foundation laid for further improvement in the future.
“We weren’t able to do that, obviously, but also, I think what was good for us was the first eight races were way more competitive than we had been in the past also, so we did not have this period where we felt like we were behind…have had our share of bad luck, but it’s been a good year. It’s just not been absolutely everything we wanted it to be.”
Chris Buescher added.
The team’s run, filled with positive development yet checked by lack of race wins, fits broader patterns observed in the 2025 NASCAR season. Organizations like Trackhouse Racing, particularly in road course events with Shane van Gisbergen, have eclipsed many on certain weekends. Meanwhile, established giants such as JGR, HMS, and Penske continue to set a formidable standard, making it challenging for others like RFK Racing to catch up consistently across all disciplines.
The State of Competition Among NASCAR Teams
NASCAR’s 2025 season has proven to be one of fierce rivalry, with leading teams like Team Penske, Hendrick Motorsports (HMS), and Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) outperforming much of the field in both speed and strategic execution. Trackhouse Racing, with Shane van Gisbergen excelling in road course events, added another dimension of competition, narrowing opportunities for teams such as RFK Racing to score wins.
With each event, the pressure to claim race victories increased, as the playoff format placed a greater premium on outright wins. This remains particularly relevant for drivers like Chris Buescher, who continuously found themselves among the fastest in practice and qualifying but struggled to take the final step to victory lane. The margin for error in NASCAR remains razor-thin, with fortunes often decided by brief moments on track or the consequences of bad luck at crucial points in the season.
As the year progressed and the playoff field took shape, Buescher and his team appeared poised to build momentum for 2026. Their improved versatility and ability to compete on different circuits provide optimism, despite a postseason absence in 2025. The developments and competitive spirit shown by RFK Racing offer a foundation as the organization seeks to close the gap to the frontrunners.
Looking Ahead: Changes and Hope for Consistency
The reaction from the NASCAR community to Buescher’s comments shows a wider demand for a format that fairly balances winning with rewarding those who consistently perform near the front. With NASCAR leadership having already acknowledged these concerns and expressing intent to review the playoff system for 2026, participants like Chris Buescher hope to see a realignment to better honor season-long efforts and achievements.
Buescher’s candid remarks and his team’s steady progression in 2025 provide a blueprint for aspiring contenders aiming for future postseason success. If NASCAR can develop a new system that values both consistency and victories, drivers who diligently accumulate strong results—rather than those with sporadic wins—may finally see reliable accolades for their perseverance and skill. For now, the debate over the merits of the current playoff format remains one of the sport’s most pressing issues, as teams and drivers look ahead with determination to improve and have their efforts fully recognized in seasons to come.
