James Buescher 14th at the Milwaukee Mile, 6/21/08

[NickHolt]

June 23, 200 - A second-straight 14th place finish for Buescher

 

WEST ALLIS, Wisc. (June 21, 2008) - Returning to the No. 32 after a strong run at Kentucky Speedway the weekend before, James Buescher was ready to take on The Milwaukee Mile. Buescher used two practice sessions to reacquaint himself with the tight cornered one-mile track. He put the No. 32 ABF/FOE Camry in the 24th starting spot but didn’t stay there for long. Despite battling changing conditions in the race car, Buescher kept his Camry in the top-20 all night. In the closing laps of the race, Buescher worked his way to the 14th position and when the checkered flag fell, he captured his second top-15 finish in a row.

 

Working on the set-up of the car in two practice sessions on Saturday morning, Buescher felt confident heading into qualifying. Putting the No. 32 in the 24th starting spot, Buescher was more than ready to get the 250-lap event underway. When the green flag dropped, he didn’t waste any time working his way to the front. By lap five, Buescher took over the 19th spot.

 

Reporting that the car was a little loose on entry, Buescher was in need of minor adjustments to stay competitive. The caution flag flew on lap 19 giving Buescher a chance to hit pit road. He pulled the No. 32 into the pit box on lap 20, taking four fresh tires, fuel and a track bar adjustment. He restarted 21st.

 

During the next green flag run, Buescher used patience to work his way back to the front. By lap 51, the ABF/FOE Camry reached the 11th position. Knocking on the door of the top-10, Buescher was still reporting a loose on entry condition. When the caution came out on lap 54, Buescher once again hit pit road for additional adjustments. Taking four tires, fuel and a wedge adjustment, he restarted 13th.

 

Just after the green flag flew, Buescher made the pass for the 12th position. He radioed his team that the adjustments were helping and the car felt neutral but that he needed a little grip. When the caution flag came out on lap 84, crew chief, Trent Owens called Buescher to pit road. Taking a gamble to give his driver track position, Owens opted not to put on tires, and only called for a wedge adjustment and fuel on the stop. All the other competitors opted to take tires so Buescher won the race off pit road and restarted the race as the leader.

 

Leading for two laps, Buescher could not hold off the cars with fresher tires behind him. He got shuffled back to the 19th position and even lost a lap before the caution came out again on lap 149. Being the first car a lap down, Buescher got the “Lucky Dog” and got back on the lead lap. Bringing the No.32 to pit road on lap 151, he picked up four fresh tires, fuel and no adjustments. He restarted 19th.

 

During the following green flag run, Buescher reported developing a tight off condition but continued to hold his own running in the 17th position. When the caution came out on lap 204, Buescher brought the No. 32 to pit road for one final time the following lap. Taking four tires, fuel and a track bar adjustment, he restarted 16th.

 

Determined to pick up additional spots in the final 45 laps of the race, Buescher stayed focused and hit his marks each and every lap. By lap 244 he reached the 14th position and held onto that spot until the checkered flag fell just six laps later. Finishing 14th, he picked up his third top-20 finish in three career Nationwide Series starts.