Texan James Buescher survives for 15th place at Talladega

[NickHolt]

James Buescher Survives Halloween Havoc for a 15th-Place Finish at Talladega; The Raybestos Rookie of the Year Contender Competes in Top-10 for Majority of Race

 

TALLADEGA, Ala. (November 2, 2009) – With the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) competing on Halloween day for the second consecutive year, James Buescher and his No. 10 MaxxForce International Ford F-150 team were prepared for anything to happen at the unpredictable Talladega Superspeedway. Buescher piloted his Circle Bar Racing entry into the top-10, where the 19-year-old ran for the majority of the race, while showing patience during the 98-lap event. Inevitability, the “big one” happened on lap 91 and Buescher narrowly had it missed before the rear of his truck was tapped by a fellow competitor. Without much damage, the Texas native continued after minor repairs and came home with a 15th-place finish.

 

For the second consecutive weekend, the start of the Mountain Dew 250 fueled by Fred’s was delayed due to rain showers in the Alabama area. When the green-flag flew, Buescher started the race from the 19th position and quickly raced his way into seventh-place by lap five. As the first caution of the afternoon slowed the field on lap seven for debris, crew chief Jamie Jones called Buescher to pit road for a fuel stop. On the lap 11 restart, the MaxxForce International Ford ran in eighth-place.

 

As the front contenders lined up single-file, Buescher ran in the seventh position, until an outside-line was formed by eventual race winner Kyle Busch and veteran Mike Skinner. Remaining patient and racing smart, Buescher took care of his Ford F-150 and was running in 12th-place when his MaxxForce International crew was preparing for a green-flag fuel stop. Two laps before coming to pit road, a debris caution flew, allowing Buescher to come to pit road for four fresh tires, followed by a fuel stop the next lap.

 

The field went back to green-flag conditions on lap 43, with Buescher scored in the 12th position. Within 11 laps, the Raybestos Rookie of the Year Contender fought his way back into the top-10 and remained there until Buescher tried the high-line on lap 84. Unfortunately, the No. 10 didn’t have much drafting help which pushed back Buescher to 19th-place. Working his way back towards the top-10, the “big one” happened right in front of the MaxxForce Ford. Buescher had the wreck cleared, until another competitor tapped the rear bumper, spinning Buescher around.

 

Jones called Buescher back to pit road for four new tires and minor damage repairs. Since Buescher didn’t hit anything, there was very minimal damage, which allowed the youngster to continue in 13th-place as the field restarted the green-white-checkered finish. Buescher’s truck wouldn’t suck up in the draft as well as it had earlier, which relegated Buescher to a 15th-place finish.

 

“It was okay,” said Buescher after the race. “We just couldn’t do much about it there at the end. I had already rolled out of the throttle and cleared the wreck, but just got right reared by someone not paying attention. There’s not much you can do about it but I’m glad that it didn’t tear up the truck. The MaxxForce international Team and I will head to Texas and see if we can finish out the year strong.”

 

Recording his third consecutive top-15 finish, Buescher remains in the 14th position in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championship point standings. He is currently 118 points behind 13th-place Tayler Malsam and 175 points behind 12th-place Terry Cook.

 

With three races remaining in the 2009 NCWTS season, Buescher and his No. 10 MaxxForce International Ford F-150 team will head to Texas Motor Speedway on Friday, November 6th for the running of the WinStar World Casino 350. The Texas native will look to have a solid finish at “The Great American Speedway!” as SPEED will have live television coverage of the 147-lap race, beginning at 8:30 P.M. Eastern. In addition, select affiliates of MRN Radio and Sirius-XM NASCAR Radio will have the live radio broadcast.