James Buescher has tough NCWTS race at Homestead

[NickHolt]

James Buescher - No. 31 Deft Finishings Chevrolet - Homestead-Miami Speedway – Ford 200

 

Homestead, Florida (November 21, 2010) - James Buescher and the No. 31 Turner Motorsports team rolled into the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season finale in South Florida with high hopes to bring home a strong finish. The Texas native had a solid run going until a cut tire late in the event relegated him a 19th place result.

 

The No. 31 Chevrolet had a new look for the race at the Homestead-Miami Speedway as Deft Finishings, a leader in the coating industry, adorned the sides of the 3400-pound race truck. The team spent Thursday’s practice sessions trying to get their machine to handle. Buescher radioed to crew chief, Michael Shelton, explaining the truck was loose on entry into the corners and tight through the center. The No. 31 Deft Finishings crew went to work making changes to both the front and rear suspension components hoping to dial the truck in for Friday night’s 134-lap event. By the end of final practice, Buescher was third on the speed chart and was very optimistic about his chances for a strong run.

 

When the green flag flew over the 36-truck field, Buescher was on a mission towards the front. By lap 20, he had already picked up 12 positions on the race track. He radioed into his Deft Finishings crew explaining the truck was still a tick loose on initial entry but he felt like his truck was coming to him.

 

On lap 28, the caution flag was displayed to the field for the first time and Buescher prepared to bring his Deft Finishings Chevrolet Silverado to the attention of his crew. He rolled into his pit box on lap 30 for service. The team went to work changing all four tires and filling their machine with Sunoco race fuel. They also made a slight air pressure adjustment to the right side tires in hopes of helping the loose handling condition Buescher was feeling. The team had a lightning quick stop picking up four spots on pit road.

 

The race was again put under green flag conditions on lap 34 with Buescher positioned in the 10th spot. He again radioed into his crew on lap 55 explaining the truck was better on corner entry but was now too tight in the center of the corners which was hindering him from really being aggressive with the accelerator. Shelton and the No. 31 Deft Finishings Chevrolet crew started to discuss what changes they were going to make to their machine on the next round of pit stops.

 

When the caution flag was again displayed to the field on lap 74, the No. 31 Turner Motorsports team prepared to see their driver on pit road. Buescher slid into the pit stall on the very next lap taking on four fresh Goodyear tires and fuel. The team also made another air pressure adjustment to their machine hoping to help Buescher move towards the front. The team had another fantastic stop picking up two more valuable positions on pit road.

 

The race was again put under the green flag on lap 80, and Buescher was on his way towards the front. Four laps later, he had his Deft Finishings Chevrolet on the outside of a three wide battle when the No. 60 got loose and clipped his left front fender. The damage to the No. 31 machine was not significant but was affecting the handling characteristics of Buescher’s Silverado.

 

When the caution flag was displayed to the field four laps later, the No. 31 crew prepared to see their truck on pit road for repairs. The team feverishly made the appropriate repairs to the truck without losing a lap to the leaders.

 

Buescher restarted the 134-lap event in the 22nd position on lap 92, but was bound and determined to get his Deft Finishings Chevrolet back to the front. He radioed into his team on lap 100 saying the truck was again loose handling on entry into the corners. The loose condition was not hurting his move forward as he was still running top-five lap times and was passing his competitors. By lap 110, Buescher had again cracked the top-10 and it looked as if the team was going to finish the season on a strong note.

 

Unfortunately, on lap 126, Buescher radioed into his crew saying he had a cut left rear tire. He came to pit road under the caution flag, taking on four fresh tires as well as enough fuel to make it to the finish of the event.

 

Buescher restarted the race on lap 130 in the 21st spot and did all he could in the closing laps to pick up as many spots as possible. The Deft Finishings Chevrolet crossed the finish line in the 19th spot.

 

“It was a tough night for the Deft Finishings Chevrolet,” said Buescher after the 201-mile event. “We had a good truck but when the 60 truck clipped our fender it took our truck out of the race (??). The team did a great job getting it repaired but it just wasn’t the same. I am looking forward to 2011. We have a great group of guys at Turner Motorsports and we are all poised to make a run at the championship.”