James Buescher shuffled back to 17th after running up front

[NickHolt]

James Buescher and the No. 31 Turner Motorsports Chevrolet team rolled into the famed Daytona International Speedway sporting the colors of new sponsor AccuDoc Solutions. After the team’s success at the superspeedway races in 2011, the 21-year-old Texas-native was confident he had a machine capable of winning the first race of the 2012 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) schedule.

 

The team spent the two practice sessions on Thursday working with their new teammates Miguel Paludo and Nelson Piquet Jr. The trio immediately shot to the top of the speed chart. Buescher radioed to crew chief, Michael Shelton, explaining the truck was stable on the bottom of the 2.5-mile Daytona International Speedway. At the end of final practice, the AccuDoc Solutions Chevrolet Silverado was fifth on the leaderboard and Buescher was confident in his chances for a win on Friday night.

 

When the green flag flew over the 36-truck field under almost perfect conditions on Friday evening, Buescher was on the inside of the second row behind his two teammates Paludo and Piquet Jr.

 

During the opening segment of the race, Buescher moved into the runner-up position and kept his machine on the low side of the high-banked race track pushing his Turner Motorsports teammates.

 

On lap 46, Buescher powered to the race lead again started to click off laps.

 

When the caution flag was displayed to the field on lap 61 for an on-track incident, Buescher prepared to bring his AccuDoc Solutions Chevrolet down the pit lane. He rolled into his pit stall five laps later for the service. The pit crew went to work filling their Chevrolet Silverado truck with Sunoco racing fuel and sent Buescher back out onto the racing surface.

 

Buescher led the 36-truck field to the restart on lap 68. He knew he would have to be patient as well as find a drafting partner to keep his Chevrolet out front. He and teammate Piquet Jr., worked together for the next 20 laps keeping their machines on the bottom side of the race track pulling the rest of the field around the racing surface.

 

It looked as if Turner Motorsports was going to capture its first NCWTS victory, but a number of late-race cautions and three attempts at a green-white-checkered finish spoiled the team’s chances and Buescher crossed the finish line in the 17th position.

 

“I am so proud of my AccuDoc Solutions team,” commented Buescher after the event. “We had a very fast truck but got shuffled out at the end. We just need to keep our heads held high and go to Martinsville with the same amount of speed and confidence.”

 

 

The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series takes a five week hiatus before returning to action at Martinsville Speedway on Saturday March 31st The Kroger 250 can be seen live on SPEED with race coverage beginning at 2 pm EST. The event can also be heard live on MRN Radio as well as Sirius Satellite Radio, channel 90.