NEWTON, Iowa — RFK Racing has two drivers fighting for a NASCAR Cup Series playoff spot on points.
That would be great — except they’re fighting against each other.
With three spots currently available by points, Chris Buescher leads Ryan Preece by 23 points for the final spot. If there is a new winner in the final three races, they could both potentially miss the playoffs.
Chris Buescher waves to fans as he walks onstage during driver intros prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Iowa Corn 350
That almost happened on Sunday at Iowa Speedway when their teammate and team co-owner, Brad Keselowski, challenged for the win before winding up third.
At one point relatively late in the race, Preece could have held up Keselowski but knew Keselowski had the better car. He likely would have tried to put another driver passing him in a more precarious position, but he knew what was at stake.
“Brad caught me, and I figured even though I hate losing another spot in the points, I knew it was the right thing to do with how fast he was at the time and how many laps he led,” Preece said.
“He’s my teammate and my owner. He’s part of the group that signs my check. It was the right thing to do for the company.”
Brad Keselowski (right) and Chris Buescher walk the grid during practice for the NASCAR Cup Series Iowa Corn 350
It also kept Preece from potentially putting himself in a precarious situation and losing even more spots as he had a loose car. If he had tried to hang on to the position, he risked wrecking himself.
“If I didn’t get as loose as I did, and I felt like I could challenge the [leaders] for the win, I might have raced the s— out of him,” Preece mentioned. “However at that time limit, it was injury management, and attempt to not lose extra time to anyone behind us.”
Preece completed fifth and lower 20 factors off the margin to Buescher, so he sits 23 factors behind.
With the ultimate three regular-season races being Watkins Glen (highway course), Richmond (brief observe) and Daytona (superspeedway), there are alternatives for technique to come back into play.
Drivers would possibly pit earlier than a stage finish for observe place or they could attempt to pit simply exterior a gas window and stretch it to the top. Or at a spot like Richmond, they could choose to chop a stage in thirds as an alternative of half and hope that more energizing tires will make the distinction.
Ryan Preece will get launched earlier than the NASCAR Cup Collection Toyota/Save Mart 350
In some racing sequence, a corporation would possibly direct the drivers to make use of completely different methods, in hopes that certainly one of them can win the race for whichever technique works one of the best with the best way the race performs out.
Keselowski, who faces the potential for seeing none of his vehicles make the playoffs or probably two of his vehicles make the playoffs (all three may if every of them gained within the last three regular-season races), mentioned he wouldn’t give such directives to his drivers.
“The crew chiefs have the final word degree of autonomy at RFK to have the ability to make the calls that they really feel are greatest for his or her workforce,” Keselowski mentioned previous to the Iowa race. “However definitely you wish to be sensible at it from an organization perspective.
“Proper now, the place we’re at, seemingly at the least two or three groups have to win a race to get a win. However we’re very aggressive. There’s a sensible potential to do this.”
NASCAR has comparatively strict guidelines to restrict groups from manipulating a end to profit a particular driver as they’re directed to get one of the best end attainable. However teammates do work collectively at sure locations, equivalent to at Daytona relating to working within the draft or gas mileage.
“We do attempt to push these issues sometimes,” Keselowski mentioned about technique directed by the group. “However the final actuality is you’ll be able to’t inform any person to take a low proportion shot and destroy their day simply so you are feeling higher about it. There’s definitely a balancing act.”
Each Buescher and Preece may take a look at moments this season with frustration contemplating they haven’t solidified a playoff spot.
(L-R) Brad Keselowski, Ryan Preece and Chris Buescher stroll the grid previous to follow for the Cook dinner Out Conflict at Bowman Grey Stadium in February
Buescher was docked 30 factors for a rear bumper cowl violation at Kansas. Preece was disqualified from a second-place end at Talladega for too many shims on the rear spoiler, which value him 39 factors.
Proper now, the playoff bubble — with three spots at the moment obtainable for winless drivers — has Tyler Reddick up by 122 factors, Alex Bowman with a 63-point cushion after which Buescher (+23).
Preece joined the workforce this yr and the group has made regular progress, so simply the actual fact they’ve a shot on the playoffs on factors is considerably of a shock.
“If we had been to get within the playoffs, we may very well be a risk, particularly at this level within the season the place we have spent 20-something races collectively and gaining a pocket book of our personal and understanding issues that I key off of or what I would like in a race automotive,” Preece mentioned.
“We have been tremendous constant. We have been prime 10. After we execute races, we’re prime 5. We’re creating right into a workforce that may lead laps and win races. It’s going to take a win … to lock ourselves in. However on the similar time, we have been doing job of executing races and placing ourselves in place, in order that’s all you are able to do.”
For Buescher, the sensation is all too just like one he has had lately battling for a playoff spot till late within the common season. He has gained at Watkins Glen, Richmond and Daytona over the past couple of seasons. He missed the playoffs final yr.
“There’s at all times completely different circumstances, and in some way or one other, we at all times find yourself there [on the bubble],” Buescher mentioned. “We’ve to determine how you can win our races earlier within the season.
“However we’ve had some velocity and a few good runs … and we have been within the hunt at lots of completely different races.”
Bob Pockrass covers NASCAR and INDYCAR for FOX Sports activities. He has spent a long time protecting motorsports, together with over 30 Daytona 500s, with stints at ESPN, Sporting Information, NASCAR Scene journal and The (Daytona Seaside) Information-Journal. Comply with him on Twitter @bobpockrass.
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