Chris Buescher
Veteran RFK Racing driver who pilots the No. 17 Ford with five career Cup victories. Buescher has been a consistent competitor for over a decade in the Cup Series.
About Chris Buescher
Chris Buescher is the embodiment of quiet competence in the Cup Series garage. With six wins across 340 starts, the Prosper, Texas native has carved out a career built on consistency, preparation, and a driving style that extracts maximum performance without unnecessary risks. Buescher won his first Cup race in 2016 at Pocono in a rain-shortened event that some dismissed as a fluke, but the years since have silenced any doubts. His continued success at RFK Racing has demonstrated that the talent was always there, waiting for the right equipment and the right team to unlock it. His approach to racing is methodical and mature -- Buescher studies the track, communicates precisely with his crew, and races with a patience that allows him to capitalize when opportunities present themselves in the closing laps. The results have been a steady accumulation of top-10 finishes and victories that reflect a driver who maximizes every resource at his disposal. In a sport that celebrates bold moves and dramatic moments, Buescher's brand of disciplined excellence is easy to overlook. But the competitors who race alongside him every week know the truth: Chris Buescher is one of the toughest outs in the Cup Series field.
Written by Richard R. Glover, NASCAR Reference

Career Highlights
- 6 career Cup wins
Prime years: 2023-2025 (avg score: 48/100)
12 Cup Series seasons analyzed
Performance Profile
2026 Season
Best Tracks
Chris Buescher's best track is Dover International Speedway with 1 win and a 10.8 average finish in 6 races.
| Track | Races | Avg Finish |
|---|---|---|
| Dover International Speedway | 6 | 10.8 |
| Bristol Motor Speedway | 23 | 13.4 |
| Iowa Speedway | 6 | 13.5 |
| Michigan International Speedway | 17 | 14.1 |
| Pocono Raceway | 13 | 15.3 |
Recent Results
Chris Buescher's most recent 20 race results across the Cup Series.
| Date | Race | Start | Finish | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 10 | Go Bowling at The Glen | 14 | 12 | +2 |
| May 3 | Würth 400 presented by LIQUI MOLY | 3 | 5 | -2 |
| Apr 26 | Jack Link's 500 | 10 | 2 | +8 |
| Apr 19 | AdventHealth 400 | 7 | 10 | -3 |
| Apr 12 | Food City 500 | 7 | 13 | -6 |
| Mar 29 | Cook Out 400 | 16 | 19 | -3 |
| Mar 22 | Goodyear 400 | 6 | 9 | -3 |
| Mar 15 | Pennzoil 400 presented by Jiffy Lube | 10 | 6 | +4 |
| Mar 8 | Straight Talk Wireless 500 | 17 | 14 | +3 |
| Mar 1 | DuraMax Grand Prix | 14 | 24 | -10 |
| Feb 22 | Autotrader 400 | 7 | 15 | -8 |
| Feb 15 | Daytona 500 | 41 | 7 | +34 |
| Feb 12 | America 250 Florida Duel 1 | 5 | 23 | -18 |
| Nov 2 | NASCAR Cup Series Championship | 9 | 11 | -2 |
| Oct 26 | Xfinity 500 | 29 | 11 | +18 |
| Oct 19 | YellaWood 500 | 14 | 13 | +1 |
| Oct 12 | South Point 400 | 11 | 12 | -1 |
| Oct 5 | Bank of America ROVAL 400 | 5 | 4 | +1 |
| Sep 28 | Hollywood Casino 400 | 15 | 13 | +2 |
| Sep 21 | Mobil 1 301 | 15 | 17 | -2 |
Year-by-Year Results
Chris Buescher has competed in 12 Cup Series seasons, with a career average finish of 17.5.
| Season | Races | Wins | Avg Start | Avg Finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 13 | 0 | 12.08 | 12.23 |
| 2025 | 36 | 0 | 12.47 | 13.03 |
| 2024 | 32 | 1 | 18.13 | 12.63 |
| 2023 | 32 | 3 | 14.84 | 10.56 |
| 2022 | 25 | 1 | 14.96 | 13.76 |
| 2021 | 27 | 0 | 16.70 | 14.37 |
| 2020 | 22 | 0 | 17.82 | 14.36 |
| 2019 | 28 | 0 | 21.96 | 15.00 |
| 2018 | 24 | 0 | 15.13 | 18.75 |
| 2017 | 22 | 0 | 20.14 | 17.45 |
| 2016 | 36 | 1 | 26.25 | 26.08 |
| 2015 | 6 | 0 | 36.00 | 26.67 |
Season Performance Stats
NASCAR loop data -- avg running position, pass differential, driver rating, and more (2007-2022 Cup Series).
| Year | Rating | Avg Start | Avg Finish | Avg Run Pos | Pass Diff | Fast Laps | Laps Led % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 74.00 | 15.40 | 18.00 | 17.10 | -261 | 179 | 2.70% |
| 2021 | 71.20 | 18.10 | 16.30 | 17.90 | -227 | 101 | 1.10% |
| 2020 | 66.10 | 18.60 | 19.10 | 20.70 | -145 | 84 | 0.40% |
| 2019 | 67.40 | 21.60 | 17.90 | 18.40 | +130 | 44 | 0.10% |
| 2018 | 59.30 | 21.60 | 21.00 | 22.00 | -38 | 39 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 57.70 | 25.30 | 21.40 | 23.70 | -84 | 60 | 0.10% |
| 2016 | 51.20 | 26.30 | 26.10 | 27.20 | -112 | 61 | 0.10% |
| 2015 | 45.00 | 36.00 | 26.70 | 31.40 | -47 | 18 | 0.00% |
NR-Rating Elo Ratings
Related Drivers
| Name | Relation |
|---|---|
| Brad Keselowski | Teammate |
| Ryan Preece | Teammate |
| Corey LaJoie | Teammate |
| Josh Berry | Same Mfr |
| Ryan Blaney | Same Mfr |
| Austin Cindric | Same Mfr |
| Todd Gilliland | Same Mfr |
| Noah Gragson | Same Mfr |
| Joey Logano | Same Mfr |
| Ty Majeski | Same Mfr |
| Ben Rhodes | Same Mfr |
| Chandler Smith | Same Mfr |