Who would’ve thought that Chris Buescher—a driver who, in past Clash races, couldn’t even make the main event—would be sitting on the front row for the 2025 Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium? After struggling in 2023 and barely scraping by in 2024, RFK Racing seems to have finally cracked the code on quarter-mile setups. And with all three RFK cars making the main event, Buescher suddenly finds himself in prime position to capitalize.
But will it be enough?
Bowman Gray: A Bullring of Bumper Madness
Sitting on the front row alongside Chase Elliott, Buescher has the best possible starting position for a track where passing is nearly impossible and chaos is inevitable. But he knows that one wrong move—or worse, one right move from the wrong driver behind him—could send his entire race spiraling into disaster.
Just look at the heat races:
🔥 John Hunter Nemechek got sent into the fence by Ryan Preece.
🔥 Kyle Busch made sure Justin Haley felt his front bumper.
🔥 Three-wide chaos through the tight corners almost ended multiple drivers’ nights early.
And those were just the qualifying races. Sunday’s 200-lap main event is going to be twice as intense.
Buescher’s Plan: Stay Clean, Stay Up Front
Buescher knows he needs to survive to thrive. And that means staying ahead of the wrecks for as long as possible.
“We’re gonna be back in the field, 15 laps maybe less. I think you’re always going to be in traffic of some sort, and just having that little bit of gap behind you, hopefully, you gotta hang on to that to get going.”
If he can maintain his spot at the front, he can avoid getting “pinballed” around. But even he knows that’s easier said than done at Bowman Gray.
From Backmarker to Contender: Buescher’s Sim Work Pays Off
Buescher’s road to the front row wasn’t easy. His practice session was abysmal, with the No. 17 car sitting 30th on the speed charts. The team had to scramble to make adjustments, and Buescher himself spent extra time in the simulator trying to fix his struggles at short tracks.
“We ran a lot of simulations leading up to this. We don’t typically do a ton of preliminary work from me as a driver in the simulator. It’s typically a lot more after races, but given my track record at the quarter miles, I figured better bite off into that one.”
It’s clear that hard work is paying off. But now, the real test begins.
Can Buescher Stay Ahead, or Will the Madhouse Swallow Him?
Bowman Gray is notorious for chewing up drivers who try to play it safe. Buescher has the track position to stay clean—but will he have the aggression to hold off the inevitable challengers?
Debate:
- Does Buescher have what it takes to fend off the field and win the Clash?
- Will he play it too cautiously and get shuffled back into the chaos?
- Who poses the biggest threat to his chances—Elliott? Hamlin? Busch?
One thing’s for sure: when the green flag drops, it’s every driver for themselves. And in Bowman Gray’s bullring of bumpers, only the toughest will survive. 🔥🏁
