Bob Pockrass
FOX Motorsports Insider
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 stated. “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 (quick monitor) and Daytona (superspeedway), there are alternatives for technique to return into play.
Drivers would possibly pit earlier than a stage finish for monitor place or they may attempt to pit simply exterior a gasoline window and stretch it to the tip. Or at a spot like Richmond, they may choose to chop a stage in thirds as a substitute of half and hope that brisker 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 company would possibly direct the drivers to make use of totally different methods, in hopes that one among them can win the race for whichever technique works the perfect with the way in which the race performs out.
Keselowski, who faces the opportunity of seeing none of his automobiles make the playoffs or presumably two of his automobiles make the playoffs (all three may if every of them gained within the ultimate three regular-season races), stated he wouldn’t give such directives to his drivers.
“The crew chiefs have the last word stage of autonomy at RFK to have the ability to make the calls that they really feel are greatest for his or her crew,” Keselowski stated 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 not less than two or three groups have to win a race to get a win. However we’re very aggressive. There’s a practical potential to do this.”
NASCAR has comparatively strict guidelines to restrict groups from manipulating a end to profit a selected driver as they’re directed to get the perfect end potential. However teammates do work collectively at sure locations, reminiscent of at Daytona with regards to working within the draft or gasoline mileage.
“We do attempt to push these issues on occasion,” Keselowski stated about technique directed by the group. “However the final actuality is you’ll be able to’t inform anyone to take a low proportion shot and damage their day simply so you’re feeling higher about it. There’s definitely a balancing act.”
Each Buescher and Preece may have 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 apply for the Prepare 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 price him 39 factors.
Proper now, the playoff bubble — with three spots at present 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 crew this yr and the group has made regular progress, so simply the very fact they’ve a shot on the playoffs on factors is considerably of a shock.
“If we have been to get within the playoffs, we might 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 need in a race automobile,” Preece stated.
“We have been tremendous constant. We have been high 10. Once we execute races, we’re high 5. We’re creating right into a crew 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 an excellent 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 much 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 all the time totally different circumstances, and one way or the other or one other, we all the time find yourself there [on the bubble],” Buescher stated. “Now we have 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 a number of totally different races.”
Bob Pockrass covers NASCAR and INDYCAR for FOX Sports activities. He has spent many years masking motorsports, together with over 30 Daytona 500s, with stints at ESPN, Sporting Information, NASCAR Scene journal and The (Daytona Seaside) Information-Journal. Observe him on Twitter @bobpockrass.
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