Posted 20 minutes ago by Ryan Kemna Cup

Chris Buescher: NASCAR Cup Chase 2026 Preview

Turns out consistently placing inside the top 15 is detrimental to qualify for the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Chase and Chris Buescher exemplified that.

This will be Buescher’s first Cup Series postseason appearance since 2023 and his third total. His first postseason appearance came with Front Row Motorsports while his previous two are both with RFK Racing.

After a long 26-race stretch, he will enter the 2026 edition of the chase just inside the top ten as the tenth seed.

Somehow, two seasons away from the postseason has not changed how well the No. 17 team has preformed. In each of the previous two seasons that he missed. He maintained an average finish inside the top-16 drivers.

Now, the Prosper, Texas native can prove once again that his RFK Racing group has what it takes to make a surprising Chase run.

That Texan Tenacity

If it’s two things Chris Buescher knows how to do its keep a car clean and points racing. 2026 provided the perfect opportunity to capitalize on his strengths after the system that disrespected them was finally taken away.

He proved his fit in the new Chase system right away at Daytona where the No. 17 team finished seventh to kick off the season.

From there his consistency shined as usual. Buescher accomplished nine top tens in the first 17 races.

This consistency is reflected in his current top ten averages of running-speed, which is the average position the driver is during a race, and driver rating.

The first half of his regular season was so kind to him that the team sat inside the critical top five positions from fifth before the all-star race.

Then the back half of the regular season reset their reality. Two poor finished of 30th and 29th at Charlotte and Nashville clouded the start of the second-half.

Then a tremendous three-straight top ten’s thereafter kept the team seventh in the regular season standings with nine races remaining before the Chase.

Unfortunately, like those around him, he started to fade in the heat of the summer. In the final nine events that led up to now, he only finished inside the top ten once at Atlanta.

Chris Buescher fell from seventh to tenth by the regular season finale where he DNF’d in dead last.

A return to Darlington this weekend is welcomed. In the spring, the team placed inside the top ten from ninth and a repeat performance would go a long way for their ultimate goals.

2026 Chase Outlook

The Texan enters the Chase as the tenth overall seed and a lot of work to do if he and RFK Racing want to contend for the 2026 championship.

The No. 17 team can make an surprising run, but Buescher and company will have to find consistent top five speed.

Talladega and Bristol will be the two tracks circled for the No. 17 team as potential winners.

They have shown great passing and decision making at superspeedways this season and can potentially capitalize on chaos. For Bristol, Buescher won the first next-gen race on the pavement in 2022.

A return to victory lane would truly send shockwaves around the garage.

However, the team will approach this Chase opportunity sensibly. The title might become out of reach due to the tough competition. A finish back inside the top ten in points for RFK Racing’s only full-time 2027 charter in the Chase.

If Buescher can continue his stable results while others flounder, a top ten finish and a bet won against teammate Ryan Preece can be achieved.

Ceiling: Eighth Floor: 13th