Chris Buescher wins at Richmond Raceway to earn his NASCAR Cup Series playoff spot in the Cook Out 400 on Sunday afternoon.
There is one month remaining until the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs begin, and there are a limited number of playoff spots left to fill. Each time a new driver wins, they take one spot away from another driver on the cusp of contention. Five playoff spots are available as the NASCAR Cup Series head back to Richmond Raceway for some short-track action. The racing has been nothing short of climatic over the last few weeks with different feuds developing throughout the field. Nothing like a short-track race to settle driver differences.
The Pole Sitter, Tyler Reddick Leads the Field to the Green Flag
Tyler Reddick won the pole in qualifying over the weekend and he jumped out front early in the race. He seemed to be the car to beat as he led the first stage wire to wire. Within the first forty-five laps, he caught the tail end of the field and continued to separate himself from the rest of the leaders. The first stage ran caution free with Tyler Reddick picking up the victory.
Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Strategy Dominates in the Second Stage
Tyler Reddick controlled the restart of the next stage, but it was Bubba Wallace making the charge into the lead. Different strategies began to unfold as drivers began to short-pit the field to gain track position.
Brad Keselowski worked his strategy to perfection and found himself in the lead late in the second segment. The stage ran without caution as the teammates of Brad Keselowski and Chris Buescher finished first and second.
Chris Buescher Wins at Richmond to Earn His NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Spot
Brad Keselowski led the opening forty-five laps of the final stage before needing to come down pit road. A poor stop from Keselowski allowed Martin Truex Jr to take over the race lead.
Truex Jr stayed out the longest over everyone else which allowed Chris Buescher to catch up on fresher tires. Buescher moved into the lead with eighty-eight laps remaining as Truex Jr came to pit road.
The long green flag run continued with Buescher dominating out front. However, with nine laps remaining, Daniel Suarez and Noah Gragson made contact with one another. This forced Suarez to spin around in the fourth turn to bring out the caution. Everyone came down pit road during the caution break and Chris Buescher won the critical race off pit road.
Chris Buescher had to face Denny Hamlin on the restart with two laps remaining. Buescher dove down into the first turn and Hamlin locked up his breaks giving away his opportunity. Chris Buescher smoothly brought his racing machine around the track once more and took the checkered flag. In a dominating fashion, Chris Buescher is crowned victorious at Richmond Raceway.
Chris Buescher earned his first win of a very solid 2023 season. In his twenty-two starts, he now has nine top-ten and four top-five finishes. Matching this up with his victory in Richmond has made this year very successful for him and his team. His last victory came last season in the fall Bristol race.
The NASCAR Cup Series Point Standings
This win also tightens up the playoff race as only four spots now remain available. Coming down to the end of the regular season, veterans such as Alex Bowman, Chase Elliott, and Aric Almirola are still looming outside the playoff cutline. The schedule does not become easier either with two road courses and a race at Daytona International Speedway remaining in the balance. The playoffs as it stands look entirely different from years past.