Chris Buescher 2020 Fantasy NASCAR Preview
2019 Stats: Points Finish 20th, 0 Wins, 0 Top Fives, 4 Top Tens, 17.8 Average Finish, 18.5 Average Running Position, 13 Laps Led, 67.38 Driver Rating
In 2020, Chris Buescher is making the move to Roush Fenway Racing. He’s had success with that organization previously and back in 2015 he won the Xfinity series championship driving for them. I’m sure that’s playing a large role in why he’s making the move.
His crew chief this upcoming season will be Luke Lambert. Lambert will also essentially be a rookie for that team. Lambert was with Richard Childress Racing the previous eight years. In 2019 he served as Daniel Hemric’s crew chief.
I’m viewing Buescher’s change of scenery as essentially a horizontal move. I really don’t see it making him that much better, or that much worse. In 2020, I think Buescher will likely have a season that’s very comparable to what he had in 2019.
Strengths:
In 2020, look for Buescher to likely be at his best at intermediate tracks and flat tracks. At both venues his fantasy ceiling isn’t too high, but he’s proven that he’s more than capable of coming home with respectable results on a consistent basis.
Weaknesses:
Short track racing hasn’t been a strong suit for Buescher, and I wouldn’t look for that to change in 2020.
Intermediate Track Fantasy Value – B-
Chris Buescher was a solid driver at intermediate tracks in 2019, but the question is how will he fare in 2020 in his new #17 Roush Fenway Racing ride? I think his level of performance this upcoming season will be pretty comparable. His new equipment is right on par with what he had last year, and it also won’t hurt that he’ll have Ryan Newman as a teammate. By no means do I think former teammate Ryan Preece was able to help him on this track type.
In 2019 over the 17 combined races at intermediate tracks, Buescher had a 16.1 average finish and a 17.9 average running position.
Last year on this track type, Chris Buescher was at his best at 1.5 mile tracks and statistically among non-Playoff drivers he ranked as the best. At those venues last year over the 11 combined races his average finish was 14.3.
In 2020 at intermediate tracks, I would typically look for Buescher to finish around the mid to high teens.
Flat Track Fantasy Value – B
At flat tracks, I would look for Chris Buescher to be about a mid-teen’s driver. Last year in 5 of the 8 races on this track type he finished between 14th to 16th.
Last season, Buescher was more consistent at the bigger flat tracks and all three of his results were in the mid-teens. He finished 15th at Indy and at Pocono he had results of 14th and 16th.
Last season at the shorter-flat tracks he finished between 15th to 16th in 3 of the 5 races. His two results not within that range were the two Richmond races.
In 2020, I think Buescher has potential to have a similar level of performance at flat tracks.
Short Track Fantasy Value – C+
Short track racing hasn’t been a strength for Buescher, and it probably won’t be in his new ride in 2020.
Richmond ranks as one of Buescher’s worst tracks. His average finish is 27th, and last year he had lack luster results of 22nd and 31st. At RR he only has one result in the top twenty and that was a 17th back in spring 2017.
At Martinsville, he’s been a little hit or miss lately. Over the last six races he has three results between 11th to 13th and in the other three he finished between 21st and 23rd. I’ll note over the last three years he’s had one good finish and one not so good finish per year.
At Bristol, his fantasy ceiling hasn’t been high and his overall average finish minus two accidents is 19.4. Last year, Buescher had results of 17th and 22nd.
Superspeedway Fantasy Value – B
At Superspeedways, I like Buescher at Daytona, but not so much at Talladega.
In 2019 at Daytona he had a tough season and had results of 17th and 27th. In the three races prior to that he swept the top ten and had results of 5th, 5th and 10th.
At Talladega, Buescher has never finished in the top ten and his overall average finish is 21.9. Last year, Buescher crashed in both races and had results of 20th and 30th. In 2018 he finished 21st in the fall and in the spring, he had his best result and finished 11th.
Road Course Fantasy Value – B-
At road courses, I’m going to view Chris Buescher as a teen’s driver. Last year he finished in the teens in all three races at road courses. In 2020, I’m going to view him as a mid to high-teens driver at all three venues.
Sonoma is Buescher’s best road course. Last year he finished 16th. Over the last three races there his average finish is 15.6.
At Watkins Glen, Buescher finished 13th last year. In 2017 he had his all-time best result on a road course and finished 11th. In his other three starts at that New York venue he finished 20th or worse.
At the Charlotte Roval, Buescher has a pair of high-teens results. He finished 18th in 2019, and 17th in 2018.
