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NASCAR: 10 small-team drivers who deserve Danica Patrick’s ride

By Asher Fair

LOUDON, NH - JULY 14: Danica Patrick, driver of the #10 Aspen Dental Ford, practices for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Overton's 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on July 14, 2017 in Loudon, New Hampshire. (Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images)
LOUDON, NH - JULY 14: Danica Patrick, driver of the #10 Aspen Dental Ford, practices for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Overton's 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on July 14, 2017 in Loudon, New Hampshire. (Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images) /
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INDIANAPOLIS, IN – JULY 22: Chris Buescher, driver of the #37 Clorox Chevrolet (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – JULY 22: Chris Buescher, driver of the #37 Clorox Chevrolet (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) /

#3 – Chris Buescher, JTG Daugherty Racing, No. 37 Chevrolet

Chris Buescher, 24, made his NASCAR Cup Series debut as a part-time driver for Front Row Motorsports in the 2015 season before officially becoming a rookie with the team the following season. It took him until his 27th career race to finally finish a race higher than 14th place, but when he finally did so, he did it in a big way, winning at Pocono to lock himself into the Chase in his first full season of competition.

While many will argue that Buescher’s win at Pocono was a fluke, what isn’t a fluke is the fact that he has definitely developed into somewhat of a solid driver since then, especially given the fact that he hasn’t driven for a top-tier team like Danica Patrick has at Stewart-Haas Racing and has still done well.

Two races after his maiden Cup Series win, Buescher finished in 5th place at Bristol, giving him two top 5 finishes in three races. Meanwhile, Patrick is still searching for her first career top 5 finish in 177 races.

In his first season for JTG Daugherty Racing, which is this season, Buescher didn’t get off to the hottest start. However, he has since kicked it up a notch, finishing in 10th place at Daytona, 9th place at Indianapolis and 6th place at Michigan over the course of the last seven races.

So while Buescher has three top 10 finishes in the last seven races, Patrick has just one top 10 finish in the last 87 events. What’s also impressive and proves the fact that he is more deserving of her current ride in the #10 Ford than she is is the fact that he has pulled this off driving for JTG Daugherty Racing while she has struggled to do well at Stewart-Haas Racing.

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