NASCAR: 5 drivers who can shake up the playoff picture

Drivers who can shake up playoff picture: No. 2 – Chris Buescher

Looking at the numbers, you might not expect to see Chris Buescher on this list. The driver of the #17 Ford Mustang for RFK Racing only has one top five finish and six top 10 finishes in 21 starts this year, but his team has quietly been having an exceptional run in the second half of the regular season.

Buescher was runner-up to Daniel Suarez at Sonoma Raceway and finished in sixth place at Road America, displaying some serious strength at road course racing and proving that he could be a threat at Watkins Glen.

He was also the winner of the second Bluegreen Vacations Duel earlier this year, which could give his team extra confidence rolling back into Daytona for the regular season finale.

Buescher did miss the Ally 400 at Nashville Superspeedway in June due to the sport’s COVID-19 protocols. By missing a race, a team is technically no longer be eligible to compete in the playoffs, but NASCAR granted the #17 team a waiver, should Buescher manage to qualify for the postseason.

If Buescher and his team can pull off a win, it would be the organization’s first win since July 2017 when Ricky Stenhouse Jr. won at Daytona.