NASCAR driver makes unofficial ‘name change’

RFK Racing NASCAR Cup Series driver Chris Buescher says that he is going to “stick with Christopher” after the way Dale Jr.’s commentating was received.

During the latter stages of the NASCAR Cup Series race at Richmond Raceway two Sundays ago, RFK Racing’s Chris Buescher found himself in the mix for the race win, battling with Stewart-Haas Racing’s Kevin Harvick.

Buescher ultimately had to settle for third place, with Joe Gibbs Racing’s Christopher Bell having gotten around him for second with a handful of laps remaining at the four-turn, 0.75-mile (1.207-kilometer) Richmond, Virginia oval.

But during the action, Dale Earnhardt Jr. continuously referred to Chris Buescher as Christopher Buescher while calling the race in the NBC booth.

Dale Jr.’s use of Christopher was well-received throughout the NASCAR community, and Buescher himself — as well as his RFK Racing team — decided to embrace it and play along for the following Sunday afternoon’s race at Watkins Glen International.

While the initial plan was for the name rail on his #17 Ford to read “Christopher Buescher” just for this past Sunday’s race, it is evidently set to return for this Saturday night’s season finale at Daytona International Speedway as well.

Buescher made sure to mention the fact that the embrace of the name Christopher is making his mother happy, and he stated that he thinks he’s going to stick with it, citing this as the most important reason.

He also updated his Twitter name to “Christopher Buescher”, though his handle remains the same (@Chris_Buescher).

Of course, this “change” is more of a reversion, since he was born Christopher William Buescher, but never in his Cup Series career has the 29-year-old Prosper, Texas native been publicly known as anything other than Chris Buescher.

Buescher needs to win Saturday night’s Coke Zero Sugar 400 to qualify for the playoffs for what would be the first time since his rookie year in 2016 — and his first time as the driver of the #17 Ford. His +3500 odds (bet $100 to win $3,500) are seventh best among the 13 drivers in must-win situations heading into the race.

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