Buescher and Graves Express Frustration After Talladega Incident
In a disappointing outing at Talladega Superspeedway, Chris Buescher and his crew chief Scott Graves vented their frustrations following an early exit during the race. The incident occurred during a restart on lap 52 when Christopher Bell, due to a push from teammate Denny Hamlin, lost control and collided with both Buescher and the SAFER barrier.
Buescher, who was leading the inside lane at the time, remarked, “I don’t expect it there… That’s a lot of time to find your position and get to racing." He emphasized the need for caution during restarts, stating, “You can’t start pushing in the middle of the corner or on exit. You have to be straight to some extent.”
In contrast, Bell expressed understanding of the risks inherent to superspeedway racing and did not assign blame to Hamlin, acknowledging the nature of pushing in such high-stakes environments.
Graves, however, was less forgiving. In a post on social media, he criticized the recklessness that led to the incident, stating, “The guys that would consider themselves some of the best drivers in the world can’t even get through a restart.” He highlighted the hard work put in by the RFK Racing team, lamenting the premature end to Buescher’s race, which marked his first DNF of the season after completing 98.8% of laps previously.
Buescher concluded with his dissatisfaction about the competitive environment at Talladega, expressing that "there are not many safe places anymore other than the very back." He reiterated a desire for authentic racing and a disdain for being forced into a defensive driving strategy.
As the team looks ahead, it remains to be seen how they will adapt to the challenges inherent in superspeedway racing.
