Triad
News
February 9, 2009
Slice This! Buescher Dominant In Daytona Victory
Texas teen leads 44 laps en route to second career ARCA RE/MAX Series win
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (February 9, 2009) - After a failing transmission foiled what could have been a victorious day at Talladega Superspeedway last October, James Buescher and Win-Tron Racing added another highlight of their two-year relationship Saturday night.
Buescher, 18, led the final 44 laps of the ARCA RE/MAX Series' Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 to record his second career ARCA victory-without a doubt, the biggest of his career, holding off NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Rookie of the Year candidate Joey Logano in an exciting one-lap shootout to the finish following the final caution flag of the evening.
The win didn't come gift-wrapped: Buescher, after qualifying his No. 32 Wolfpack Rentals-sponsored entry seventh, was forced to start from the tail of the 43-car field after a post-qualifying suspension issue. Reminiscent of a restrictor plate ace with the last name of Earnhardt, Buescher rode the high line, clawing his way into the top ten by lap 10.
A two pit-stop strategy designed by crew chief Mike Chaffee allowed Buescher to take on tires and fuel during the race's first caution period and run a splash-and-go while pitting later with the lead cars. The strategy put Buescher in position to hold off all comers as the race leader.
Buescher and Logano-a battle of top teen talents-drove side-by-side with five laps to go before a violent multicar accident behind them brought out a caution flag, which allowed Buescher to continue being scored as the lead car. Following a red flag delay, Buescher got a terrific jump on the final restart, forcing the field to space out, all but solidifying the win.
Hoisting the trophy in Daytona's historic victory lane, Buescher was exuberant:
"This is what we all dream about right here," said Buescher, who will make his Truck Series debut for Circle Bar Racing this Friday. "We knew we had a great car and everyone at Win-Tron has put in a great deal of effort to get this far. I knew if we could just get some decent track position-preferably out front-it would be tough to pass us. Today is everything I hoped it would be.
"I've got to thank Wolfpack Rentals for coming on board this weekend, Steve and Sandra Turner, my girlfriend Kris for all her support, the Turner family, Win-Tron Racing and Kevin Cywinski, Trent Owens, and everyone who has helped me get this far in my career. To be standing here in victory lane at Daytona is a dream come true and something that I want to be doing often."
James Makes History: With the win, James became the first driver to score a win with the new Triad Racing Technologies Motor. Triad had ten motors in the 43-car field on Saturday night.
Marty Gaunt, Principal for Triad: "James drove an excellent race. He made the 80 plus employees of Triad Racing Technologies extremely proud tonight."
Appearance Schedule: James will be signing autographs Monday, February 9 from 4 to 5 pm at the Daytona Beach Oyster Pub, alongside other drivers from the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and the ARCA RE/MAX Series.
Up Next for James: James will make his first career start behind the wheel of the No. 10 Circle Bar Racing International MaxxForce Diesel Ford F-150 in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Daytona International Speedway on February 13.
Watch James on Television: SPEED will air the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series NexTera Energy 250 at 7:30 pm EST on Friday, February 13.
