NASCAR CUP SERIES: COKE ZERO SUGAR 400

August 28, 2021

Chris Buescher

Pit Lane

An Interview with:

Q. Chris Buescher winds up second. When we talked earlier in the week he said, I put myself in position to win these races, I haven't made the blocks I needed to. Were you making the right moves to be able to win this race?

CHRIS BUESCHER: Yeah, all but the last one I guess. I think that was what we had to do, we had to be more aggressive on the blocking side. We've been aggressive with making moves, not protecting them. We did that today.

Back bumper, this thing, it's rough, I know that. It's just become a part of this speedway race. The more film you go back and watch the more I realize that's where we're getting beat.

I want to say thank you. It hurts. This one stings a lot. At the same time appreciate everybody at RFR. Awesome weekend for Fifth Third Bank announcing they're going to come back on board with Roush for the next five years. Last time they made an announcement, we won. Want to get that one for so many different reasons.

To miss that Playoff spot by one spot, that's a tough ending to a day. Proud of this group. Proud of the car we brought. I'm sure I'll play it back and find something else different again. Top line wasn't as organized on that start. The bottom, they were digging. We were fortunate to get back to second.

That hurts.

Q. A lot of debate about the bottom line or top line. You chose the top line. How many times will you replay that restart and think what could you have done differently?

CHRIS BUESCHER: Yeah, I'd take the bottom this time, right, if I had to go back and look at it (smiling)?

I think we watched the top work well. To get in line, drop in, have that materialize, then go. I thought we got the initial jump well. Just didn't have the help behind us to push us beyond that front row and get in front of the 12.

At the end of the day I'm glad to see another Ford in Victory Lane. That part is cool. Man, I wanted it to be us. Really good finish. Glad to see Ryan in the top five right there with us as well.

Just a little pissed off that we missed it by that close, that tight a margin, right?