Prosper native Chris Buescher eager for debut of NASCAR’s Next Gen car in Clash at LA Coliseum

Native Texan Chris Buescher says he doesn’t know what to expect when NASCAR’s new-for-2022 Next Gen car makes its competitive debut at a venue best known for hosting the Olympic Games, USC Trojans football and the occasional papal visit.

NASCAR’s ballyhooed Next Gen Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, Ford Mustang GT and Toyota Camry will turn left and trade paint on a temporary quarter-mile paved layout constructed inside the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Sunday, Feb. 6. The inaugural Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum, a 150-lap non-point event, will cap two days of short-track racing in a key TV market.

The Clash at the Coliseum will be the first NASCAR race held inside the iconic stadium since it opened in 1923 as a tribute to all who served in the U.S. Armed Forces during World War I. The Clash has served as NASCAR’s lead into the Daytona 500 since 1979.

Buescher divided seat-time in one of Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing’s Fords on Tuesday during a two-day test at the 1-mile Phoenix Raceway. Those sessions allowed teams to collect data produced by the sanctioning body’s new 670-horsepower/4-inch rear spoiler package that will be in effect for most venues this season, including Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth in May and September.

So, is RFK’s version of the Next Gen Mustang ready for primetime? “I don’t think it matters what I think — we’re going!” said Buescher, a 29-year-old native of Prosper living in New London, N.C. “We’re heading out there and we’re doing it. That being said, there’s just so many unknowns with this racetrack. I don’t know that anyone in the field has raced a full-size car like this on a track that small before.

“What we do know is it’s going to put us right smack dab in a bullring in front of a huge crowd of people on a huge stage to kick off our year and the new generation of race car. We’re going to put on a show and then we’ll re-boot and head to the Daytona 500 for our first points-race of the season.”

NASCAR’s “Super Bowl” — the season-opening Daytona 500 — is scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 20, at the 2.5-mile Daytona International Speedway.

Buescher is heading into his third full season with RFK. Formerly known as Roush Fenway Racing, the organization was rebranded after 2012 Cup Series champion Brad Keselowski signed-on as co-owner/driver of the No. 6 Mustang. The team was founded by NASCAR Hall of Famer Jack Roush and includes partner John Henry, principal owner of the Boston Red Sox.

Buescher said his offseason has included plenty of Next Gen superspeedway and road-course seat time in a bid to sort out the car’s technical changes. Among them is a sequential 5-speed gearbox replacing the traditional 4-speed, H-pattern. The Next Gen also features independent front and rear suspension components, low-profile Goodyear rubber on 18-inch wheels and bigger brakes.

“The looks of it are awesome,” said Buescher, driver of the No. 17 Fastenal Ford. “I’m a little biased in saying it, but I think the Mustang looks the best and came out closer to the ‘real-world’ car. The updates were definitely a needed part of our sport. We’ve been running a rear suspension based on a 1950s Chevrolet pickup for a very long time and needing to move into this century.

“Each test we’ve gone to has been a little more refined and a little better to the point that once we got to Phoenix, not a whole lot felt different vs. the previous generation car. They’re (NASCAR) trying to put it back in the ‘driver’s hands,’ trying to level the playing field some. It’s going to tighten-up the gaps and put it on everybody to work within a smaller box of opportunity.”

Buescher is eager to compare notes with Keselowski, who has replaced Ryan Newman in the No. 6 Ford made famous by NASCAR Hall of Famer Mark Martin. “Brad’s worked really hard and clawed his way to become a champion,” Buescher said. “He’s very sharp and meticulous. We’ve already seen where he really dives down into details and tries to dissect how to be better and round the edges.”

Buescher, who tied a career-best with eight top-10 finishes in 2021, was reunited with crew chief Scott Graves late last season. They first worked together fulltime in 2015, when Buescher won the NASCAR Xfinity Series championship for RFR.

“We have a pretty good understanding of each other,” Buescher said of Graves. “So, we’re trying to refreshen-up and fire-off with this new car with some energy and confidence in each other.”

John Sturbin is a senior writer at RacinToday.com, based in Fort Worth. He can be contacted at jsturbin@racintoday.com.

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