Chris Buescher Declares NASCAR Race Manipulation Is “a Hard Line for Anybody to Police”

One of the biggest topics of debate in the NASCAR community amidst the playoffs, alongside the credibility of the format, is the race manipulation accusations. Since the system was adopted in 2004, non-playoffs teams and drivers have been accused to influencing the racing to favor their partner teams. According to RFK Racing veteran Chris Buescher, it’s hard to police it.

Ahead of the Talladega Cup playoff race, where Chris Buescher has the best shot at helping the last remaining Ford drivers, Joey Logano and Ryan Blaney, in the championship chase by influencing races, the veteran was asked about race manipulation. He responded by highlighting how the teams getting involved in such situation have to bear the costs for it.

I think it did make a difference. I don’t have any direct communication for what’s been talked about, but I know it has made it through our competition side. I know that (the topic of race manipulation) has made it into the media and I think the message we’ve gotten is clear enough to say, ‘Do it at your own risk, but you’re not gonna like the result? Ultimately, I think that’s fair.

Chris Buescher said via Speedway Digest.

Further talking about the point, he recalled the time where he has seen race manipulation first hand. He has witnessed Martinsville race being influenced by blocking the whole lane or the Superspeedway races being influenced by OEM’s refusing to push the drivers from rival team. None of these moves were blatant enough to get penalized, showing how hard it is police them.

We had a terrible scenario at Martinsville last year with cars just riding and blocking basically the entire racetrack. We’ve had instances where we’ve seen cars just straight-up lift and not push rows at speedway races. I don’t know if that’s blatant enough to be called this time around if there is radio chatter ahead of that, I don’t know…It’s a hard line for anybody to police.

Chris Buescher added.

Chris Buescher explains how he races Joey Logano and Ryan Blaney in the playoffs

In the same interview, he explained how his approach while racing the Ford playoffs contenders, Logano and Blaney. With NASCAR being hyper aware about the possibility of race manipulation, with them screening every team radio message, it isn’t easy for him to help the duo, without getting in trouble.

You’re always aware of it. We’re aware of it throughout the playoffs. I think there’s been a pretty clear warning set for race manipulation right now, so I think that there’s certainly a finicky way to go about that and I don’t want to be caught up in that

Chris Buescher said.

He pointed out that he isn’t willing get penalized for helping the duo, or get accused by his fellow driver of race manipulation. So, he won’t give up spots for the playoff’s drivers, but is open to help them in ways that won’t get his team in trouble.

And I don’t want anybody to ever accuse me of laying over for anybody, so ultimately, we are still going to the racetrack to win a race. That’s not something that you would pull over or give anything away.

Chris Buescher added.

The comments from the RFK Racing driver seems rational and the attitude every non-playoff driver should have regarding helping their OEM teammates. It would be interesting to see how the race manipulation talks are going to evolve after the Talladega race.

Also Read: Dale Earnhardt Jr. Finds It ‘Hard to Believe’ Denny Hamlin Will Retire from Racing anytime soon

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