James Buescher Shines In Toledo ; Settles For Second

Topics:  James Buescher, Hantz Group 200

Chris Knight
Country Joe Racing
October 17, 2007

TOLEDO, Ohio (October 17, 2007) - - He did it again. ARCA RE/MAX Series (ARS) rookie James Buescher stormed into the spotlight in Sunday’s Hantz Group 200 presented by Belle Tire in contention to take his second victory of the season only to fall victim to a hungry Michael McDowell and his extremely fast machine.

Much like Buescher’s ARCA season, Toledo would be a track that the Plano , Texas native would have little experience on. Heading into the lone practice session of the weekend, Buescher was banking on the success of a private test and confidence to lead him to another thrilling weekend.

During the hour and a half session, Buescher ranked in the seventh fastest time with a time of 16.942 seconds at 106.245 MPH. “Don’t worry, we have more on the table,” said the Country Joe Racing development driver. I think I am going to like this track, I really do. Once again the Country Joe boys have given me a stout racecar and I’m looking forward to the rest of the weekend.”

To no one’s surprise, Buescher’s Mercedes Homes-backed automobile was strong in ARCA SIM Factory pole qualifying putting together a lap of 16.630 seconds at 108.238 MPH good enough for third and an additional five bonus points. “I told you we had more. We’re going to be good in the race. We still have a little more left. This race is reminding me a lot of Lakeland and we ran very well there, so I’m hoping we can do the same on Sunday.”

Looking ahead to the season finale, Buescher entered ARCA with a win and he was hoping to exit his first season of competition with a win. From the drop of the green flag, the event would prove to be a battle of the Dodges of McDowell, Butler III and Buescher with newly crowned nine time ARCA champion Frank Kimmel, Justin Allgaier and Marc Davis all hunting the three Dodges.

Buescher would lose two positions by the time the first caution flag waived on lap 12. The driver remained quiet on the radio but informed his crew that everything was fine and his car was taking a little bit of time to come to him. On the restart, Buescher began his retaking one of the positions he had lost by making a clean pass on the No. 22 of Ken Butler III.

Using patience and guidance from his Country Joe Racing team, Buescher would sit, hover and study his prey. Buescher quickly moved back into the second position approaching lap 50 where Buescher continued to stay approaching halfway.

A yellow flag waived just two laps after halfway allowing the opportunity for the lead lap cars to make their only scheduled pit stop of the day. The Country Joe Racing team performed brilliantly slapping on new Hoosier rubber and topping off Buescher’s fuel tank.

Restarting second, it would begin the chase game for Buescher and the rest of the field to catch and pass a dominating Michael McDowell. Trying to overtake the NASCAR-bound driver on the return to green, Buescher would have to fall in line and follow the No. 2 Dodge until the group entered traffic on lap 171.

Buescher would fight hard and give no mercy and take control of the field on lap 172 and hold that spot for 27 circuits before a caution inside 10 laps to go would set up for a green-white-checkered.

On the restart, the fans knew they were in for a treat. The two raced hard and clean with Buescher throwing McDowell a block before the No. 2 was able to slide by on the inside of the No. 32 Mercedes Homes-Red Line Oil Dodge on the final lap forcing the Country Joe Racing team to settle for second in the final race of the 2007 ARCA RE/MAX Series season.

McDowell went on to net his fourth victory of the season with Dodges making up four of the top-10 positions led by McDowell and Buescher.

“I wanted this one bad. I wish it was the Hantz Group 198,” said Buescher after the race. “It was a fun race. We kept our nose clean for the first 150 laps and then made a charge towards the end. We started off our ARCA season with a win and I wish we could have ended it with a win but I'm happy with second place."

Buescher ends his ARCA RE/MAX Series rookie season with seven starts, one win, four top-fives and six top-10s an impressive record for the avid racecar driver.

“I have to thank Country Joe Racing for everything this season,” added Buescher. “They are the best. They are an awesome team and they gave me unbelievable equipment all season long. I hope my future in the ARCA RE/MAX Series includes being a part of their organization.”

Nate Thiesse, Director of Operations for County Joe Racing offered, “James did another great job for the team at Toledo . You never would have known he had zero Toledo Speedway race experience based on his performance all weekend. We’re extremely thrilled with his results this season and James is certainly the future of the ARCA RE/MAX Series and we hope it’s at Country Joe Racing.”

Mercedes Homes and Red Line Oil sponsored the No. 32 Dodge this weekend at Toledo Speedway.

For more on Country Joe Racing, please visit CountryJoeRacing.com

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NAME: Chris Knight, County Joe Racing

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