Many, from Daniel Suarez to Dale Earnhardt Jr and Denny Hamlin, have often sung that Daytona is a wild card, where the game can change at any moment. This time around, many had high hopes for Chase Elliott, despite his dry spell in the 2023 season. Others backed the thrice-crowned Daytona champ, Denny Hamlin. However, when the dust settled after a whirlwind of crashes, it was Chris Buescher who stole the show. But what’s cooking in the RFK Racing team’s kitchen now that they’ve scooped up three out of the last five races? What’s their secret sauce?

The riddle was unraveled by Kenny Wallace in a riveting video on his official YouTube channel.

Kenny Wallace credits someone other than Chris Buescher for RFK Racing’s victories

The past Saturday’s showdown at Daytona International Speedway was expected to be filled with complete heart-stopping moments like Ryan Preece‘s car taking over seven dramatic barrel spins, echoing sentiments expressed by Denny Hamlin and Daniel Suarez (about Daytona being a wreck-fest). Yet, against the backdrop of chaos, the seasoned Kevin Harvick, in his Swansong Cup season, controlled the narrative for the last 14 laps. The tide, however, turned when Chris Buescher swept the lead from under his nose and crossed the finish line first.

Without a doubt, the gameboard was shuffled unpredictably. Still, spotlighting the scoreboard, Buescher has clinched the top spot in 3 out of the last 5 races, firmly establishing himself as a force to be reckoned with in the playoffs. Yet, it seems Wallace hints at another kingpin behind RFK Racing’s winning streak.

The X-factor, in Wallace’s book, is the ace up their sleeve: Brad Keselowski. As he eloquently elaborates, “Brad Keselowski is really turning that team around. Jack [Roush] is getting…; he did the right thing by hiring Brad Keselowski to come over there. Brad is only 39 years old, so Brad is very analytical, very smart. […] He’s getting that Keselowski-Roush team turned around.”

Additionally, Wallace dropped hints about the dynamic duo of Keselowski and Buescher, showcasing their synergy both on and off the track. A case in point is their impressive finishes at Michigan and Daytona.

Wallace opined, “You look at when Chris Buescher won at Michigan, Brad finished fourth, now Buescher wins again—what three wins out of four races? And Buescher wins, and Brad finishes second. There could be an argument that Keselowski-Roush’s team is the strongest right now, headed into the playoffs. There could be an argument for that.”

Could this suggest that Buescher’s performance is bolstered by Keselowski’s guiding hand even in the heat of the race? While Wallace champions the RFK Racing team as the heavyweight contender, Buescher seems hesitant to wear the crown as the anticipated bigwig of the upcoming NASCAR Cup Series playoffs.

Watch This Story: “Wish I Could Have” After an Insanely Strong Comeback This Season Brad Keselowski Reminisces Upon His Unfulfilled Desire

Chris Buescher opines, “We’re a contender,” and nothing more

Trending

Rick Hendrick Lending a Helping Hand to Stewart-Haas Racing Amid Dire Times Leaves Insider Infuriated

May 19, 2024 06:50 AM EDT

Chase Elliott Refuses to See Eye to Eye With Dale Jr’s NASCAR Vision With 9-Words

May 18, 2024 06:25 PM EDT

Chase Elliott Skeptical of Dale Earnhardt Jr’s Revival of NASCAR’s “Lost Relic” After Years of Deliberation

May 18, 2024 07:11 PM EDT

Rick Hendrick & Co.’s Partnership with Tarnished Sponsor Triggers Bitter Outburst- “F*CK Liberty”

May 17, 2024 04:29 PM EDT

HMS’ Class Act Backfiring on Tony Stewart & Co. Leaves Kevin Harvick’s Former Crew Chief in Shock

May 19, 2024 07:14 AM EDT

Get instantly notified of the hottest NASCAR stories via Google! Click on Follow Us and Tap the Blue Star.

Follow Us

Even with the wind in their sails from an unforeseen victory at Daytona, Buescher perceives his squadron as players on the field, not necessarily the ones holding the trump card.

As per apnews.com, after steering RFK Racing to its crowning 1-2 finish in nearly a decade, Buescher opined, “I think we’re a contender,” emphasizing, “We still have work to do. I don’t think we’re under the illusion that it has to go through us and us only right now. We’ve got tracks we still need to be better at. We’ve got work to do as a group and as a team to get in the hunt.”

“While I harbor no doubts about our mettle to navigate the playoffs, our sights are set on being serious contenders,” he articulated.

And, interestingly, despite netting three victories, he chose to remain tight-lipped about the nuances of the No. 17 Ford.

Whether Buescher is playing his cards close to his chest or steering clear of jinx, one thing’s for sure: he’s caught the eye and garnered a legion of admirers, especially when some big guns have not been able to fire a single winning shot this season.

Read More: Brad Keselowski Lets Slip “Big Goal” as RFK Racing Breaches Rick Hendrick and Joe Gibbs’s Dominion