Chris Buescher’s Kansas race was supposed to be another chapter in his quietly impressive 2025 season. The No. 17 Ford looked sharp all day, battling inside the top ten and ultimately bringing home an eighth-place finish. For Buescher and the RFK Racing crew, it was a solid result. It was another sign that their consistency and speed could carry them deep into the playoffs.
“We had a pretty solid day. Definitely had some speed, and I’m pretty proud of that. Especially coming off of Texas. That’s two weeks in a row where we’ve had a lot of potential in the car. It was a fun day for us overall,” he said after the race.
But as the team rolled out of Kansas, they had no idea a storm was brewing back at the NASCAR R&D Center in Concord. What started as a routine post-race inspection quickly spiraled into a costly controversy. Suddenly, Buescher’s points haul, the team’s momentum, and even their playoff hopes were thrown into question. Now, Brad Keselowski and RFK Racing are gearing up for a fight, not just on the track, but in the NASCAR appeals room.
NASCAR found that the team violated rules on the front bumper cover. Specifically, the car exceeded the allowed two-inch maximum for reinforcement behind the bumper foam. This breach falls under Sections 14.1.C and 14.5.4.G of the NASCAR Rule Book, which govern overall vehicle assembly and front bumper construction.
As a result, the governing body handed down an L1 penalty. The team was fined $75,000 and docked 60 driver points, 60 owner points, and five playoff points. Crew chief Scott Graves was suspended for two races, including the All-Star Race and the upcoming Coca-Cola 600. The penalty dropped Buescher from 12th to 24th in the playoff standings, moving him from 33 points above the cutline to 27 points below it.
Initially, RFK Racing’s response was measured. The team stated, “We remain committed to full compliance with NASCAR’s rules. We are carefully reviewing the details of the situation to determine if we will file an appeal within the timeframe allotted.” Doug Randolph stepped in as interim crew chief while the team considered its options. This restrained approach didn’t go down well with the fans.
Now, RFK has decided to appeal. In their official statement, the team said, “After a thorough review of the penalties issued to the No. 17 Ford Mustang, RFK Racing has decided to appeal NASCAR’s decision. We respect NASCAR’s commitment to fair competition and appreciate the opportunity to engage in the appeals process.”
— RFK Racing (@RFKracing) May 19, 2025
If the appeal is successful, Buescher could regain lost points, and playoff hopes would be revived. Crew chief Scott Graves could return sooner, and the $75,000 fine might be reduced or lifted. If the appeal fails, the penalty stands. Buescher faces a tougher playoff battle, and the team will need to regroup quickly to recover lost ground in the standings.
And while the appeal process is underway, fans find themselves asking: why did Keselowski and Co. wait so long in the first place? That’s one of the things the driver revealed. “There’s been a lot going on. I mean, honestly, I was traveling most of the week with media appearances, sponsor stuff, and I haven’t got all of it dialed in yet to fully understand. We have till Monday to do so, and we’re going to exhaust that time period and evaluate everything by then.”
The NASCAR appeals process gives teams a chance to challenge penalties they believe are unfair or incorrect. Once NASCAR issues a penalty, the team has a short window (usually 24 to 48 hours) to file an official appeal. RFK Racing used this right after reviewing the $75,000 penalty and points deduction handed to Chris Buescher’s No. 17 team after Kansas.
As for Buescher, the driver seems unfazed. “Yeah, it’s already behind me right now. You know, we’re here at the race track, we’ve been prepping for this race for a really long time already. Nothing’s changing on our weekend. For us, we’ll deal with that during the work week, but it’s race weekend now. So yeah, with the speed we’ve had this year and what we’ve been able to do at a lot of different styles of race tracks, it’s the same opportunity we felt like we had before Thursday. So yeah, I’m ready to go for this one.” And when he finished in 10th place at the All-Star Race, his determination was clear.
However, the road is not all clear for RFK Racing.
Chris Buescher has a big challenge for the Coca-Cola 600
While the appeal is pending, penalties like crew chief suspensions can sometimes be deferred. But RFK Racing chose to have Scott Graves begin his suspension immediately. He already missed the All-Star Race. For Buescher, the Coca-Cola 600 is a critical race. He enters Charlotte Motor Speedway 24th in the playoff standings. Every stage point and finishing position matters more than ever. A strong result could help offset the penalty’s impact, especially if the appeal is unsuccessful.
Chris Buescher’s record at Charlotte Motor Speedway shows steady improvement and resilience. Over his Cup Series career, Buescher has made 15 starts at the 1.5-mile oval. He has yet to finish inside the top five. But he’s earned four top-10 finishes, including a career-best sixth place in the 2019 Coca-Cola 600. His average finish at Charlotte is around 19th (since 2022), reflecting a mix of mid-pack results and a few strong showings.
What’s worse for Buescher is that Charlotte was where he had one of his worst crashes in his NASCAR career. Todd Gilliland came spinning into Buescher’s path as he lost control of his car, crashed into the former, and went onto the grass. But that wasn’t all. Buescher’s car began barrel rolling down the grass. Thankfully, Buescher was safe coming out of the car.
As he heads into the 2025 Coca-Cola 600, Buescher will look to capitalize on recent gains and turn solid runs into a breakthrough performance. We hope that the momentum they’ve built (despite the penalty cloud) translates into a statement run that keeps their playoff hopes alive.
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