Chris Buescher and RFK Racing Move Past L1 Penalty Confidently

Chris Buescher and the RFK Racing No. 17 team are facing a major challenge in the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series after receiving an L1-level penalty from NASCAR officials on May 15. The penalty followed an inspection after the Kansas Speedway event, where the team’s car was found to have unapproved reinforcement on its front bumper cover.

This decision hit hard, resulting in a deduction of 60 driver championship points for Buescher and the team, as well as a $75,000 fine. Crew chief Scott Graves also received a two-race suspension, starting immediately with the NASCAR All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro. Veteran Doug Randolph is stepping in as interim crew chief while the team considers an appeal.

Before the penalty, Buescher sat in 14th place in the Cup Series standings and was safely inside the rumored playoff bubble. After losing 60 points, he dropped to 24th place, putting him 27 points behind the playoff cutline with the regular season now entering a key stretch.

The All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway set for May 18, does not award any points, meaning the team will have to wait for the Coca-Cola 600 on May 25 at Charlotte Motor Speedway for a chance to regain ground. Despite these setbacks, Buescher is focused on the task ahead.

He mentioned that the penalty is already in the past, explaining that his team has spent significant time preparing for the weekend. Buescher finished third in last year’s All-Star Race and remains optimistic about the team’s prospects, especially given their solid performances at several different types of tracks this season.

Through the first 12 races of 2025, Buescher has picked up six top-10 finishes. His most recent highlight came at Kansas, where he placed eighth after qualifying second, his best starting spot of the year.

Brad Keselowski, co-owner of RFK Racing and a Cup Series driver, believes Buescher has plenty of strong results ahead. He highlighted Buescher’s skill on road courses and short tracks.

Buescher has six career Cup Series wins, including one at Watkins Glen last September, as well as victories at Bristol and Richmond. Keselowski noted that the veteran driver can compete at a high level nearly every weekend, no matter the circuit.

For now, the team’s attention is on racing well at North Wilkesboro, even if it won’t help in the points standings. The All-Star Race is an opportunity for hard, competitive racing and a big payout for the winner.

Buescher said that racing at North Wilkesboro is always tough and exciting, with drivers pushing hard for the million-dollar prize and looking for bragging rights at the historic track. He sees it as a chance to add another memorable finish, regardless of the penalty hanging over the team.

RFK Racing’s management has until Monday to decide whether to file an appeal. They are carefully reviewing the details to determine if a challenge is worthwhile.

Previous appeals by other teams have succeeded under certain circumstances, but a failed appeal could stretch Graves’ suspension into more critical points-paying races, complicating the team’s playoff hopes. As the season moves forward, eyes are on how Buescher and RFK Racing will respond to this setback—and if they can fight their way back into playoff contention.

John Martinez

John Martinez delivers real-time NASCAR Cup Series and Truck Series news, from live race updates to pit-lane strategy analysis. A graduate of the University of Northwestern Ohio’s Motorsports Technology program, he breaks down rule changes, driver tactics, and championship points with crystal-clear reporting.