Bloggin' is Racin'

Texan Chris Buescher signs with Roush Fenway Racing

Roush Fenway Racing has welcomed another Texas native into its racing family. Teenager Chris Buescher of Prosper has signed a driver development contract with the NASCAR team. Colin Braun, 21, of Ovalo also races for Roush in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, where he is seventh in the points in his sophomore season piloting the No. 6 Ford.
 
The 16-year-old Buescher has spent the 2009 season competing part-time in the ARCA RE/MAX Series, where he has three top-five and four top-10 finishes in six starts for Roulo Brothers Racing. When he won the pole at Salem Speedway earlier this year, he set an ARCA record for the youngest pole winner in the series' 57-year history. Buescher is the younger cousin of James Buescher of Plano, who is a rookie in the Camping World Truck Series and drives the No. 10 Ford for Texas-based Circle Bar Racing. 

“I’ve worked really hard and it’s taken a long time, but I’m very glad to be where I am,” Chris Buescher said in a release. “Roush is one of the top teams out there and to be associated with them is an honor. This year was a big step. I’ve learned a lot this year and am really looking forward to next year."

It should come as no surprise that Buescher has landed with RFR. Roush Sprint Cup driver David Ragan has been mentoring Buescher in Legends Cars at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C., since 2008. Buescher's No. 17 Ford in the ARCA RE/MAX Series is sponsored by the David Ragan Fan Club. Local racing fans may remember Buescher from when he won the 2007 Legends Car Pro division championship at Texas Motor Speedway.
 
Buescher will continue to run a part-time ARCA RE/MAX Series schedule in 2010 with Roulo Brothers in association with Roush Fenway Racing.

-- Michele Vincze

Plano teen James Buescher wins ARCA race at Daytona

Plano native James Buescher held off fellow teenager and Sprint Cup rookie Joey Logano to win the Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 ARCA/RE MAX race at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday.

Logano, 18, was attempting to pass Buescher, 18, for the lead with six laps remaining when a multi-car accident behind them brought out a red flag. After the stoppage, the field came to the green with only two laps remaining and Logano never mounted enough of a threat to get past Buescher, who will now shift his focus to the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series where he'll pilot the No. 10 Ford for Circle Bar Racing.

Pole-sitter Justin Lofton finished third followed by John Wes Townley and Ken Weaver. Fort Worth resident Nur Ali finished 38th after he was involved in an accident on lap 30 of the 80-lap event. Only 11 cars finished on the lead lap. Go here for more info and complete results.

-- Michele Vincze

Buescher qualifies 7th, Ali 35th for Daytona ARCA race

Plano native James Buescher, who is scheduled to run a full NASCAR Trucks series schedule this season for Circle Bar Racing, qualified seventh in his No. 32 Toyota for Saturday's season-opening ARCA RE/MAX race at Daytona International Speedway. Justin Lofton posted a lap of 182.120 mph to edge Alli Owens (181.510 mph) for the pole on the 2.5-mile Daytona oval. Owens, a second-year ARCA driver from Daytona Beach, Fla., is one of two women in the field.
NASCAR phenom Joey Logano, 18, will start third in the Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 after running 181.324. Fort Worth resident Nur Ali qualified 35th in his No. 45 Dodge. Read more about Ali here. A full ARCA lineup can be found here. The race will be shown live on Speed, starting at 3 p.m. (Central) on Saturday.

-- Michele Vincze

Harvick inks Carmichael for 'Dega ARCA race

Former motorcross champion Ricky Carmichael is scheduled to make his ARCA RE/MAX Series debut on Oct. 3 at Talladega Superspeedway. Kevin Harvick Inc. will provide Carmichael's ride at the 2.66-mile high-banked track. Carmichael, who is a 15-time AMA motorcross champion, is eighth in NASCAR's Camping World East Series standings. The rookie has three top-five and six top-10 finishes driving for Ken Schrader Racing. Carmichael is participating in an ARCA open test at Talladega this week.

-- Michele Vincze

Quote of the week

"I don't have an ego. And everyone that knows me here realizes it. I know I'm not the best (NASCAR) driver. I probably never will be, because I didn't grow up racing this stuff. I care a lot about it, but I keep it in perspective. We're entertaining fans."

-- Red Bull driver Scott Speed, in a recent USA Today piece about his experiences driving stock cars. The former Formula One driver has won four ARCA races and one Craftsman Truck Series event so far this season. The California native is a real talent and a real character. Keep an eye on him.

Photo: Getty Images

Scott Speed is a poser

Former Formula One driver Scott Speed is pretty good. Apparently he might be a little too good for the ARCA RE/MAX Series. Speed collected his second victory of the season Friday night at Kentucky Speedway, edging Sean Caisse by .561 seconds in the Kentucky 150. As he's done in his previous ARCA and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series wins this year, Speed posed with his trophy in Victory Lane. Nice. Read more here.

-- Michele Vincze
Photo: Getty Images