NASCAR Cup Series

Can rookie Chris Buescher make it to the Chase?

Published Aug. 18, 2016 2:55 p.m. ET

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There are only four races left in the regular season including this Saturday night at Bristol. There are officially five spots still up for grabs in the 2016 NASCAR Sprint Cup Chase but really maybe only four spots, if rookie Chris Buescher can make his way into the top 30 in points. He currently is 31st in points.

Realistically barring any major upset in these last four races, there are seven or eight drivers vying for those remaining spots.

If I was still on the pit box making the calls, the message to my entire team would be simple -- "We Don't Beat Ourselves."  I would remind them of all the hard work and sacrifices everyone has made to date and that we are this close to making it in the Chase.

I also would make it clear that I don't care about the 10 Chase races. Collectively we as a team only need to worry about the next four races but I need perfection in these next four. Just give me one race at a time but make each race like we are at Homestead and racing for the championship.

If we can make it perfect these next four races, then we have a legitimate shot to make it to the championship round at Homestead in November. The message will be clear that our whole season is now boiled down to these next four races.

 I'm talking as a crew chief who has a team just barely inside the Chase on points but also as one just barely outside the Chase on points.

Regardless, it is one race at a time. It is not four races at a time. The rookie Buescher has a tall order ahead of him. While he has a lot of folks pulling for him, he has an equal amount of those wanting to stop him from making the Chase. Why?  The reason is simple. It opens up a slot for someone else based on points who doesn't have a win like Chris does.

I know it's hard to explain but after what Kyle Busch did last year and what Tony Stewart is doing this year, I know there are folks sitting over there in the corner secretly hoping this kid who has won a race doesn't make the Chase. They want to pounce and say "See, there is a flaw in the system."

Sadly, in today's world there are always folks out there that want to take away and tear down something as opposed to building it up.

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