Chris Buescher eliminated from Cup championship contention in 2026

Chris Buescher appeared poised to compete for the victory during Sunday's YellaWood 500 at Talladega Superspeedway before a late accident ended his afternoon in 32nd place. The RFK Racing driver started fifth and led a race-high 53 laps, demonstrating impressive speed throughout much of the event.

Buescher played a central role in RFK Racing's unusual opening-stage strategy, joining teammates Ryan Preece and Brad Keselowski in a three-car drafting formation that separated them from the fuel-saving field. The strategy helped Buescher dominate the opening stage, which he won ahead of his teammates.

He continued displaying strong speed during Stage 2, finishing sixth and remaining among the drivers capable of challenging for the victory. However, his afternoon ended when a massive 15-car accident erupted on Lap 183.

Buescher sustained damage that prevented him from continuing, leaving him 32nd after 183 laps. Despite the disappointing finish, he earned 20 points through his stage performances and finishing position.

He slipped one position to 16th in the NASCAR Cup Series Chase standings with 2,186 points. Buescher trails championship leader Kyle Larson by 255 points, mathematically eliminating him from title contention. He will now focus on improving his final championship position at Martinsville and Homestead-Miami.