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.