Braun Racing's James Buescher gets a little help from his 'girl' friend in Nationwide Series
James Buescher was racing a Legends car a few years ago, dreaming of racing in NASCAR one day but not really worried about it.
One weekend, Buescher’s Legends car suffered a part failure, and he looked around the garage area for a replacement.
He ended up talking to Steve Turner, who owned another Legends car, and begged him to use it.
Next thing you know, Buescher is running Late Models for Turner, and then the in Hooters Pro Cup tour and Camping World Series. He’s winning at all levels, and then Braun Racing signs him for a part-time ride in the Nationwide Series.
All because Buescher got some help from his girlfriend’s father.
Say what?
When Buescher went to Turner to ask for another car, that car was Kris Turner’s backup car. Kris is Steve’s daughter, and Kris and Buescher were dating at the time.
“I met [Steve Turner] through Legends cars,” Buescher said. “I was racing Legends cars against his daughter, Kris Turner. I broke a rear end in practice one day, and they had a backup car, and I asked to use it.
“I ended up winning the race in their backup car. He put in a Late Model and stuck with me ever since.”
And so has Kris. She and Buescher are still dating, and now they even live under the same roof. That’s right, Buescher moved from Plano, Texas to Sheridan, Texas to race for Turner. Steve Turner.
Much has changed in Buescher’s young life since he started driving for Steve Turner. What was once simply the dream of a young Texan now is reality.
In 2004, Buescher was racing Bandoleros – and racing them good enough that he won the “Young Gun National Championship.” A year later, he was winning in Legends, including the victory in his girlfriend’s backup car.
The next year, in Turner’s cars, Buescher won the ASA Late Model Southern Division title. And in 2007, he races in ARCA, Hooters Pro Cup and in the Camping World East Series.
And this year came the Nationwide Series.
“It all came really fast,” Buescher said.
It has been a whirlwind for Buescher, who has become part of a younger corps of drivers, joining teen-agers Landon Cassill, Bryan Clauson and Joey Logano. Buescher is probably the least-known of those drivers, but that’s OK with him.
“You always want to get your name out there more,” Buescher said. “I’ve always kind of been under the radar, I guess. I’m not really talked about a lot in anything I’ve race in. I am kind of low-key and kind of a quiet person. I don’t know what it is that I just don’t get talked about as much as everybody else. Either way, I’m still racing.”
And that’s all that matters to him. The trouble is, his tenure with Braun, one of the top independent teams in the Nationwide Series, could be coming to an end.
Next weekend’s race at Memphis Motorsports Park is Buescher’s last scheduled appearance in the No. 32 Toyota this year, and car owner Todd Braun’s plan for Buescher in 2009 is unclear.
The team recently announced that Brian Vickers and Burney Lamar will share the No. 32 next year alongside full-time driver Jason Leffler. Braun does have its part-time No. 10 entry, but plans for that car are in a state of flux.
“He’ll be somewhere next year,” Braun said. “It may be with us, maybe not. I don’t really know. But, he will be somewhere next year. He’s a great kid and is going to be a good asset to somebody at some point.”
And remember, Buescher is only 18 years old, so he clearly has a lot of racing ahead of him. And if he doesn’t end up with Braun, Buescher won’t worry too much.
“I really don’t show a lot of emotion, pretty much for anything,” Buescher said. “I’m a laid-back, go-with-the-flow kind of guy. It something happens and plans change, plans change.”
That doesn’t mean Buescher is lacking in confidence. Hardly. He scored his first top-10 finish in his fourth Nationwide start earlier this year at Gateway International Raceway, but he expected it sooner than that.
“I was kind of expecting one sooner than this,” Buescher said. “I expected to be in the top 10 at [my first two races at] Kentucky and Milwaukee both. Things happened that it didn’t work out. The team has good equipment and I’ve pretty much been able to run up front in everything I’ve driven.”
Equipment often owned by his girlfriend’s dad.
But Buescher says he was dating her long before he borrowed her car.
“Steve told me that’s not the reason I’m racing for him,” Buescher said.
By his resume, he’s correct.
