ThorSport Racing has tapped Chris Buescher, a decade-long veteran of the NASCAR Cup Series, to compete in Friday’s Mission 176 for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series at Watkins Glen International.
The six-time NASCAR Cup Series race-winner will be piloting the No. 66 FarmPaint.com Ford F-150 for the championship-winning organization, in what will serve as the driver’s debut in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.
?@Chris_Buescher is set to make his NASCAR Truck Series debut this Friday at Watkins Glen, driving the No. 66 https://t.co/yJLe9nHRr0 Ford F-150 for ThorSport Racing.
Tune in at 5 PM ET on FS1 to watch Buescher return to a track he knows all too well – this time in a different… pic.twitter.com/U7ZVOGQIti
— ThorSport Racing (@ThorSportRacing) August 4, 2025
Buescher is the defending NASCAR Cup Series winner at Watkins Glen. The RFK Racing driver triumphed in a thrilling battle between himself and road course expert Shane van Gisbergen in the final laps of last September’s event.
That victory marked the sixth at NASCAR’s top level for Buescher, five of which have come with RFK Racing — where he currently drives the No. 17 Ford Mustang Dark Horse.
“Watkins Glen has been a special place for me, especially after last year’s win,” said Buescher. “So, I’m really looking forward to getting back there. It’s a great place for me to make my first-ever Truck Series start. I’m thankful for Duke, Rhonda, and Allison Thorson for giving me the opportunity to do so.”
On his way to the NASCAR Cup Series, Buescher completely bypassed the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series — moving from ARCA in 2012 to a part-time Xfinity Series schedule in 2013.
The native of Prosper, Texas, is a three-time winner in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, but captured the division’s championship in 2015. That allowed him to move to the NASCAR Cup Series, where he’s been ever since.
After 23 NASCAR Cup Series events, Buescher finds himself on the cutline to make the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs, holding a 23-point advantage over his teammate at RFK Racing, Ryan Preece.
The Mission 176 is set to take place on Friday, August 8 at 5:00 pm ET on FS1, NASCAR Racing Network, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.
