Buescher to stay with JTG Daugherty on multi-year deal

Chris Buescher has finally found some stability.

Announced Friday at Bristol Motor Speedway, the 24-year-old Buescher has signed a multi-year deal to remain at JTG Daugherty Racing. Buescher can now lay down some roots a year after joining the organization following his rookie season with Front Row Motorsports. In 2015, Buescher was in the Xfinity Series with Roush Fenway Racing.

Not surprisingly, there was no denying how good it felt for Buescher to agree to a contract that will keep him in the No. 37 Chevrolet for "the next handful of years."

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"You could definitely say that," Buescher said. "The fact that we're sitting here today to say that we have many years go forward and know we got [crew chief Trent Owens] leading the team, that's pretty amazing. It's nice to have that comfort through the offseason, something that has been hard to have, especially with the way the world is today.

"I'm very thankful for this opportunity. I've had a really good time this season and we've been able to make awesome improvements. Again, coming back to that continuity from one season to the next, haven't had that since way back in the Xfinity days, so knowing that we have the same group and we have notes and we have racecars that we've run, that's going to be a really big help and I look for that to be a big step in getting better results early in 2018."

Buescher will also continue to be paired with Owens. Team owner Tad Geschickter said Owens' contract was extended concurrently with Buescher's.

"They've really come together nicely so we're excited to see where they take it together," said Geschickter.

On the business side of things, Buescher's team will need a charter next year. Currently, JTG is leasing a charter for the No. 37 from Roush Fenway Racing. Buescher started his racing career as a Roush development driver and had been under contract with them when joining JTG. Geschickter said his organization has an owner's agreement to purchase a charter for next year and the paperwork will soon be submitted to NASCAR.

As for Buescher's contract with Roush, he said he is not aligned with Roush going forward. While thanking Roush for all they have done for him, Buescher said JTG is now home.

"For simplicity's sake and going forward, while everything goes through this time where everything restructures and gets back in line, this is our way to be able to say that we know what we're doing each and every year," he said.

In 23 starts this year, Buescher has an average finish of 20.7 with three top-10 finishes. His season-best finish came last weekend at Michigan where Buescher finished sixth. Ahead of Saturday night's race at Bristol Motor Speedway, Buescher sits 25th in points.

"There are three things that led to this decision - it's trust, it's the talent and it's his tenacity. If you look at the person he is, he's humble, he's kind, but I think the word that gets used by our sponsors the most and by the fans and all of you who meet him is he is sincere," said Geschickter. "I think that's a great quality for us and for the sponsors that are on our car. If you look at him at [age] 24, how far he has come just through determination and hard work.

"He has an ARCA championship, he's got an Xfinity championship and just in his short time with us, he's become a top fixture in the top 20 in the running order. He just keeps getting better every week. We are just still learning. Probably last, but not least, his tenacity. This guy is in the shop more than any other driver we have ever worked with. He stays in the hauler, he looks at his throttle traces, his Dartfish (data). He is always talking with his team about how he can make his car as competitive as possible each week.

"He is just a great leader. I'm excited that we are going to work together for a long time to come and I'm excited to see where we can take the No. 37 together."