Buescher clinches NASCAR’s Xfinity title

HOMESTEAD, Fla. — Chris Buescher never made a major mistake, never got rattled and never even tried to contend for a victory. He gladly settled for a championship. Buescher won the Xfinity Series title Saturday, helping offset the sting of an unsatisfying season in Sprint Cup for Roush Fenway Racing.

The 23-year-old Buescher won the championship by finishing 11th in the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway, bringing home a fifth second-tier series crown for team owner Jack Roush.

“I was a little bit nervous, but all things considered, that was exactly what we needed to do,” Buescher said. “And we knew that and we knew we were capable of doing this. We made it through and now we get to celebrate.”

Buescher was the last driver on the lead lap and finished 15.9 seconds behind race winner Kyle Larson.

Larson had led most of the race early and cleared Austin Dillon for good with four laps left for his third career Xfinity win.

“I love this track,” Larson said. “I almost won the last two races here the last two years. It feels good to finally get it done.”

Dillon, the 2013 series champion, was second, followed by Truck Series champ Erik Jones, Brian Scott and Ryan Blaney.

Buescher needed to finish 13th or better without leading a lap to win the championship in Homestead. He also held off defending series champion Chase Elliott, Ty Dillon and Regan Smith, all within striking distance of knocking off Buescher.

Dillon was seventh, Elliott was eighth and Smith ninth.

In 33 starts in the No. 60 Mustang, Buescher posted wins at Iowa and Dover. He had 11 top-fives, and 20 top-10s.

“I’m not a points racer,” he said. “I don’t like it. It’s not the most fun way to run the last 10 races of the season. But it’s important. This is what we’ve been fighting for since February and Daytona.”