CHARLOTTE – Friday night’s North Carolina Education Lottery 200 was supposed to include former NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion James Buescher.
At least he thought.
Buescher announced on Wednesday night that he was “devastated” that he would not drive the No. 31 Chevrolet for NTS Motorsports at Charlotte. The next day, he expanded on his tweet by issuing a statement that cemented his future is clouded.
“I want to thank all my fans for continuing to stick behind me,” Buescher said in the statement. “I was looking forward to getting behind the wheel of the No. 31 NTS Motorsports Chevy but, unfortunately, plans changed. I want to thank Bob Newberry and everyone at NTS Motorsports for giving me an opportunity early this season; we had a great run going and I was looking forward to seeing how it was going to turn out.
“At this point, I’m not sure when I’ll be back at the track but when I do return I look forward to being a threat to win every single time out.”
Later, Buescher squashed any speculation that he had parted ways with the Kernersville, North Carolina-based team and NTS Motorsports owner Bob Newberry confirmed that he hopes to put the six-time truck series winner back in the No. 31 Chevrolet this season.
“It’s not a departure,” Newberry told NASCAR.com. “When we started the season off, we knew that James was going to be a part-time situation. And then there for a little bit, it was looking real exciting, looking like it was going to be a full-time scenario. He’s still going to be in the truck. James will be back in the 31 this season.”
In the first three races of 2015, Buescher claimed two top-10 finishes, including a season-best eighth at Atlanta (Ga.) Motor Speedway in February.
Newberry also told NASCAR.com. that he brought a third truck to Charlotte Motor Speedway this week in case their “deal” finalized at the last minute.
“He’s doing a great job for us and he and I, we stayed in contact all week long, literally all through last night we were still trying to get the deal done and I’d have brought a third truck here if I had to, just to get him in here and run because I think he’s an asset for the team and everything.”
After a dismal season last year in the NASCAR XFINITY Series, Buescher returned to the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series scene where he joined NTS Motorsports and new teammate Daniel Hemric.
While Buescher, the 2012 NCWTS champion also made it abundantly clear in February that his ride with NTS Motorsports was just part-time, many expected the 25-year old to hash out an agreement that would keep him secure for another championship bid.
Scott Lagasse Jr. is back behind the wheel of the No. 31 Chevrolet Silverado for the second-consecutive week. The St. Augustine, Florida-native was second fastest in final practice Thursday night carrying sponsorship from GunBroker.com, who also sponsored Buescher in the season-opener at Daytona.
Follow Chris Knight on Twitter @Knighter01.
