# James Buescher

James Howard Buescher (born March 26, 1990) is an American professional stock car racing driver. He is the 2012 NASCAR Truck Series champion.
After parting ways with NTS Motorsports in 2015, Buescher became a real estate agent. He owns and operates his own real estate agency, The Buescher Group, with his wife Kris in their home state of Texas. The company is part of the Compass Real Estate company. He would be without a ride until 2020, when he joined Niece Motorsports for one Truck Series race in 2020 followed by a race in 2021.
Buescher is the cousin of 2015 NASCAR Xfinity Series champion Chris Buescher, who competes full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series for RFK Racing.

## Early career

Buescher's earliest racing success came in 2004 when he became a national champion in the Young Gun division of Bandolero racing at Texas Motor Speedway. He then moved on to the American Speed Association where, in 2006, he was named Most Popular Driver as well as winning the Late Model Series South championship. For 2007, Buescher ran a part-time schedule in both the ARCA Series and the NASCAR Busch East Series. He became the youngest winner in ARCA series history when he won at USA International Speedway in his series debut. In six more races that season, he would earn an additional 5 top-10 finishes as well as finish in the top 10 in all 4 Busch East races he entered.

## NASCAR Nationwide Series

In 2008, Buescher signed with Braun Racing to run six races in the Nationwide Series (now known as the Xfinity Series). He made his debut at Phoenix International Raceway in the No. 32 Great Clips Toyota. He started 17th and stayed in the top 20 all race long, finishing 18th. He would earn his first top 10 at Gateway International Raceway (finishing 7th) and his first pole at Memphis Motorsports Park. He would spend most of the 2009 season in the Camping World Truck Series. Near the end of 2009, Buescher was announced as the 2010 driver for Phoenix Racing. To prepare for the season, he ran two races in the No. 1 Miccosukee Resorts Chevrolet, finishing 11th at Texas and 13th at Phoenix.
A week prior to the beginning of the 2010 season, it was announced that Miccosukee was dropping its sponsorship of all NASCAR teams, effective immediately. Despite this setback, Buescher responded with an 8th-place finish in the season opener at Daytona International Speedway. On May 12, 2010 Buescher parted ways with Phoenix Racing and returned to the Camping World Truck Series. He made his return to the Nationwide Series at Kansas Speedway in September driving for Turner Motorsports in the No. 11 Great Clips Toyota. He ran four additional races for Turner, earning his 2nd career pole at Texas in the No. 30 Chevrolet.
For 2011, it was announced that Buescher would run part-time in the series, sharing the No. 30 Chevrolet with several other drivers. On February 25, 2012, Buescher won the season opener at Daytona, avoiding a massive crash on the final lap and coming from 11th to win, leading only the final lap.
After the 2013 season, in which Buescher finished third in Truck Series points, he announced that he would be competing for RAB Racing in the 2014 NASCAR Nationwide Series, driving the No. 99 Toyota. Rheem was Buescher's primary sponsor, and he went on to finish 10th in 2014 Nationwide Series points. Buescher returned to the Truck Series briefly in 2015 before retiring.

## NASCAR Truck Series

Buescher made his Truck Series debut in the 2008 Ford 200, the season finale. Driving the No. 15 Ergon Hyprene Toyota for Billy Ballew Motorsports, he qualified 10th and finished 19th. Prior to the start of the 2009 season, it was announced that Buescher would be replacing Brendan Gaughan in the No. 10 International Maxx Force Diesel Ford for Circle Bar Racing. He found little success over the course of the season and finished 14th in points. In 25 races, he accumulated just three top-10s, including a 5th at The Milwaukee Mile. At the end of the season, Buescher left the team to focus on his new Nationwide Series ride.
It was also announced that he would return to the Truck Series for up to 19 races in 2010 with Turner Motorsports.
After running the April Nashville race in the No. 90 Great Clips Toyota for Stringer Motorsports, Buescher ran the balance of the 2010 season in the No. 31 truck. In 21 races for Turner, Buescher would earn ten top-10s with two finishes of 2nd. He narrowly missed a win at New Hampshire, giving up the lead to Kyle Busch on a green-white-checker finish. Despite not running the first three events of the season, Buescher finished 11th in the final points standings, just 16 points out of 10th.
   "[W]e were all pretty shocked...At the time it was the worst feeling in the world, but looking back on it's probably a blessing in disguise because we were able to come on strong the rest of the season and make a run for the championship."
Turner Scott Motorsports announced that Buescher would return to the team for the 2011 season, running the full 25-race schedule. A promising start saw Buescher lead the first 55 laps at Daytona before his involvement in a multi-car crash on lap 97 left him ninth. However, Buescher failed to qualify for the next race at Phoenix. The No. 31 team was not yet guaranteed a starting spot because it had not attempted every event the previous season. Two races later, a wreck with Jeffrey Earnhardt at Martinsville dropped Buescher to 20th in the driver standings. Buescher responded to the setbacks with thirteen consecutive top-10 finishes including his first Truck Series pole position at Texas and a runner-up finish at IRP. A tenth-place finish at Atlanta gave Buescher the championship lead in a tight points battle with Austin Dillon and Johnny Sauter. Buescher lost the lead two events later but stayed competitive in the three-man race. He earned his second career pole at Talladega and was within eleven points of Dillon with two races remaining.
At Texas, Buescher won another pole position and led 56 laps, battling side-by-side with Dillon for much of the event. However, while running second, a caution waved on lap 142 for David Starr's blown engine. During the slowdown, Buescher ran out of fuel on the backstretch and had to be pushed to pit road. He lost fuel pressure and was lapped twice by the pace car before successfully re-firing his car. The 19th-place finish left Buescher with an outside chance at best for the championship finale at Homestead. There, despite scoring another pole, great runs by Dillon and Sauter and a run-in with Kevin Harvick solidified Buescher's third-place finish in the final point standings.
Buescher returned to Turner Motorsports for the 2012 season as a title favorite. After crashing on the final lap in the season opener at Daytona, he led 103 laps and earned his first career Truck Series victory at Kansas. He quickly followed with early-season wins at Kentucky and Chicagoland. The Chicago win began a run of nine top-ten finishes in ten races for Buescher. The streak, which included another dominating victory at Kentucky, secured a 21-point lead for Buescher over Ty Dillon, the younger brother of 2011 championship rival Austin, with three races remaining. Subpar finishes in the next two events, including a late-race blown tire at Phoenix, meant Buescher needed to score at least a seventh-place finish at Homestead to clinch the title over Dillon and Timothy Peters. Buescher struggled in the finale, but went on to finish 13th and claim the 2012 Truck Series championship by six points over Peters, the first such title for Turner Motorsports. He survived a final push from Dillon, who closed to within one point of Buescher but crashed with three laps remaining while battling Kyle Larson for second place. Buescher's four wins were the most for a Turner driver since the team's entry into the series in 2009.
Buescher left to drive full-time in the Nationwide Series for RAB Racing in 2014. However, he had a lackluster season, compared to his Truck Series success. In 2015, Buescher was picked up by NTS Motorsports to drive the No. 31 Chevrolet Silverado for a part-time schedule; Buescher participated in three races. However, after not being competitive in a well-funded ride, Buescher retired to help take care of his children.
In 2020, Buescher returned to the series in a one-off appearance for Niece Motorsports at Texas. He would return to Niece in 2021 for the season-opener at Daytona. With Carson Hocevar driving the No. 42 full-time that year, Buescher instead drove the team's No. 44 truck. His race would end early when Tanner Gray had an issue before the start and sustained heavy damage to the front end of his truck as a result of contact. He would ultimately finish 36th. It is unclear if he will attempt additional races for the team throughout the season.

## Personal life

Born in Melbourne, Florida, Buescher was raised in Plano, Texas. Buescher has a cousin, Chris, who races in the NASCAR Cup Series for RFK Racing. He is the son in law of former car owner Steve Turner. Buescher married Krishtian Turner in January 2012, in a ceremony performed in Costa Rica. They have two children. In November 2014, Buescher and his wife founded The Buescher Foundation to provide resources and financial support to families adopting domestically.

## Motorsports career results
### NASCAR

(key) (Bold − Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics − Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

#### Nationwide Series

NASCAR Nationwide Series results :
| Year | Team | No. | Make | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | NNSC | Pts | Ref |
| 2008 | Braun Racing | 32 | Toyota | DAY | CAL | LVS | ATL | BRI | NSH | TEX | PHO 18 | MXC | TAL | RCH | DAR | CLT | DOV | NSH | KEN 14 | MLW 14 | NHA | DAY | CHI | GTY 7 | IRP 28 | CGV | GLN | MCH | BRI | CAL | RCH | DOV | KAN | CLT | MEM 19 | TEX | PHO | HOM | 56th | 692 | |
| 2009 | Phoenix Racing | 1 | Chevy | DAY | CAL | LVS | BRI | TEX | NSH | PHO | TAL | RCH | DAR | CLT | DOV | NSH | KEN | MLW | NHA | DAY | CHI | GTY | IRP | IOW | GLN | MCH | BRI | CGV | ATL | RCH | DOV | KAN | CAL | CLT | MEM | TEX 11 | PHO 13 | HOM | 90th | 254 | |
| 2010 | Phoenix Racing | 1 | Chevy | DAY 8 | CAL 13 | LVS 29 | BRI 36 | NSH 34 | PHO 28 | TEX 17 | TAL 37 | RCH 12 | DAR 31 | DOV | CLT | NSH | KEN | ROA | NHA | DAY | CHI | GTY | IRP | IOW | GLN | MCH | BRI | CGV | ATL | RCH | DOV | | | | | | | | 36th | 1347 | |
| 2010 | Turner Motorsports | 11 | Toyota | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | KAN 35 | CAL 17 | | | | PHO 22 | HOM | 36th | 1347 | |
| 2010 | Turner Motorsports | 10 | Toyota | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | CLT 16 | GTY | | | | | | 36th | 1347 |
| 2010 | Turner Motorsports | 30 | Chevy | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | TEX 37 | | | | 36th | 1347 | |
| 2011 | Turner Motorsports | 34 | Chevy | DAY | PHO | LVS | BRI 13 | CAL | TEX | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 103rd | 0$^1$ | |
| 2011 | Turner Motorsports | 30 | Chevy | | | | | | | TAL 23 | NSH | RCH 23 | DAR | DOV 8 | IOW 9 | CLT | CHI | MCH | ROA | DAY | KEN | NHA | NSH | IRP 2 | IOW | GLN 17 | CGV | BRI | ATL | RCH | CHI | DOV | KAN 18 | CLT | TEX 17 | PHO 30 | | | | 103rd | 0$^1$ | |
| 2011 | Turner Motorsports | 32 | Chevy | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | HOM 14 | | 103rd | 0$^1$ | |
| 2012 | Turner Motorsports | 30 | Chevy | DAY 1 | PHO 12 | LVS 14 | BRI 14 | CAL 12 | TEX | RCH 12 | TAL 7 | DAR 9 | IOW | CLT 7 | DOV 9 | MCH 2 | ROA | KEN 10 | DAY 34 | NHA | CHI 15 | IND 26 | IOW | GLN | CGV | BRI | ATL 23 | RCH 11 | CHI | KEN 13 | DOV | CLT 9 | KAN 28 | TEX | PHO | HOM | | | 103rd | 0$^1$ | |
| 2013 | Turner Scott Motorsports | 34 | Chevy | DAY | PHO | LVS | BRI | CAL | TEX | RCH | TAL | DAR | CLT | DOV | IOW | MCH | ROA 14 | KEN | DAY 2 | NHA | CHI | IND | IOW | GLN | MOH | BRI | ATL | RCH | CHI | KEN | DOV | KAN 15 | CLT 11 | TEX | PHO | HOM | | | 99th | 0$^1$ | |
| 2014 | RAB Racing | 99 | Toyota | DAY 16 | PHO 12 | LVS 18 | BRI 13 | CAL 16 | TEX 13 | DAR 25 | RCH 10 | TAL 29 | IOW 19 | CLT 11 | DOV 15 | MCH 15 | ROA 17 | KEN 14 | DAY 14 | NHA 22 | CHI 23 | IND 21 | IOW 26 | GLN 11 | MOH 25 | BRI 9 | ATL 19 | RCH 19 | CHI 18 | KEN 14 | DOV 15 | KAN 21 | CLT 31 | TEX 24 | PHO 14 | HOM 18 | | | 10th | 868 | |

#### Camping World Truck Series

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series results :
| Year | Team | No. | Make | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | NCWTC | Pts |
| 2008 | Billy Ballew Motorsports | 15 | Toyota | DAY | CAL | ATL | MAR | KAN | CLT | MFD | DOV | TEX | MCH | MLW | MEM | KEN | IRP | NSH | BRI | GTW | NHA | LVS | TAL | MAR | ATL | TEX | PHO | HOM 19 | 82nd | 106 |
| 2009 | Circle Bar Racing | 10 | Ford | DAY 25 | CAL 13 | ATL 14 | MAR 11 | KAN 12 | CLT 12 | DOV 24 | TEX 18 | MCH 33 | MLW 5 | MEM 20 | KEN 8 | IRP 6 | NSH 17 | BRI 13 | CHI 20 | IOW 14 | GTW 23 | NHA 17 | LVS 13 | MAR 11 | TAL 15 | TEX 17 | PHO 23 | HOM 18 | 14th | 2884 |
| 2010 | Stringer Motorsports | 90 | Toyota | DAY | ATL | MAR | NSH 13 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 11th | 2963 |
| 2010 | Turner Motorsports | 31 | Chevy | | | | | KAN 16 | DOV 2 | CLT 4 | TEX 6 | MCH 16 | IOW 5 | GTY 12 | IRP 5 | POC 11 | NSH 16 | DAR 7 | BRI 33 | CHI 12 | KEN 22 | NHA 2 | LVS 3 | MAR 12 | TAL 6 | TEX 6 | PHO 11 | HOM 19 | 11th | 2963 |
| 2011 | Turner Motorsports | 31 | Chevy | DAY 9* | PHO DNQ | DAR 5 | MAR 35 | NSH 5 | DOV 8 | CLT 4 | KAN 4 | TEX 9 | KEN 9 | IOW 7 | NSH 7 | IRP 2* | POC 3 | MCH 4 | BRI 4 | ATL 10 | CHI 11 | NHA 7 | KEN 3 | LVS 21 | TAL 3 | MAR 10 | TEX 19 | HOM 12 | 3rd | 859 |
| 2012 | Turner Motorsports | 31 | Chevy | DAY 17 | MAR 3 | CAR 2 | KAN 1* | CLT 22 | DOV 7 | TEX 15 | KEN 1* | IOW 30* | CHI 1 | POC 2 | MCH 5 | BRI 7 | ATL 3 | IOW 17 | KEN 1* | LVS 6 | TAL 3 | MAR 6 | TEX 11 | PHO 17 | HOM 13 | | | | 1st | 808 |
| 2013 | Turner Scott Motorsports | 31 | Chevy | DAY 13 | MAR 14 | CAR 14 | KAN 6 | CLT 6 | DOV 15 | TEX 9 | KEN 4 | IOW 3 | ELD 19 | POC 21 | MCH 1 | BRI 7 | MSP 9 | IOW 1 | CHI 8 | LVS 9 | TAL 26 | MAR 10 | TEX 6 | PHO 9 | HOM 13 | | | | 3rd | 761 |
| 2015 | NTS Motorsports | 31 | Chevy | DAY 17 | ATL 8 | MAR 7 | KAN | CLT | DOV | TEX | GTW | IOW | KEN | ELD | POC | MCH | BRI | MSP | CHI | NHA | LVS | TAL | MAR | TEX | PHO | HOM | | | 36th | 100 |
| 2020 | Niece Motorsports | 42 | Chevy | DAY | LVS | CLT | ATL | HOM | POC | KEN | TEX | KAN | KAN | MCH | DAY | DOV | GTW | DAR | RCH | BRI | LVS | TAL | KAN | TEX 15 | MAR | PHO | | | 56th | 22 |
| 2021 | Niece Motorsports | 44 | Chevy | DAY 36 | DAY | LVS | ATL | BRI | RCH | KAN | DAR | COA | CLT | TEX | NSH | POC | KNX | GLN | GTW | DAR | BRI | LVS | TAL | MAR | PHO | | | | 88th | 1 |
$^*$ Season still in progress
$^1$ Ineligible for series points

#### Camping World East Series

NASCAR Camping World East Series results :
| Year | Team | No. | Make | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | NCWESC | Pts | Ref |
| 2007 | Marsh Racing | 31 | Chevy | GRE | ELK | IOW | SBO | STA | NHA 7 | TMP 6 | MCM | ADI | LRP 6 | MFD | NHA 9 | DOV | 28th | 589 | |
| 2008 | Marsh Racing | 31 | Chevy | GRE | IOW 13 | SBO | GLN DNQ | NHA | TMP | MCM | ADI | LRP | MFD | NHA | DOV | STA | 46th | 200 | |

#### Camping World West Series

NASCAR Camping World West Series results :
| Year | Team | No. | Make | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | NCWWSC | Pts | Ref |
| 2008 | Marsh Racing | 31 | Chevy | AAS | PHO 6 | CTS | IOW | CNS | SON | IRW | DCS | EVG | MMP | IRW | AMP | AAS | 53rd | 150 | |

#### Canadian Tire Series

NASCAR Canadian Tire Series results :
| Year | Team | No. | Make | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | NCTSC | Pts | Ref |
| 2013 | 22 Racing | 24 | Dodge | MOS | DEL | MOS2 | ICAR | MPS | SAS | ASE | CTR | RIS | MOS3 31 | BAR | KWA | 59th | 13 | |

### ARCA Racing Series

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)
ARCA Racing Series results :
| Year | Team | No. | Make | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | ARSC | Pts | Ref |
| 2007 | Country Joe Racing | 32 | Dodge | DAY | USA 1 | NSH | SLM 6 | KAN | WIN | KEN | TOL | IOW | POC | MCH | BLN 3 | KEN | POC | NSH | ISF 7 | MIL 28 | GTW | DSF | CHI | SLM 4 | TAL | TOL 2 | 30th | 1405 | |
| 2008 | Win-Tron Racing | 9 | Dodge | DAY | SLM | IOW 29 | KAN | CAR | KEN | TOL | POC | MCH | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 36th | 880 | |
| 2008 | Win-Tron Racing | 32 | Dodge | | | | | | | | | | CAY 25 | KEN | BLN | POC | NSH 17 | ISF | DSF 9 | CHI 36 | SLM | NJE 7 | TAL 31 | TOL | | | | 36th | 880 |
| 2009 | Win-Tron Racing | 32 | Toyota | DAY 1* | SLM | CAR | TAL | KEN 1* | TOL | POC | MCH 4 | MFD | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 39th | 735 | |
| 2009 | Win-Tron Racing | 9 | Toyota | | | | | | | | | | IOW 30 | KEN | BLN | POC | ISF | CHI | TOL | DSF | NJE | SLM | KAN | CAR | | | | 39th | 735 |
| 2010 | Phoenix Racing | 51 | Toyota | DAY 4 | PBE | SLM | | TAL 30 | TOL | POC | MCH | IOW | MFD | POC | BLN | NJE | ISF | CHI | DSF | TOL | SLM | KAN | CAR | | | | 49th | 450 | |
| 2010 | Phoenix Racing | 51 | Dodge | | | | TEX 18 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 49th | 450 |
| 2011 | Turner Motorsports | 4 | Chevy | DAY | TAL | SLM | TOL | NJE | CHI | POC | MCH | WIN | BLN | IOW | IRP 3 | POC | ISF | MAD | DSF | SLM | KAN | TOL | | | | | 85th | 225 | |