James Buescher has been released from his contract at Turner Scott Motorsports freeing the 2012 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion to join RAB Racing.
Buescher will join RAB Racing where he will compete full-time in the Nationwide Series.
Last season Buescher finished third in the truck series standings winning at Michigan and Iowa and netting four top-5 finishes and 14 finishes inside the top-10.
Both RAB Racing and Turner Scott field Nationwide Series teams but Buescher chose to join RAB Racing due to its ties with Toyota.
“There are a lot of reasons to make this move,” said Buescher on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio’s Sirius XM Speedway, “but the support RAB Racing gets from Toyota was the biggest factor in my decision. The opportunity arose for me to sign a new, multi-year Nationwide Series deal with RAB Racing, with a better path to a potential Sprint Cup Series ride than I’ve ever had before.”
Turner Scott Motorsports is owned in part by Buescher’s father-in-law, Steve Turner.
“Was it complicated? Yes and no,” he said. “It’s hard when you’re tied-in with family, but everyone knew it was coming sooner or later. Turner Scott Motorsports does not have a Sprint Cup Series team, and everyone knows that my ultimate goal is to be a Cup Series driver one day.”
“Everyone is fine with this decision and agrees it’s the best opportunity for me to take the next step in my career.”
Buescher will have Chris Rice on top of the pitbox for the 2014 season. In 2013, Rice lead the No. 99 Toyota Camry to two poles, two top-5 finishes, and six top-10 finishes.
On Wednesday Alex Bowman, driver of the No. 99 car last season, tested for BK Racing in a Sprint Cup Series car. Neither side has announced plans for 2014 yet.
