Chris Buescher, a seasoned NASCAR Cup driver, will make his NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series debut on August 8, 2025, driving the No. 66 FarmPaint.com Ford F-150 for ThorSport Racing at Watkins Glen International.  It’s his first appearance in the Truck Series, an uncommon move down to the lower national level, which is normally used as a stepping stone rather than a destination.

Why Watkins Glen?

For Buescher, Watkins Glen has a unique significance:

He won last year’s NASCAR Cup race there, beating Shane van Gisbergen in a last-lap clash.

One of his greatest tracks on the Cup calendar, the road layout allows him to use his road-course skills in a different car.

For ThorSport Racing, it provides a chance to combine expertise and strategy: a high-profile Cup driver testing their truck program in difficult circumstances.

Rookie in the Truck Series, Veteran on the Circuit

Buescher is fresh to Truck competition, but his credentials are far from rookie.

Former Xfinity Champion (2015) and six-time Cup Series winner.

Over 350 Cup starts, including over 70 in Xfinity.

A track specialist on road courses, with many top-10 finishes at Glen.

Despite decades of top-tier racing, he has never competed in Trucks, making his debut a unique and exciting career event.

The No. 66 Ford and Team Dynamics

ThorSport’s No. 66 Ford F-150, sponsored by FarmPaint.com, has cycled drivers this year, including Luke Fenhaus and Luke Baldwin, but now features Buescher for a major race.  Fenhaus and Baldwin, both part-time truck drivers this season, will now hand over the wheel to a skilled colleague for one race.

This demonstrates ThorSport’s continuous adaptability and, arguably, a show of ambition: merging seasoned players with a championship-caliber roster for a chance at triumph.

Key Storylines to Watch at the Glen

How will Buescher adapt?

Aside from road-course configuration, trucks behave very differently due to their heavier weight, variable aerodynamics, and smaller vision windows.  It’s a test of flexibility, even for someone as skilled as Buescher.

Can experience trump truck-series nuance?

Other drivers in the competition include emerging talents and Truck specialists, like  Christopher Bell and Ross Chastain, but few can match Buescher’s Cup-level road racing experience.

Implications for ThorSport’s lineup?

If Buescher performs well, he may influence future driver rotations and partnerships, combining seasoned influence with emerging ability.

Buescher’s Credentials and Season Context

He is the defending Cup champion at Watkins Glen, therefore he is an obvious choice for the road course.

RFK Racing is presently 11th in the playoff rankings after a solid 2025 Cup campaign that included three top-five finishes and 11 top-10s.

Qualifying for the Cup playoffs is tough; his Truck run might provide further on-track experience before Sunday’s Cup race.

What This Debut Means for NASCAR

Blurred series lines: A top Cup driver racing Trucks demonstrates NASCAR’s unity and flexibility.

Strategic exposure: Watkins Glen serves as a showcase for both Buescher and ThorSport in terms of national television coverage—FS1 will air Mission 176 at 5 p.m. ET.  Fans may also listen to MRN or SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

Potential performance statement: A successful run might boost Buescher’s versatile branding and provide ThorSport considerable PR traction.

Final Thought

Chris Buescher’s debut in the NASCAR Truck Series, particularly at Watkins Glen, seems like a career experiment hosted by a championship-caliber outfit.  It combines veteran expertise and a developing foundation, emphasizing change at the top levels of NASCAR.

Whether this debut ends with a podium or a learning lap, it demonstrates a developing trend: driver flexibility is prized across series boundaries.  For Buescher, Watkins Glen might be another highlight track—this time in a truck he’s never raced before—and for ThorSport, a chance to shine with a Cup Series mainstay in the cockpit.