Buescher and Peters vie for Trucks title

HOMESTEAD, Fla. jutter@charlotteobserver.com

James Buescher started the 2012 NASCAR season with a win and ends it with a chance at a championship – but in two different series.

It’s that been that kind of year.

When a last-lap crash took out the first 10 cars in the Nationwide Series season opener at Daytona, then-11th place Buescher picked up the surprising victory for Turner Motorsports.

That was not the series in which Buescher was running for championship points, however.

Heading into Friday night’s Ford 200 season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway, it’s the Truck series title Buescher has the opportunity to win, as he holds an 11-point advantage over Timothy Peters.

Although he made his first trip to Victory Lane this season in the Nationwide series, Buescher does have four Truck wins this year – the most of any driver.

“We have to approach it like any other race weekend,” Buescher said. “I think if we switch to defense, you get too worried about what these other two guys (Peters and Ty Dillon) are doing.

“If I don’t see them out my windshield then I know they’re behind me.”

Buescher, who finished third in points last season, had the opportunity last weekend at Phoenix to enter the final race with a much larger points-cushion but blew a tire and limped back to the finish line in 17th place.

That finish provided a more realistic opportunity for Peters, who doesn’t intend to waste it.

“I’m ready to get it going,” Peters said. “I wish we were getting on the track this afternoon.

“As far as being nervous, my dad always told me that if you wasn’t, then something was wrong with you.”

Dillon, a rookie, is one point behind Peters.

“We’ve been getting faster each week, so our plan is to lead the most laps and win the race, and where the championship falls, it’ll hopefully come to us,” Dillon said.