Roush Fenway Racing will cut from three to two Cup teams in 2017 and loan driver Chris Buescher to JTG Daugherty Racing, which will expand to a two-car operation next season.
The move allows Roush Fenway to keep Buescher under contract while trying to revitalize its performance for an organization whose proud history includes putting five drivers into the Chase in 2005, two Cup championships and 135 Cup victories. Winless the last two seasons, Roush Fenway put no drivers in the top-20 in the 2016 standings -- Ricky Stenhouse Jr. finished 21st in the points while Trevor Bayne was 22nd and the recently released Greg Biffle was 23rd.