The ABF Racing Team kept James Buescher and the No. 30 Chevrolet inside the top-20 all day on their way to a 12th place finish in the Bashas Supermarkets 250 March 3 at Phoenix International Raceway. It was the second stop on the 2012 NASCAR Nationwide Series schedule.

Bashas 200 at Phoenix International Raceway in Avondale, AZ on March 3, 2012. Andrew Coppley/CIA

The NASCAR Nationwide Series is back in action Saturday, March 10, at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The Sam’s Town 300 can be seen live on ESPN2, with race coverage beginning at 5 p.m. EST. The event can also be heard live on MRN Radio as well as Sirius Satellite Radio, channel 90.

In Phoenix, Buescher started the race on the inside of the 13th row, but immediately started to navigate his way to the front. By lap 20, Buescher had his green and gold ABF Chevrolet in the 15th spot. He radioed into his team describing the car as tight on exit, which was hindering his ability to be aggressive with the accelerator.

At the halfway point in the race, Buescher had his ABF Chevy in the 16th position still running lap times consistent with the top-10 competitors. Three laps later, the caution flag was again displayed to the 43-car field. Buescher brought his machine to pit road for routine service. The pit crew once again changed four tires and filled the car with fuel. The team also made another slew of chassis adjustments hoping to find the balance their driver was looking for. Ultimately, Buescher powered his way past the competition crossing the finish line in the 12th position.

“Today’s finish was a testament to this team,” Buescher said after the 200-lap event. “We struggled early in the race with a really tight race car, but my guys never gave up. We made a number of adjustments that helped the car. After the final pit stop, our ABF Chevy really started to come alive. We just needed a couple more laps to get inside the top-10. This is a great way to start the season and I am really looking forward to going to Las Vegas [Motor Speedway] next week.”