Chris Buescher will move to Cup in 2016

By @GucciardoJoey

Chris Buescher

Chris Buescher, who is on loan to Front Row Motorsports, ran five additional Cup races with the team over the course of the season while campaigning for the XFINITY Series title with Roush Fenway Racing.

Now, Buescher will be racing in 2016 for Sprint Cup rookie-of-the-year honors.

Buescher, 23, made his Cup debut with the team at Auto Club Speedway in March after Brett Moffitt received a last minute call from Michael Waltrip Racing to drive the No. 55 Toyota. Buescher finished 20th.

Scott Graves, who led Buescher to the 2015 NXS championship, is expected to continue to be Buescher's Cup crew chief. Graves was promoted to crew chief in 2012 when he worked with Ricky Stenhouse Jr. in Cup.

"Chris was on his game this year," team owner Jack Roush said after the No. 60 team wrapped up the title at Homestead-Miami Speedway. "Scott, the crew chief, was on his game.  They managed not to ‑‑ they won two races and managed not to give up points on days when they weren't their best, and that is what got us to this point.

Both Buescher and Graves will remain under contract to Roush Fenway Racing.

FRM GM Jerry Freeze told Motorsport.com last month he was researching offers that would bring the team up to speed.

“There’s a lot of changes coming down the road with the Fords, and we need to adapt to that,” Freeze said.“So it will be a very busy off-season regardless of what we do. We just have to figure out what’s best for us."