Is Biffle Still 99% Sure on Return to Roush?
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In the midst of all the contract controversies that have taken place already this year, all along we’ve heard Greg Biffle state that his deal to resign with Roush-Fenway Racing is 99% complete, and that he hasn’t yet begun talking to any other teams. But, we heard these same statements from both parties last year, and a deal was never actually finalized. Now, after a dismal night in Darlington, we’ve started to see a different side of the Biff that we haven’t quite been accustomed to in the past.
Biffle smashed the track record at Darlington during qualifying en route to winning his first Pole Award of the season, and then he went out and strutted his stuff through the first half of the race, looking as though he were the class of the field to that point. His bid for a third Darlington win in four years was crushed in heartbreaking fashion, though, when his transmission failed him on lap 237. This was Biffle’s first DNF attributed to actual engine failure since the Bank of America 500 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway back in October of 2006 and the seventh of his career, but still, Greg seems to feel as though they’re experiencing some sort of troubles with their equipment week after week.
Following the race, a frustrated Biffle told the media, “This has been typical of our equipment, I guess. Loose wheels all night, bad vibration, then I think the motor blew up. All I want is equipment to drive that stays together.”
Biffle was not the only driver in the Roush camp that complained about issues with their car throughout the night, as Carl Edwards, Matt Kenseth, and Jamie McMurray all also relayed concerns with their tires and some unidentified vibrations throughout the race, though they all held onto finish 11th or better.
Biffle continued his meeting with the press by adding, “It is really frustrating, but, you know what, I’ve just come accustomed to expecting it, because it’s just week after week it’s something. Something breaks, something falls off, we’ve got wheels loose …”
There has been a lot of speculation in recent weeks that a swap could be in the works between Biffle and Ryan Newman, whose contract with Penske Racing also expires at the end of 2008. Newman has publically expressed woes earlier this season concerning equipment failure as well - particularly after the race at Phoenix in which he also experienced an engine failure and finished dead last. Some have also suggested the Greg might be a strong candidate to field the fourth car that will come into service for Richard Childress Racing next season.
Biffle won championships in both the Nationwide (then Busch Series) and Craftsman Truck Series prior to making 7 starts in the Cup Series back in 2002, and going full-time in ‘03. In 197 career Sprint Cup Series starts, Biffle has accumulated 12 wins, 38 top-fives, and 66 top-ten’s. However, despite winning at least one race in each of his full-time seasons, Biffle’s only finish inside the top-twelve in points came in 2005 when he tied teammate, Carl Edwards, for second. Still, Greg Biffle remains one of the hottest names on the free agent market heading into 2009, and if Roush-Fenway Racing isn’t careful, they could find themselves in search of another driver at the end of this season.
Tags: bank of america 500, busch series, Carl Edwards, Craftsman Truck Series, darlington raceway, dodge challenger 500, Greg Biffle, Jamie McMurray, lowe's motor speedway, Matt Kenseth, NASCAR, Nationwide Series, Penske Racing, phoenix international raceway, Richard Childress Racing, Roush Racing, ryan newman, Sprint Cup Series, subway fresh fit 500Related Stories
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4 opinions for Is Biffle Still 99% Sure on Return to Roush?
Cesar
May 12, 2008 at 4:54 pm
It is difficult to believe that Greg Biffle would go anywhere else. Like most of the Roush drivers, Biffle is loyal to the race team. Sure, frustrations run high when the teams have mechanical issues, but I don’t think that it should be considered as an unofficial “I quit”.
All the best drivers in the NASCAR have, at one point, expressed their frustration with their teams because of mechanical failures. Unless you are Dale Jr., you usually stay and work through the problems.
Tim Zaegel
May 12, 2008 at 9:49 pm
Cesar, yes, I completely agree that the majority of drivers in the garage at some point make public their gripes and moans about their current teams. I also believe that Greg feels very “at home” within the Roush camp and would love to stay. What I don’t think he likes, though, is his position as the third spoke in the wheel on the team behind Edwards and Kenseth. I can’t say that I see that situation changing much if he were indeed to take the ride over at RCR next year, but I do see a great fit between he and Penske Racing, and a reunion with ol’ Kurt could be just what the doctor ordered.
RevJim
May 13, 2008 at 1:06 am
I agree that Biffle would be a great fit at Penske. They have a different kind of structure than Roush has, and there really isn’t any emphasis on a lead driver, as both Kurt and Ryan can attest.
He’s approaching 40, and he may want something that offers different status than what he has with Roush.
It may be interesting to note that the only driver to retire with Roush is Mark Martin, and he isn’t really retired.
Tim Zaegel
May 14, 2008 at 10:14 pm
That’s actually something I didn’t know, Jim … the tidbit about Martin being the only driver to retire with Roush. Interesting.
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