pandr
04-15-2012, 08:01 PM
Biffle takes Texas win to end Cup drought
By David Scott -charlotteobserver
Saturday, Apr. 14, 2012
FORT WORTH, Texas - It had been quite a while since Greg Biffle last won a NASCAR Sprint Cup race – 49 races and 18 months ago.
But Biffle brought that winless streak to an end Saturday night at Texas Motor Speedway, overtaking Jimmie Johnson with 30 laps to go and capturing the Samsung Mobile 500.
Johnson finished second, ahead of Mark Martin, Jeff Gordon, Matt Kenseth and pole-winner Martin Truex Jr.
The victory allowed Biffle to retain his points lead, an advantage he’d built over the first seven races without winning. He’s 19 points ahead of Kenseth and Dale Earnhardt Jr., who finished 10th.
Biffle’s triumph came in nearly mind-numbing – yet record-setting – fashion. There were just two cautions flags (fewest in track history) and 10 laps ran under yellow (also fewest) in the 334-lap race. The 160.577 mph was the fastest average speed in Texas history. Also, the 234 consecutive green-flag laps were a track record.
Biffle’s victory was the ninth at Texas for Roush Fenway Racing.
So he and team owner Jack Roush didn’t have any trouble finding their way to Victory Lane, where Biffle picked up the customary cowboy hat and rifle that go with winning the race.
“I know right where it is,” said Biffle, who won at Texas in 2005. “I have been here before.”
Biffle passed Johnson on Lap 304, ending for another week Johnson and teammates Gordon, Kasey Kahne and Earnhardt’s quest to give Hendrick Motorsports its 200th victory.
“I’m definitely disappointed,” said Johnson. “We got tangled up in some lapped traffic and didn’t have anything for (Biffle). Everybody knows we’re here. We’re awfully close.”
The track at least was lit well. Friday’s Nationwide race was stopped for 5 1/2 minutes when the lights went out in Turn 3. A new breaker was installed Saturday and the problem was solved.
Weather also played a factor, but the rain that was expected in the area held off. Winds gusted to about 23 mph before the race and got to as high as 30 mph during the race.
Tony Stewart, who hit the wall early in Friday’s practice, had to drive a back-up car and finished 24th, going a lap down at one point to Johnson on Lap 199. It wasn’t just any back-up car, though: It was the Chevy that Stewart drove to victories last fall at Kansas and Texas.
Biffle caught Johnson on Lap 304 after Johnson had appeared to be heading for his first win of the season.
“I just dug deep,” said Biffle, who won for a first time with crew chief Matt Puccia. “I knew I had to do it and I kept trying and trying and trying. I knew the team would forgive me if I wrecked it trying to beat him, so I just gave it all I had.”
C/P Thats Racin
By David Scott -charlotteobserver
Saturday, Apr. 14, 2012
FORT WORTH, Texas - It had been quite a while since Greg Biffle last won a NASCAR Sprint Cup race – 49 races and 18 months ago.
But Biffle brought that winless streak to an end Saturday night at Texas Motor Speedway, overtaking Jimmie Johnson with 30 laps to go and capturing the Samsung Mobile 500.
Johnson finished second, ahead of Mark Martin, Jeff Gordon, Matt Kenseth and pole-winner Martin Truex Jr.
The victory allowed Biffle to retain his points lead, an advantage he’d built over the first seven races without winning. He’s 19 points ahead of Kenseth and Dale Earnhardt Jr., who finished 10th.
Biffle’s triumph came in nearly mind-numbing – yet record-setting – fashion. There were just two cautions flags (fewest in track history) and 10 laps ran under yellow (also fewest) in the 334-lap race. The 160.577 mph was the fastest average speed in Texas history. Also, the 234 consecutive green-flag laps were a track record.
Biffle’s victory was the ninth at Texas for Roush Fenway Racing.
So he and team owner Jack Roush didn’t have any trouble finding their way to Victory Lane, where Biffle picked up the customary cowboy hat and rifle that go with winning the race.
“I know right where it is,” said Biffle, who won at Texas in 2005. “I have been here before.”
Biffle passed Johnson on Lap 304, ending for another week Johnson and teammates Gordon, Kasey Kahne and Earnhardt’s quest to give Hendrick Motorsports its 200th victory.
“I’m definitely disappointed,” said Johnson. “We got tangled up in some lapped traffic and didn’t have anything for (Biffle). Everybody knows we’re here. We’re awfully close.”
The track at least was lit well. Friday’s Nationwide race was stopped for 5 1/2 minutes when the lights went out in Turn 3. A new breaker was installed Saturday and the problem was solved.
Weather also played a factor, but the rain that was expected in the area held off. Winds gusted to about 23 mph before the race and got to as high as 30 mph during the race.
Tony Stewart, who hit the wall early in Friday’s practice, had to drive a back-up car and finished 24th, going a lap down at one point to Johnson on Lap 199. It wasn’t just any back-up car, though: It was the Chevy that Stewart drove to victories last fall at Kansas and Texas.
Biffle caught Johnson on Lap 304 after Johnson had appeared to be heading for his first win of the season.
“I just dug deep,” said Biffle, who won for a first time with crew chief Matt Puccia. “I knew I had to do it and I kept trying and trying and trying. I knew the team would forgive me if I wrecked it trying to beat him, so I just gave it all I had.”
C/P Thats Racin