Biffle and Johnson Winners at Kansas
Photo Courtesy NASCAR Media
There were two big winners in Sunday’s Price Chopper 400 at Kansas Speedway: Greg Biffle and Jimmie Johnson.
Biffle won the race after leading 60 laps. Johnson moved to the top of the Sprint Cup standings and moved one step closer to his fifth championship.
Greg Biffle and his team made the right calls and right adjustments as the race closed to put the No. 16 in position to win. The car was a little too loose for Biffle’s liking in the early going – but the team had the car dialed in when it counted.
“It was a great run,†said Biffle. “The car started off really good; just got a little bit too loose. I couldn’t keep up with the 14. They beat me a little bit on the start. I was just so afraid to get the car too tight. Once you get the car sliding the nose off of turn four, you’re just dead.â€
“I’ll tell you, those last two runs, it was amazing. Literally the best car I’ve ever driven here. I could drive anywhere on the racetrack. I could enter any line in the corner; push the gas down whenever I felt like it. It was pretty incredible,†Biffle said of his winning car.
Greg Biffle, his crew chief Greg Erwin and the No. 16 team also will divide a $100,000 bonus from Ford Motor Company. Ford has put the added bonus out there for any Ford team that wins one of the final eight Chase races.
“It means a lot to me,†Greg Biffle said of Ford’s added bonus money. “I’m not sure what I’m going to do with my half of the money yet. But I’ll probably donate it to my charity; probably help some homeless animals or something with my cut of it.â€
No one was surprised when the Sprint Cup Championship standings were posted following the race and Jimmie Johnson was at the top of the list. Haven’t we seen this before?
“It’s a great position to be in,†Johnson said of his points lead. “But it’s way too early to think about it, to worry about defending. You have Chase guys running so good each and every week.â€
“Just can’t put your guard down,†Johnson continued very humbly. “Until that checkered falls in Homestead, it’s anybody’s championship.â€
What do you think? Are 5 straight Championships a real possibility for Jimmie Johnson?
Biffle Embarrasses the Field at pocono
Greg Biffle's Winning Pit Stop. Photo Courtesy NASCAR Media
Greg Biffle said he was embarrassed by the performance of his No. 16 Ford in the early going of the Sunoco Red Cross 500 at Pocono Raceway today. But by the end of the race it was Biffle embarrassing the rest of the field by opening up a 5 second lead over 2nd place Tony Stewart.
“This one’s for Jack,†Biffle said as he streaked toward the checkered flag. Team owner Jack Roush was injured in a private jet crash earlier this week.
This was one of those races where just when you think you have everything figured out, everything changed.
Greg Biffle never had a winning car until the final pit stop, when he took 2 tires to gain track position. Jeff Gordon, who looked to have the car to beat at that point took 4 tires and re-started 13th. Gordon was never a factor after that.
But it was Sam Hornish who almost walked away with the victory after staying on the track during the final round of pit stops and inheriting the race lead. The race was red flagged for rain with Hornish being shown as the race leader. It looked for a while like the race would be called. But the rain stopped in time and racing resumed.
Elliott Sadler has Engine Problems
Elliott Sadler's Engine
It was Elliott Sadler and Kurt Busch who were caught in the big wreck today. Sadler took one of the hardest hits NASCAR has seen in a long time, crashing his No. 19 straight into the corner of steel and earth reinforced guardrail. The impact was so violent that the engine was ripped from his car and landed several hundred feet down the racetrack. It was almost surreal when the car was towed back to the garage by one tow truck, and then a few minutes later along comes another wrecker carrying the engine.
After climbing from the car with a dazed look on his face Sadler had to lie down on the race track to catch his breath. Eventually he got up and walked to the waiting ambulance under his own power.
As much as anyone wants to complain about the COT — I have to remember that the reason for it is driver safety. Without that car Elliott Sadler does not walk away.
Busch Angry with Johnson
Kurt Busch later blamed Jimmie Johnson for starting the wreck. “Jimmie drove through us,†said an angry Busch.
Jimmie Johnson looked to have the car to beat early in today’s race. Johnson led 96 laps – more than any other driver — but he and Chad Knaus got behind on adjustments to the car as the race progressed and saw what had been a dominating performance turn into a struggle to keep up.
Usually the No. 48 team is the master of keeping up with the race track. But not today.
A Nice Crowd
The grandstands and campgrounds at Pocono were jam packed today. A nice turnaround from last week at Indy. It’s time for NASCAR to re-think holding races at tracks that don’t support it. The fans have spoken with their race tickets.
Have Your Say
I’d like to know what your thoughts are on today’s race. What did you see and how did you feel about it? Your opinion counts – so have at it.
Biffle Scores Again
Greg Biffle Wins at Dover
Perhaps no one was happier to see Greg Biffle press past Matt Kenseth Sunday with 9 laps to go that the soldiers at Walter Reed Army Hospital in Washington, D.C.
Greg Biffle paid a visit there, along with Kyle Busch and Ryan Newman, to wish soldiers well.
“To see the dedication that these men and women have that have served our country and continue to serve our country makes you feel pretty small, compared to what they have done and what they do for us,” said Biffle.
Here’s how Biffle described his winning run:
“Well, it was an exciting day, to say the least. I think a lot of people got to see great racing, the fans, everybody. Dover always puts on a great race,” said Biffle.
“This place is so tough. I have to say that I thought I was going to let these guys down. I got the car too loose on Saturday, yesterday, for the race today. I guess I misjudged the weather, how sunny it was going to be, how slick the track was.”
“I had to pit only eight laps into the race, give up all my track position to tighten my car up. You know, didn’t know it was going to continue to be looser as the day went on and the sun went down some.”
“That was really what we fought. Once I was able to get the track position, get near the front, you know, it really worked out.”
