Biffle rolling into Martinsville with momentum
By SceneDaily Staff
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Todd Warshaw / Getty Images
AVONDALE, AZ - MARCH 03: Greg Biffle, driver of the #16 3M Ford, waits in the garage during NASCAR Sprint Cup testing at Phoenix International Raceway on March 3, 2008 in Avondale, Arizona. (Photo by Todd Warshaw/Getty Images for NASCAR)
Greg Biffle and his Roush Fenway Racing team have struggled at Martinsville Speedway so much that Biffle jokes that bumping Jimmie Johnson for the lead last year was a “highlight of my career.”
Biffle finished seventh at the 0.526-mile track last October, by far his best finish in 10 starts at Martinsville. He’s been 20th or worse six times, with an average finish of 24.
Still, he returns to Martinsville for this weekend’s Goody’s Cool Orange 500 with some confidence.
“Martinsville over the years has not been my best track, but certainly the last couple of times I’ve been there I’ve gotten tremendously better,” Biffle said. “I remember the last race there I was bumping on the back of the 48 car [of Johnson] for the lead, so that was a highlight of my career, if you will, and finished seventh, so I’m really looking forward to going back this week.
“I don’t know if I’ve ever really gotten the opportunity to win at that kind of place. Bristol, I would say the win would come there first before Martinsville, but I’m certainly not going to count us out. I’m just looking to continue that top-five streak. That’s really our focus, and the reality is that if you put yourself in that top five, you’re in a position to win, so it kind of goes hand in hand.”
Biffle has been in the top five a lot this season, with three consecutive finishes of fourth or better. He is second in the Sprint Cup point
standings to Kyle Busch after five races, riding the wave of momentum from a solid finish to 2007.
“We picked up right in those footsteps this year right where we left off last year, but since it was in the Chase and we were so far down in the points, those finishes and that run we made didn’t really show up anywhere, so to speak,” Biffle said. “So, really, this all started toward the end of last year, and that inspired us over the winter to really make sure we got it done this year.”
The top-five finishes are nice, Biffle said, but he really wants to visit victory lane soon.
“Our program is really, really running well,” he said. “I’m really nervous about Martinsville this weekend. Like I said, that place has not
been my best race track in the past, but I’m excited about it now because we ran so well there last time. That’s why I’m excited about going back.
“Texas and Phoenix, I can’t wait. I just can’t wait. I want to win a race bad. I’m not saying I can’t win at Martinsville, but it is more likely for me to win at Phoenix or Texas than Martinsville. Talladega, of course, you just throw the dice out there and see where you end up. You can’t really predict anything there, so I’m looking forward.
“Martinsville and Talladega are our pivotal races coming up, and the rest of them we’re looking forward to winning one. I’m hoping the next four or five races we get a win under our belt.”
