Driver of the #16 National Guard/ Subway
Ford Taurus
Since joining
Roush Racing in 1998, Greg Biffle has
clearly shown that NASCAR racing is
his forte. Even before becoming a member
of the Roush stable, Biffle was recording
impressive statistics in other racing
series, including NASCAR Winston Racing
Series Championships at Portland Speedway
and Tri-Cities Raceway. It wasn’t
until his rookie season in the NASCAR
Craftsman Truck Series, however, that
he truly began making a name for himself.
Biffle caught the eye of NASCAR Hall-of-Famer
Benny Parsons during the 1995/96 NASCAR
Winter Heat Series, which proved to be
the key that opened the door to what
has been a remarkable career to date.
Parsons told Jack Roush that there was
no way he could pass up the chance to
hire Biffle, and that if he did he would
regret it while watching Biffle win races
for another team owner.
In 1997, Grainger Industrial Supply
went to Roush Racing for advice on how
to build a motorsports platform that
would work for their business. The recommendation
was to become a primary sponsor in the
budding NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series,
and to latch on to an up and coming driver.
Biffle was the guy, and since the two
hit the track together in 1998, they
have become one of the most successful
combinations in NASCAR.
During his rookie
campaign in the truck series, Biffle
established a rookie record for Bud
Pole positions with four. Only Biffle’s
teammate Kurt Busch was able to tie
that record in 2000, but no other rookie
driver has been able to top it. Biffle
also led at least one lap in 12 different
events that season and recorded eight
top-five and 12 top-10 finishes en
route to securing the Cintas Rookie-of-the-Year
honors.
The following year was the breakthrough
year for Biffle and the Grainger team
in the truck series. He captured his
first career series win at Memphis Motorsports
Park, and went on to set a series record
for nine wins in a single season. Biffle
finished the year second in the overall
point standings, just eight points shy
of a championship.
The 1999 success
set the stage for what would be an
incredible run in the truck series
for Biffle and gang in 2000. In 24
events the team won five races, posted
18 top-five and top-10 finishes on their
way to capturing Roush Racing’s
first NASCAR championship.
The truck series proved to be a good
starting point for Biffle, but after
three successful seasons it was time
to graduate to the next level; the NASCAR
Busch Series.
Biffle tore through his inaugural year
in the Busch Series like a seasoned veteran.
In 33 events, he and the Grainger team
recorded five wins, two poles, 16 top-five
finishes and 21 top-10 finishes. Biffle
finished the 2001 Busch Series season
fourth in the overall point standings,
while receiving Raybestos Rookie-of-the-Year
honors. Collectively, he and the team
set eight rookie records including most
wins, most top-five finishes, most top-10
finishes, most starts, most points overall
(4509), most laps led (948) most races
led (19) and most money won.
The 2002 Busch Series season proved
to be yet another memorable year for
Biffle and Roush Racing, as he and the
Grainger team won the series title. It
was a hard fought battle between Biffle
and Jason Keller, but in the end the
No. 60 Grainger Ford Taurus reigned supreme.
Biffle produced four wins, five poles,
20 top-five finishes and 25 top-10 finishes
on his way to winning his second NASCAR
Championship. He also became the first
driver to win over two million dollars
in a single Busch Series season.
Biffle’s inaugural season at NASCAR’s
elite level produced mixed results, highlighted
by his first career Winston Cup win in
the Pepsi 400 at Daytona International
Speedway on July, 5, 2003. Overall he
and the No. 16 Team recorded one win,
three top-five and six top-10 finishes
en route to a 20th-place position in
the final point standings.
The 2004 Nextel
Cup Series season has the potential
to be the breakthrough year for Biffle
in NASCAR’s top
touring division. The No. 16 car has
new sponsorship on board with the National
Guard, Subway, Travelodge and Jackson
Hewitt joining forces with Roush Racing
and Biffle, and it is sure to be an exciting
season for all parties. Biffle and crew
picked up momentum during the second
half of 2003 and the addition of a new
body package and cylinder head for the
Fords should enable them to pick up right
where they left off. In addition to his “Sunday
job,” Biffle is set to run a full
Busch Series schedule in 2004, making
him one of a few drivers who will be
gunning for a championship in both of
NASCAR’s top touring series. |