Post by dalejrfan on Jun 5, 2005 16:46:41 GMT -5
DOVER, Del. -- Greg Biffle's surprising run to the top of Nextel Cup competition got a boost Sunday from a stunningly easy victory in a crash-filled race on The Monster Mile.
Biffle got his series-leading fourth win of the season to close within 46 points of pacesetter Jimmie Johnson. The victory in the $5.5 million MBNA RacePoints 400 was Biffle's first at Dover International Speedway and the seventh of his career.
Final lapsGreg Biffle takes the checkers and then hits the fence
Yellow flag fliesKasey Kahne hits the wall on Lap 285
J. Gordon wrecksStewart spins Gordon, sending him into the wall
In a race slowed seven times for 33 of its 400 laps, Biffle won in part because he avoided traffic problems that resulted in hard crashes. Among those taken from the field were four-time Dover winners Jeff Gordon and Ricky Rudd, and Ken Schrader and Dave Blaney.
Until this year, Biffle was largely overlooked among drivers for Roush Racing, which also fields cars for NASCAR great and four-time Dover winner Mark Martin, series champion Kurt Busch, former champion Matt Kenseth and exciting youngster Carl Edwards. But Biffle, 20th and 17th in the final standings in his two years on the circuit, leads them all this season.
Biffle started second because rain prevented qualifying Friday, forcing the field to be set by car-owner points. He bided his time during the first half of the race, then passed Elliott Sadler for the lead on lap 241.
After that, the field became strung out, allowing Biffle an open track with few traffic problems. He wound up leading a race-high 150 laps on the high-banked concrete oval.
It was the fourth consecutive finish for Biffle in the top six, including a victory last month at Darlington.
Jack Roush's cars had another magnificent day, getting its sixth victory in 13 races this season. Roush took four of the top nine spots in the field of 43.
Biffle got his series-leading fourth win of the season to close within 46 points of pacesetter Jimmie Johnson. The victory in the $5.5 million MBNA RacePoints 400 was Biffle's first at Dover International Speedway and the seventh of his career.
Final lapsGreg Biffle takes the checkers and then hits the fence
Yellow flag fliesKasey Kahne hits the wall on Lap 285
J. Gordon wrecksStewart spins Gordon, sending him into the wall
In a race slowed seven times for 33 of its 400 laps, Biffle won in part because he avoided traffic problems that resulted in hard crashes. Among those taken from the field were four-time Dover winners Jeff Gordon and Ricky Rudd, and Ken Schrader and Dave Blaney.
Until this year, Biffle was largely overlooked among drivers for Roush Racing, which also fields cars for NASCAR great and four-time Dover winner Mark Martin, series champion Kurt Busch, former champion Matt Kenseth and exciting youngster Carl Edwards. But Biffle, 20th and 17th in the final standings in his two years on the circuit, leads them all this season.
Biffle started second because rain prevented qualifying Friday, forcing the field to be set by car-owner points. He bided his time during the first half of the race, then passed Elliott Sadler for the lead on lap 241.
After that, the field became strung out, allowing Biffle an open track with few traffic problems. He wound up leading a race-high 150 laps on the high-banked concrete oval.
It was the fourth consecutive finish for Biffle in the top six, including a victory last month at Darlington.
Jack Roush's cars had another magnificent day, getting its sixth victory in 13 races this season. Roush took four of the top nine spots in the field of 43.