Team: Roush Racing
Car/sponsor/make: No. 16 Grainger Ford
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| | Biffle |
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STATS
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Year
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Rank
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Wins
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Top 5
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Top 10
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Best finish
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2002
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48
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0
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0
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0
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13th, California
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Career
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0
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0
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0
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2002 recap
The good: After winning the Busch Series Rookie of the Year in 2001, Biffle got off to a slow start in 2002, dropping as low in the standings as eighth-place after the 12th of 34 races on the schedule. But from that point on, he was like a rocket ship, propelling himself to four wins, seven poles, an incredible 20 top-five and five more top-10 finishes, winning the championship and becoming the first driver in NASCAR history to win titles in both the Craftsman Truck and Busch series, as well as the first Roush team driver to win a major NASCAR title..
Season highlight: After the 12th race of the season (at Nazareth, Pa.), Biffle put on an incredible performance display over the next 10 races, during which he recorded all four of his season wins, four runner-up finishes, one third-place showing and his worst outing in that skein, an eighth-place finish. He also moved into first-place during that streak and would hold that lead for the final 17 races of the season. It was one of the most dominating streaks the Busch Series has ever seen. As far as his seven-race stint in Winston Cup last season, Biffle's top finish was in his first race -- a 13th at Fontana, Calif.
The bad: Given the outstanding season he enjoyed, it's hard to find fault with anything Biffle did in Busch competition in 2002. However, he did start off roughly, including a period of six consecutive races (races No. 7 through 12) where he finished 26th or lower in four of those events.
Season lowlight: The most disappointing race for Biffle was the Cabela's 250 at Michigan in mid-August. In the shadow of the Roush Racing headquarters, Biffle struggled to a 28th-place starting spot, and then was forced out of the 125-lap event after just 18 laps due to engine trouble. Ironically, Biffle was knocked out of five races in 2002, two by accident and three by engine failure, an abnormal incidence of motor mayhem normally not seen from the Roush camp.
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| Greg Biffle won championships in both the Truck and Busch Series. |
Key stat: After being knocked out early at Michigan, Biffle would go on to complete 2,174 of 2,224 laps in the final 11 races. On the Winston Cup side, Biffle had mixed success in seven starts. He was outstanding in qualifying, with three top-five starts. However, he finished 25th or lower in six of his Cup race finishes, while his best showing was the 13th in his Cup debut at California.
2003 outlook
What needs to be done: Biffle has said several times during the off-season that he expects to struggle in 2003 as he becomes more acclimated to Winston Cup on a full-time basis. But at the same time, he could very easily follow in the footsteps of drivers who've translated their success in the Busch Series to Cup racing, including Jimmie Johnson, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Tony Stewart and Jeff Gordon. While Biffle may be talking a good game that he doesn't expect much as a Winston Cup rookie, he has too much talent, team support and all the elements necessary to not make a quick impact on NASCAR's senior circuit.
Prediction: Biffle has said he'd be happy to finish in the top 30 in his rookie season in Winston Cup. But given his outstanding success the past two seasons in the Busch Series, where he so clearly overmatched all his opponents, don't be surprised if he becomes the next "young gun" (even at the advanced age -- at least when it comes to Cup racing -- of 33) and surprises a lot of people with a top-15 finish, or possibly even wind up in the top-10, in 2003.
Your take
Will Greg Biffle make an impact during his rookie season in Winston Cup? Share your thoughts on his prospects for the 2003 season.
