Biffle attempts to snap win drought
BROOKLYN, Mich. — With time running out on his bid to make the Chase for the Sprint Cup, Greg Biffle is back at the site of his most recent victory.
It was more than three years ago.
In June of 2013, Biffle won at Michigan International Speedway — his fourth victory at the track and second in a row. In 116 Cup races since, he’s come up empty. He missed the Chase last year and is in danger of falling short again unless he can win one of the last three regular-season races.
“This sport is very humbling,” Biffle said. “When you think you’ve got it figured out, for sure you don’t, and it reminds you of that every week.”
Biffle is the active leader in wins at Michigan but finished 19th at the track earlier this season. Shortly after that, he ran off a streak of three straight top-10 finishes at Daytona, Kentucky and Loudon, but he’s been outside the top 15 in each of the four races since.
Biffle and Roush Fenway Racing teammates Trevor Bayne and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. would all miss the Chase if the regular season ended now. None of them has a win this year.
Stenhouse started 25th and finished second last weekend at Bristol.
There’s always a lot of drama in the last few races before the Chase. A dozen drivers have won this year, solidifying their spots in the Chase as long as they stay in the top 30. Rookie Chris Buescher is cutting it close; he’s 30th, with one of his only two top-10 finishes a win at Pocono.
Hendrick Motorsports could end up with only one Chase entry if Chase Elliott falters and Kasey Kahne doesn’t make it. Jimmie Johnson is safe for Hendrick, but Dale Earnhardt Jr. is still sidelined as he recovers from a concussion.
Kahne hasn’t won since August of 2014, a span of 70 races. He qualified 11th on Friday.
Elliott has 11 top-10 finishes this year but none in his past eight races — and he has no wins.
Austin Dillon is 11th in the standings, the top racer without a win. He’s in position to make the Chase on points as of now. So are Elliott, Jamie McMurray and Ryan Newman.
“I was able to win a championship without winning a race in the Xfinity Series. It’s definitely possible,” Dillon said.
“We are going to focus hard on Victory Lane the next three weeks — and then 10 after that.”