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Biffle and Brewco Victim of Blown Right Rear Tire

 

CONCORD, NC (October 14) - Friday night's NASCAR Busch Series race at Lowe's Motor Speedway may very well go down in history, unfortunately for all of the wrong reasons.  The race, plagued by a record 14 cautions and a pair of red flags, took well over three and a half hours to complete.  A new track surface and severe tire problems took many of competitors by surprise.  Greg Biffle, driver of the #66 Duraflame Ford, started 11^th and finished 36^th in the Dollar General 300.  Biffle, who was running solidly in the top-three for much of the race fell victim to a flat right rear tire just past the half-way mark.  Unfortunately, the damage to the #66 Ford was too severe to finish the 200 mile event.  As a result of the finish, Biffle fell from 8^th to 9^th in series' standings.  Team Brewco #66 remains 5^th in NBS owner's standings.

 

After two hard crashes in NASCAR Nextel Cup Series testing at the 1.5-mile speedway, Greg Biffle entered this weekend's race a little gun shy.  Nevertheless, the 2002 series champion dug deep and found himself at the top of the board for much of the weekend.  An early qualifying draw would prove to be only a minor set-back as Biffle posted a lap good enough for an 11^th place starting spot.  "This car is awesome- has been all season.  It should only be a matter of time before we are up front," Biffle added.  With qualifying behind them, Team Brewco set their sights on Friday night's 200 lap race. 

 

A few weeks prior to race weekend, track officials made the decision to "levigate" the track surface.  The result- a much faster, more unpredictable racing environment.  Having practiced during the day, many teams were unsure what to expect at the drop of the green flag.  No one could have predicted what was to unfold for the rest of the evening.  Within 18 laps, Biffle had already worked his way into the top-five.  When asked how his car was handling, Biffle radioed, "I'm just a tick tight, but all-in-all this thing is perfect.  I'm just cruising right now," Biffle added.  As the caution flag fell on lap 28, Biffle and the rest of the lead lap cars headed to pit road for their first stop of the evening.  In fourth and out sixth, Biffle returned to racing action with a freed up race car and four fresh tires.  To much of crew chief Newt Moore's surprise, the right rear tire removed from the #66 Duraflame Ford was blistered.  After looking up and down pit road, it appeared as though the problem was anything but an isolated incident.  With the increased track speed, the tire problem was a serious concern for Team Brewco. 

 

Despite the impeding tire drama, Biffle continued to work his way back to the front of the field.  By lap 63, he found himself in a battle for second place.  Team Brewco made their second stop of the evening on lap 72.  After changing four tires and taking one round of wedge out of the left rear, Biffle returned to racing action in 8^th place.  Jumping off of the pit box, crew chief Moore closely examined the right rear tire only to find more blisters.  Not good, by any stretch of the imagination.  Nevertheless, Biffle continued to drive hard into the corners while at the same time saving some of his car for later in the race as to not risk blowing a tire.  Unfortunately, during a restart just past the half way mark, Biffle fell victim to a blown right rear.  Despite his best efforts, he made hard contact with the turn three wall, ultimately ending his night early.  Biffle would have to settle for a 36^th place finish.

 

"This is a very serious problem.  We are very lucky no one got seriously injured.  It was only a matter of time before our tire was going to blow.  It was a game of Russian Roulette and we lost.  What else is there to say?  This car was good enough to win the race- I was just cruising around, trying to save my stuff for the end of the race.  Pretty scary stuff," Biffle added.

 

Next up, Team Brewco #66 heads to Memphis Motorsports Park for the Sam's Town 250 on Saturday, October 22^nd.  TNT and MRN will provide live coverage of the event beginning at 3:30pm EDT.