Biffle Outsmarts in Milwaukee Win

WEST ALLIS, Wis. (July 1, 2001) - When you can out run'em, you've got to out smart'em, and that's exactly what Greg Biffle, Randy Goss and the entire Grainger team did in the GNC Live Well 250 at The Milwaukee Mile. Because of an extended green flag run, the race came down to a fuel mileage battle and the No. 60 Grainger Ford Taurus whipped the field on miles per gallon. Biffle drove 104 green flag laps to become the first Busch Series driver to win three races this season.

The Grainger Ford was fast all weekend, beginning with the first practice session on Friday and ending on lap 250. Biffle was at the top of the board after practice one, qualified second and then wound up second on the sheet after Happy Hour. The driver and team that snagged the pole and were fastest in Happy Hour was none other than Kevin Harvick and the No. 2 ACDelco team, so the stage was set for Biffle and Harvick to add another chapter to their exciting rivalry.

The race started just after 1 p.m. CT with Biffle and Harvick going toe-to-toe for the first couple laps. They swapped the lead a couple of times before Biffle took the lead outright on lap two. He held the lead for a few laps until he almost lost the car going into turn one. The Grainger Ford washed high allowing Harvick, Jason Keller and Bobby Hamilton, Jr., to go by Biffle, and that's the way the front four would run for the first portion of the race.

Biffle finally got the opportunity to pit and get some much needed adjustments during the third caution on lap 55. The car was tight in the middle of the corners, so Biffle requested a track bar adjustment and some air pressure adjustments to remedy the situation. The crew performed the service and sent Biffle back into competition in 15th place because some competitors chose not to pit or they only took two tires during their pit stop.

The green flag was out again on lap 62. Biffle immediately began working his way through traffic and back into the top five. Once Biffle made it up to fourth position, he continued to run there until a green flag stop on lap 146. The Grainger Ford was still tight in the corners, so the crew adjusted air pressure again, bolted on a new set of Goodyear tires and critically filled the tank to the brim with fuel.

After the cycle of green flag stops, Biffle found himself running in second position. He would continued to run in the top three for the remainder of the race until the two cars racing in front of him pitted for a splash and go with about 20 laps to go. At that point the Grainger team knew the race was theirs to win. Crew Chief Randy Goss gambled on the fuel, and Biffle feathered the throttle until he drove the car across the start finish line with the checkered flag waving.

Biffle gained 10 points on series point leader Kevin Harvick and is now only 112 points out of first place heading into the next event at Watkins Glen International on July 8, 2001.

"Man, I didn't see that one coming," said Biffle. "I would've never thought this race would come down to a fuel mileage battle, only because it's a flat one-mile short track and there are usually plenty of cautions. We were about a second or third-place car today and Goss' call got us into Winner's Circle. The car was good today, but just not good enough to get up there with the two. The car was tight all day and we only had two stops to try and get her fixed up.

"This is an unbelievable win for us today and I just want to thank all of my guys for digging hard and not giving up until the race was over. I had accepted the fact that we were probably going to finish second or third, but Goss kept telling me it's not over until it's over. This is a great way for us to end the first half of the season and start the second. Hopefully we can keep this momentum going and keep the points lead within striking distance."