EA Sports 500 * Talladega SuperSpeedway * Sunday, September 28, 2003
Greg Biffle
Team: Roush Racing
Car: No. 16
Sponsor: Grainger
Owner: Jack Roush
Driver: Greg Biffle
Crew Chief: Doug Richert
Chassis: MMR-28: This is the same car Biffle drove to his first career
Winston Cup win in the Pepsi 400 at Daytona International Raceway on
July 5, 2003. The Grainger Team also used this car in the season opener
at Daytona (21st-place finish) and the first Talladega race (22nd).
Greg Biffle on racing at Talladega:
"I wasn't a big fan of restrictor-plate racing until we won the
Pepsi 400 at Daytona in July. Really though, the races are exciting for
the fans, but for the driver all we do is hold our foot to the floor and
follow the guy in front of us. NASCAR has increased the size of the
spoiler and increased the size of the restrictor plate for this race in
hopes of creating more passing opportunities, and I think the changes
will make a difference. The keys are to miss the 'Big One' and
hopefully make some friends out there that could potentially help you in
the closing laps. Fuel mileage could be a factor as well.
"I really like the car that we're taking this weekend. We've run
it at all of the restrictor-plate tracks this year and I've been able
to drive to the front with it in all of them. The car doesn't run all
that well by itself, but it really goes in the draft. I'm looking
forward to the race this weekend, and hopefully the Grainger Team can
make it back to back restrictor-plate wins."
Crew Chief Doug Richert on racing at Talladega:
"Greg has proven that he has a good understanding of running in the
draft. He finished second last year at Daytona in the Busch car and he
won there in July of this year. The car we're using doesn't qualify
well, but that really doesn't matter at restrictor-plate tracks. You
just have to race smart and keep yourself in contention with good pit
strategy. We've made a few modifications to the car, but basically
it's the same as it was in Daytona. I feel like we can record another
good restrictor-plate finish as long as we can stay out of trouble."
ROUSH RACING FAST FACTS:
Mark Martin's pace in the 1997 Winston 500 at Talladega set an
all-time NASCAR WC record for the fastest race ever run, as Martin won
the caution-free race with an average speed of 188.354 mph. He covered
the 500-mile distance in two hours, 38 minutes and 18 seconds.
Martin's two victories at Talladega ties him with several
other drivers as the second most by an active driver.
Despite a recent rash of bad luck at Talladega, Martin has
scored top 10 finishes in four of his last seven races at Talladega.
Martin's 31 top-10 finishes in restrictor-plate races are the
second most ever.
Martin's 22 superspeedway poles are the seventh most ever and
the third most of any active driver.
Martin's 22 wins at superspeedways is the 11th most ever and
the fifth most of any active driver.
Matt Kenseth now has 22 top-10 finishes in 28 starts, a
league-leading statistic. He also has ten top-five finishes; only Ryan
Newman has more, with 11.
Kenseth's 2003 Winston Cup point lead is now 436 points over
second place Kevin Harvick with just eight races to go.
If Kenseth wins the Aaron's 500 event, his Winston-leader
bonus payout would be a record $290,000.
Kenseth has completed all but two laps of competition in the
2003 season.
Kurt Busch's No. 97 will feature a special paint scheme
honoring Irwin Industrial Tools.
Busch's crew chief Jimmy Fennig is tied for winningest active
crew chief in the Winston Cup Series with 24 wins.
The No. 99 CITGO Ford was involved in a 27 car pile up on lap
five that caused severe damage to the right side and front of the car.
The CITGO team repaired the damages and returned to the track to finish
35th, running.
Since 1996, Jeff Burton's average starting position at
Talladega is 20.8 while his average finishing position is 15.0.
Jeff Burton is one of 16 active Winston Cup drivers to have won
at least one restrictor plate race (July 2000 at Daytona).
Jon Wood and Carl Edwards will compete in Saturday's Craftsman
Truck Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Combined the two drivers
have four wins, two poles, 18 top-five and 26 top-10 finishes.
