Subscribe

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Biffle wins Phoenix Nationwide

Greg Biffle gambled on tyre strategy to claim his second Nationwide series victory of the year in the Bashas' Supermarkets 200 at Phoenix International Raceway

The Roush Fenway racer led the way from lap 98 and until the chequered flag, meaning he was up front for more than half the scheduled distance, although his win was not as straightforward as the numbers may indicate.

Biffle first held off the attacks from Kevin Harvick and then stayed on the track during the sixth caution of the day, while most of the leaders elected to pit to take on new rubber for the final 40 laps of the race.

Jason Leffler stayed out as well and he turned into Biffle's main challenger for victory. Three further caution periods helped the Roush Fenway driver keep Leffler and those on fresh tyres behind, allowing him to take his third Nationwide series win at the one-mile oval.

"I thought we were sitting ducks, but these tyres were so good," Biffle said after giving team owner Jack Roush an anticipated birthday present with the 100th victory for his team in the second-tier series.

"Once the tyres cooled down under the caution that everybody pitted on, the car took off again and just hauled."

Leffler scored his best finish of the season with his runner up spot. He tried having a go at Biffle in the last three restarts of the race but in the end he had to settle for second best as the eventual winner did not put a foot wrong in the last few sprints, nor in the green-white-chequered flag finish.

"It just worked out that we didn't take tyres," said Leffler. "Track position was just so important. If we had any sort of run there, those guys behind us were coming. It worked out really good in our favour. I'm proud of all of the guys and really happy to be driving this car. If we keep running like this we're going to win some races."

Brad Keselowski was third, while Joey Logano was fourth after electing to pit during the sixth caution of the day. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver lamented that he got beaten by strategy as he thought pitting for tyres was the way to go. Kevin Harvick rounded out the top-five behind him.

"The last time I was here I didn't come down pit road at the end of the race and got beat, so I said we better come down this time so I don't get bit, and I got bit again," said Logano. "This place doesn't like me or something - I don't know what it is.

"I wanted it and we were lucky to come out fourth. That last green-white-chequer was pretty exciting. It got a few cars on the restart and we're lucky to get what we got."

Pole-sitter Carl Edwards had to retire from the race with an engine problem, having led for most of the first half of the race. He was also involved in an early incident when he bumped Michael Waltrip, sending him into a spin and against the wall.

Edwards' retirement means he has lost the lead in the standings to Kyle Busch, who recovered from being two laps down due to a tyre problem to finish tenth.

"We had the tire issue and got two laps down, but the guys never gave up and kept on digging," Busch said. "Something just wasn't quite right with the car tonight. I think maybe we had a broken shim, but we just aren't quite sure until (crew chief) Jason (Ratcliff) and the guys take a look at it.

"The 60 (Carl Edwards) had some trouble tonight, so we were fortunate to be able to gain all those spots back and get the points lead."

Busch now leads Edwards in the standings by 47 points, while David Ragan has moved up three spots to third, finishing the race in sixth place.

Pos  Driver              Make       Laps
 1.  Greg Biffle         Ford        203
 2.  Jason Leffler       Toyota      203
 3.  Brad Keselowski     Chevrolet   203
 4.  Joey Logano         Toyota      203
 5.  Kevin Harvick       Chevrolet   203
 6.  David Ragan         Ford        203
 7.  Brendan Gaughan     Chevrolet   203
 8.  Justin Allgaier     Dodge       203
 9.  Mike Bliss          Chevrolet   203
10.  Kyle Busch          Toyota      203
11.  Michael McDowell    Toyota      203
12.  Steve Wallace       Chevrolet   203
13.  Burney Lamar        Toyota      203
14.  Paul Menard         Ford        203
15.  Brian Scott         Toyota      203
16.  Michael Annett      Toyota      203
17.  Jason Keller        Ford        203
18.  David Green         Toyota      203
19.  Scott Wimmer        Chevrolet   203
20.  Jeff Burton         Chevrolet   201
21.  Danny O'Quinn Jr    Chevrolet   201
22.  Eric McClure        Ford        201
23.  DJ Kennington       Dodge       201
24.  Tony Raines         Chevrolet   200
25.  Joe Nemechek        Chevrolet   200
26.  Brandon Whitt       Ford        200
27.  Brian Keselowski    Dodge       200
28.  Ken Butler III      Chevrolet   199
29.  Kenny Wallace       Chevrolet   194
30.  John Borneman III   Ford        184
31.  Casey Atwood        Ford        182
32.  Scott Lagasse Jr    Toyota      180
33.  Carl Edwards        Ford        178
34.  Austin Dillon       Chevrolet   173
35.  Morgan Shepherd     Chevrolet   169
36.  John Wes Townley    Ford        163
37.  Daryl Harr          Chevrolet   142
38.  Mark Green          Chevrolet    58
39.  Kertus Davis        Chevrolet    46
40.  Michael Waltrip     Toyota       29
41.  Kevin Hamlin        Chevrolet    21
42.  Terry Cook          Chevrolet     7
43.  Dave Blaney         Chevrolet     4

Be part of the Autosport community

Join the conversation
Previous article Martin claims Phoenix Cup pole
Next article Gordon already thinking about Chase

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe