Long Pond, Pa.(August 6, 2012) – Pocono Raceway certainly turned out to be a wild and crazy race for the Sprint Cup Series. After starting two hours later than planned, due to torrential downpours that came through the track, the field finally took the green flag. Biffle had a fast Ford and looked as if he was on his way to a solid top-five finish. Biffle was third on the lap 90 restart when Jimmie Johnson got into Matt Kenseth and Biffle slightly brushed the wall while trying to avoid the accident. NASCAR spent awhile reviewing tape to line up the field and Biffle was delegated back to 15th. In the time it took NASCAR to review the timing loop the rains came in and the race was called.
Just as the drivers were heading out to driver introductions the skies opened up. Rain came down sideways creating streams of water all over the garage. Luckily the storm blew by and NASCAR was able to start the race. Biffle started 12th and by the first caution of the day on lap 19 for the No. 18 of Kyle Busch hitting the wall (also deemed the competition caution due to the rain washing the rubber off the track) Biffle was up to seventh. In an effort to gain some grip, crew chief Matt Puccia called Biffle down pit road for a two tire, fuel and air pressure adjustment pit stop.
The adjustment helped out and a few laps after going back to green Biffle was inside the top-five, but said he still needed his 3M Safety Ford to turn a tick better. On the next scheduled pit stop Biffle received four tires, fuel and a similar air pressure adjustment. Between a fast stop by the 3M Pit Bulls and a fast Ford, Biffle cycled around to fourth.
As the laps ticked by the 3M Safety Ford tightened up, which made it a little free on the track. Biffle came in for what would be his last pit stop on lap 75 for four tires, fuel and another air pressure adjustment. Biffle restarted third on lap 90, but it seems as if the No. 48 of Jimmie Johnson had a tire going down and got into the No. 17 of Matt Kenseth. Biffle tried his best to avoid the incident, but brushed the wall. The damage was minor, but due to NASCAR going back to the last scoring loop to reset the field Biffle dropped from third to 15th avoiding the accident. Before the field could go back to green the rains returned and NASCAR called the field down pit road. A severe storm quickly engulfed the track, forcing NASCAR to call the race. Jeff Gordon won the weather shortened race, while Greg Biffle finished 15th and remains third in the point standings.
“I don’t know what happened, the 48 just spun out,” said Biffle. “I never even slowed down. I went up, kissed the fence, shifted down and was digging like hell. I had to wait for the No. 17 to cross in front of me and watched him take the No. 11 out then I went and they put me all the way back to 16th. There is no way. No way.”
NEXT UP:
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at the Glen
2.45-miles, Watkins Glen International
Watkins Glen, N.Y.
Sunday, August 12, 2012
