05/11/2015
Biffle Drives Cheez-It / Patrick Star Ford To A 12th-Place Finish At Kansas
KANSAS CITY, K.S. (May 10, 2015) – Greg Biffle had Patrick Star, Sponge Bob’s best friend, on the hood of his No. 16 Cheez-It Ford Saturday night under the lights at Kansas Speedway for the SpongeBob SquarePants 400. Biffle earned his best starting position of the season of seventh with Patrick on board and was able to capitalize on taking the “wave around” after a red flag for rain to earn a 12th-place finish at Kansas.
“It was a bit of an up and down night for us,” said Biffle. “I am really proud of the No. 16 team. We kept adjusting on the car as the night went on and we were able to come home 12th. We just missed out on the top-10, which is an improvement from where we have been lately, so that is a good sign. We just have to keep working on it and I know the guys will. It is a little bit of momentum in the right direction, so we will take it and move on to Charlotte.”
Biffle was one of four cars honoring Sponge Bob and his friends for Saturday night’s SpongeBob SquarePants 400. Biffle had a solid qualifying effort on Friday evening advancing to the final round and earning a seventh-place starting position, his best start of the 2015 season.
With the threat of severe weather looming, the field took the green flag Saturday night knowing it was only a matter of time before the inclement weather made its way to the track. Shortly after the green flag dropped Biffle began to lose positions on the track while battling having no front turn.
The battle for grip and turn continued and Biffle went a lap down to the field. Under caution with just under 100 laps completed, Biffle was in position to take the “wave around” and did just that to get back on the lead lap. The storms came just before the field was able to restart racing bringing out the red flag.
After over two hours for rain and track drying, the field was back under green flag conditions and was clear weather wise until the end. With nothing to lose the team made big chassis adjustments over the second half of the race in an effort to find grip for Biffle.
The chassis adjustments combined with track position were what the No. 16 team needed. Biffle had maneuvered his way up to 13thwhen the field took the final restart with six laps to go and was able to advance another spot to finish 12th. The 12th-place finish keeps Biffle sitting 21st in the point standings.
