08/09/2015
Biffle Overcomes Flat Tire to Finish 14th in the No. 16 Cheez-It Ford at the Glen
WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. (August 9, 2015) – Greg Biffle overcame a flat tire early on in the Cheez-It 355 to earn a 14th-place finish Sunday afternoon at Watkins Glen. Not only did Biffle have a flat tire, but the flat tire took out the front brake duct of the No. 16 Cheez-It Ford. Multiple pit stops and fuel strategy put Biffle in the top 10 towards the end but missing the bus stop cost him a few positions in the closing laps.
In final practice Biffle posted the third fastest time on Friday but the handling didn’t translate over to Saturday leaving him with a 25th-place starting position. In the opening green flag run Biffle reported that his Cheez-It Ford was a little tight to the right. Before the team could make a scheduled pit stop for adjustments the left-front tire went flat sending Biffle off the track, but he was able to make it around to pit road.
While pitting for the flat tire, the caution came out and the team received a penalty for a crew member jumping over the wall too soon. The timing of the caution and penalty combined put Biffle a lap down to the field, but luckily another caution came out a few laps later and he was scored as the “lucky dog” and was back on the lead lap.
It was then the team discovered the brake duct had been broken by the flat tire after pieces of it made their way into another competitors pit box after they hit the debris. The rest of the race was spent fixing the brake duct and working on pit strategy to make up lost track position.
Biffle was saving fuel and while others pitted he restarted in the top 10 with 30 laps to go. He was solidly holding his ground in the top 10 until missing the bus stop on the track. The penalty for missing that section of the track is to come to a complete stop. Despite penalty Biffle was able to work his way back up to finish 14th in the Cheez-It Ford while others ran out of fuel coming to the checkered flag.
