Biffle Ready for Turnaround After Win

HOMESTEAD, Fla. Nov 21, 2004; Jeff Price writing for the AP reported that the adversity seems pretty far away now for Greg Biffle.

Struggling the last two years with unrealized potential, Biffle came through with a big win in Sunday's Ford 400, NASCAR (news - web sites)'s season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Appropriately, it was a comeback win.

"This just goes to show everybody what this 16 team is capable of doing," Biffle said. "We had an awesome car all day long. We just lost the track position because of fuel mileage and we just fought back and fought back. These guys had great pit stops."

The win was the second this season for Biffle, who also won at Michigan in August.

But he's still looking to establish consistency heading into next season, his third in the Nextel Cup series with car owner Jack Roush. Part of a successful organization, Biffle was the one driver not meeting his goals as teammates Matt Kenseth, Kurt Busch and Mark Martin battled for championships.

Kenseth won the title last year, Busch won his first championship Sunday, and Martin has been in two of the past three title races.

"When our program was looking dismal, I went to Jack and told him I was unhappy and was not happy driving the (No.) 16 car," Biffle said. "I felt like we weren't getting the opportunities to be as competitive as we needed to be and he helped us get that program turned around some."

The team has since staged a turnaround. After the win at Michigan, Biffle posted three top-10 finishes heading into Homestead.

"The reason why I'm still there is because (Roush) knows that what happened (Sunday) is what I'm capable of as a driver and what Doug (Richert ) is capable of as a crew chief," Biffle said.

Biffle led for 117 of the 271 laps at Homestead, but found himself in the middle of the pack with less than 40 laps to go. In a race slowed by 14 caution flags, Biffle took advantage, climbing back into contention and taking the lead for the last two laps.

"We just need to have these kind of race cars everywhere we go this year ... and win six or seven races and be in the chase and contending for the title and that's what we're capable of," Biffle said.

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HENDRICK HONORED:@ Car owner Rick Hendrick was honored by NASCAR drivers and officials Sunday afternoon, one day after he returned to the track for the first time since four family members and several employees were killed in a plane crash.

NASCAR president Mike Helton stopped the pre-race meeting to welcome Hendrick, who received a standing ovation from drivers, pit crew members and others.

"We love you, it's great to have you back," Helton said.

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STERN WARNING:@ NASCAR issued a stern warning against foolish or reckless actions on the track, particularly those that could effect the outcome of the championship race.

"Let the championship unfold on its own and leave it on the track," president Mike Helton said at the driver meeting. "NASCAR does not want to change the outcome, but we will not be shy (to do so)."

Helton also cautioned drivers about their "vocabulary" following Sunday's race. Dale Earnhardt (news - web sites) Jr. was penalized 25 points at Talladega for using an expletive.

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KAHNE NOT ABLE:@ Kasey Kahne has locked up this season's rookie of the year trophy, but he will have to wait until next season for his first trip to the winner's circle.

Kahne left the Ford 400 on lap 159 in a one-car wreck, coming up short in his last chance for his first career win.

"The front end wasn't working at all and when you're front end isn't working, it's hard to drive it," said Kahne, who finished 38th in the finale. "Once you get loose, you can't save it. It was just a bad day."

Despite a winless season, Kahne finished a solid rookie campaign on the Nextel Cup circuit, grabbing five runner-up finishes and 13 top fives. He owned a 115 point lead over Brendan Gaughan in the rookie standing entering the Homestead race.

"It's disappointing we didn't win," he said. "We came close a lot of times, but we just didn't get it done. Either way, we had a good season. The guys did a good job and we'll be better next year for sure."

It wasn't a total lost weekend for Kahne, who became the first driver to win his first two starts in the truck series with a win in the Ford 200 on Friday.

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BETTER FINISH FOR KENSETH?:@ Last year's points champ Matt Kenseth had a better day in South Florida than he did last year, but the result wasn't nearly as gratifying.

Kenseth finished last in the 43-car field at Homestead in 2003, but had wrapped up the Winston Cup championship a week earlier.

This season, he entered Homestead out of contention, but finished eighth overall in the standings after a 19th place finish in the Ford 400. Teammate Kurt Busch took home the title.

"We just have to figure out how to get our stuff running like that," Kenseth said of Busch.

Kenseth won last year's points championship despite winning just one race. That win contributed to the changes in this year's points race and new 10-race playoff format.

"I'm looking forward to getting to work this winter and figure out what we're doing wrong, so we can get running back up front again," he said