Getting the "Bugs" Out in 2015: Biffle is Key to Roush Resurrection

Greg Biffle looks to heat up the track with new sponsor Ortho in 2015
(Google Images)

Last season was one to forget for Roush Fenway Racing. The team only scored two wins and, despite getting drivers Greg Biffle and Carl Edwards into the Chase, consistency only brought them so far and both were eliminated before they could shoot for the title. There was also a good deal of speculation about whether Edwards and Biffle would return to RFR in 2015. But while Edwards decided to depart the team that gave him his break for Joe Gibbs Racing, Biffle decided to stay put and try to right the ship.

This was not entirely surprising because, like his owner Jack Roush, Biffle bleeds Ford blue and he has been with the team since his truck series days began back in 1998. The Biff took a pay cut a few years ago to stay in his familiar No. 16 Fusion, so clearly he cares more about racing than money.  This season, Roush-Fenway added Elliott Sadler and Darrell Wallace Jr to their Nationwide Series fleet as teammates to Ryan Reed giving them a serious shot at the 2015 series title. The team also elevated Trevor Bayne to full-time Sprint Cup competition, so on the cup side the level of inexperience between Bayne and third-year driver Ricky Stenhouse Jr is going to mean a steep learning curve for both young drivers.

Enter Biffle, who won the 2000 Camping World (then Craftsman) Truck Series championship and the 2002 Xfinity (then Busch) Series title for Roush in addition to 19 Sprint Cup victories. Now he will be the elder statesman and his experience will be key in getting RFR back to a competitive level. His knowledge and expertise will only help boost the performance of Stenhouse and Bayne and return not only the No. 16 car to the front of the pack, but both of his young teammates as well. But while his fans have been known to "stick with the Biff," the 45-year-old veteran spoke about seriously debating whether or not he should stick with Roush Fenway Racing.

"You know, loyalty in this world only goes so far," Biffle told media members during the Charlotte Motor Speedway Media Tour. "I felt like I had to wrestle with the decision on whether I leave or not. It makes it easy to leave, it's easy to kick a guy when he's down, right? So we were having tremendous trouble last year, and I've been there trough three of these cycles, and we're not going to sugar-coat it -- last year, we were at the bottom of the heap compared to the teams. We just were, and no light at the end of the tunnel, and so it would've been an easy way for me to leave at that point."



Biffle celebrating his most recent win, June 16th, 2013 at Michigan
(Google Images)

While Edwards might have taken the easy way out Biffle described, the Biff sticking around is the best thing that could've happened to RFR and, just like many of his fans, he believes Roush is due for a comeback in 2015. And he wants to be the one leading that charge back to the front.

"Knowing that the stock is at the lowest price that it's been at, sometimes that's the opportunity. It's going to go up," Biffle told reporters. "It doesn't have to, but logic says it's going to go up, and so I wrestled with it and sat long and hard about it, and I said 'I want to be the guy that brings the organization back out of where we're at. We're in a bad place. I could jump ship right now.' And I decided I didn't want to do that. I wanted to give it another opportunity."

Steve Newmark, president of Roush Fenway Racing, spoke about the idea of losing Biffle, a great driver who has also become a great company man and team spokesman.

"It was critical," Newmark said of re-signing Biffle. "Greg and I spent a lot of time talking. He was solicited by a lot of teams, which I would expect with a driver of that caliber. After a lot of discussions, I think he felt like Roush was the right fit for him and the right place, and he and Jack had some unfinished business. But he brings an element that we wouldn't have had without him. We have a lot of other talented drivers, but none of them has had the history with both our organization and the championships, so he's been fantastic."

One of the other bug reasons Biffle could've left is because of the loss of longtime sponsor 3M. Losing that kind of funding could be a big blow to any team. But now, with new sponsor Ortho Bug B Gone, both Biffle and Roush Fenway will be looking to work out the bugs from 2014 and return to the highly competitive level they're used to this season. As Newmark said, Biffle has an intimate knowledge of all things Roush and he has proven that when his Fords are right, he can contend for wins and championships. The No. 16 car might be coming out of a revamped shop and have some different stickers on the hood this year, but the same hard charging, talented driver will be behind the wheel. For that reason alone, there's no reason at all why Biffle, his team and his fans shouldn't be optimistic heading into this year.

"We're all confident," said Biffle. "Everyone's so excited about the way our company looks, about how everybody's getting along and how excited everybody is to work together again, and on a common goal. We all feel really good."

Chase Elliott to Make Cup Debut at Atlanta?

This photo posted to Jayski.com could mean Chase Elliott will run
some Cup races sooner than later (Google Images)

Last year's Nationwide Series champion might soon become this year's Sprint Cup Series rookie sensation.

Chase Elliott has long been rumored as the heir apparent to Jeff Gordon and the No. 24 team. Now that Gordon is retiring, at least from full-time competition, the path is now clear for Elliott to make his way to Sprint Cup full-time. But while he has not been officially announced as Hendrick Motorsports' newest wheelman, it's really a no brainer that he will be promoted next year.

Actually... make that this year.

Ever since last season there has been speculation that Elliott would run a limited number of Sprint Cup races in 2015 to try and wet his pallet. Under NASCAR rules, despite the fact that HMS has four teams, they are allowed to run a part-time team with a rookie for a select number of events. In addition, the funding is already in place to run a few cup events. NAPA Auto Parts has been Elliott's sponsor since 2014 when the duo won three races, two poles and the Nationwide title. NAPA also has money to fund a full-time Sprint Cup Series ride. They did so with Michael Waltrip from 2001 until 2009, then with Martin Truex Jr from 2010 through 2013. Given that they have already had more on track success in one year with Elliott than they did in over a decade with Waltrip and his team, they have clearly found their golden goose. There's no reason why the auto parts juggernaut wouldn't want to gain even more exposure with Elliott and his team by moving to Sprint Cup.

Jayski.com, NASCAR's premier "Silly Season" authority posted a picture they received from a fan of a blue and gold No. 25 NAPA Chevrolet with Elliott's name on the door. Many fans have been debating whether Rick Hendrick would resurrect the No. 25 his son drove in the Nationwide (then Busch) Series and by Brian Vickers and Casey Mears in cup or if Elliott would run a number his famous father, "Awesome" Bill Elliott ran. His cars carried either a No. 9 or No. 94. But with the leaked photo, it appears Elliott will run the No. 25 this season. But when will he actually climb aboard his new mount?

All signs point to the race in Atlanta on March 1st. The Elliott's are from Dawsonville, Georgia. The town still sounds the fire siren on top of the pool hall in town whenever Chase scores a victory, just as they have done so many times with Bill. Not only is Atlanta Elliott's home track, it is also the home base for NAPA. No doubt both parties would want to make their Sprint Cup debut in front of their home town crowd.

Looking at how this story is playing out, it all sounds a little familiar. Hendrick Motorsports is bringing a farm series standout to the sport's highest level on a part-time basis in preparation to run for a title next season; their first start being at the Atlanta Motor Speedway with a big time, big money sponsorship deal.

That all seemed to work out really well for the man who drove the guy who drove the No. 24 car in that well documented debut. I think his successor should do fine following the same path in the No. 25 car.

UPDATE: Hendrick Motorsports announced Friday afternoon that Chase Elliott will drive the No. 24 car full-time in 2016 with crew chief Alan Gustafson. Sponsorship will be announced at a later date. Elliott will also run five Sprint Cup races in 2015 with crew chief Kenny Francis and the No. 25 NAPA Chevrolet. NAPA will also back Elliott as he defends his 2014 title in the Xfinity Series this season.. The pair will be entered at Martinsville Speedway (March 29), Richmond International Raceway (April 25), Charlotte Motor Speedway (May 24), Indianapolis Motor Speedway (July 26) and Darlington Raceway (September 6).

"Chase brings the kind of intangibles that make him the total package as a driver," team owner Rick Hendrick as he announced the news during the team's season kickoff employee event. "Not only is he a special talent inside the race car, but there's a natural combination of competitiveness, work ethic and smarts that you rarely see. Chase's personality and demeanor make him popular with fans, teammates and sponsors. He's a great fit for our organization on many levels, and we feel he and Alan will be a successful combination. There's a lot to be excited about."

"Chase has been a fantastic ambassador for NAPA," said Gaylord Spencer, senior vice president of marketing for NAPA Auto Parts. "As he embarks on this next important step in his career, we are proud to support him across both series in 2015 and look forward to an exciting year on and off the track. The NAPA family is behind Chase 100 percent."

"So many people have been behind me, and the first thing I want to do is thank them," said Elliott. "My parents especially have believed in me every step of the way, and I know this wouldn't be possible without all the sacrifices they've made to focus on my racing career. This is such a big week for our family. I'm also extremely grateful to Mr. Hendrick and my teammates at both Hendrick Motorsports and JR Motorsports for believing in me. NAPA has been a huge supporter and I'm honored to represent them on and off the track. Of course the fans have been amazing to me, and I'm so appreciative of that. I know how rare this opportunity is and will work as hard as I can to make everyone proud."

End of an Era: Jeff Gordon Announces Retirement After 2015 Season

Gordon and owner Rick Hendrick after their record fifth win at Indianapolis
last season (Google Images)

Jeff Gordon has run every race he has entered since November 15th, 1992 and the season finale at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Now over two decades since that first race, on January 22, 2015, Gordon announced that the 2015 season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway would be his final start in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, at least on a full-time basis.

Champion driver and NASCAR on FOX commentator Darrell Waltrip famously made his opinion known at the time of Gordon's first start that he didn't believe the California driver would be able to make it in the Winston (now Sprint) Cup Series. He appeared to have a point, as Gordon started 21st and finished 31st after a wreck in that first start. But now, four championships and 92 wins later, I think DW would agree that Gordon's done ok for himself at NASCAR's top level. But his success in stock car racing also transcends his on track victories. 

Gordon is from California, is great with the media and is one of, if not the most recognizable face in the sport of stock car racing today. His professionalism and personality made him an ideal guest for talk shows and an ideal spokesman for sponsors. His off track credits also include hosting Saturday Night Live in 2003 and voicing Jeff Gorvette in Pixar's 2011 film Cars 2. Through appearances like these, Gordon has been able to help bring NASCAR beyond its southern roots and propel it onto a national stage and brought new fans into the fold. Throw in the great work that the Jeff Gordon Foundation does for children with illnesses like cancer and, like him or not, it's almost impossible to argue that Gordon has been nothing but good for the sport.

Speaking of loving or hating him, Gordon is perhaps one of the most polarizing figures in the sport. This is because he is seen by many as a pretty boy; just a spoiled rich kid who had his stepfather help him buy his way to the top. This was the biggest reason that lead to his rivalry with Dale Earnhardt; he was the antithesis of the Intimidator. Earnhardt described himself as someone who could "win a race on Sunday and feed the cows on Monday;" a blue collar, working class, average Joe that fans could relate to. Gordon and Earnhardt were the two most successful drivers in the late 1990's and, because of this, they garnered a lot of media attention. This coupled with their feuding fan bases, one would assume the two racers hated each other as much as their fans did. But that was simply not true.



Gordon and Earnhardt share a moment on pit road (Google Images)

Both drivers had a mutual respect for each other, but that didn't mean there weren't a few good natured jabs thrown in. Earnhardt was the one who dubbed Gordon "Wonder Boy" and, even though he won the second NASCAR event at Indianapolis in 1995, Earnhardt declared himself the first man to win the Brickyard 400. The joke being that Gordon had won the first race at Indy the year before. But Gordon had a few unforgettable highlights too. When it seemed Gordon was a lock to win the title in 1995, Earnhardt said, "if he wins, he'll have to toast everyone with milk." On stage at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel after winning the title, Gordon did exactly that. He raised a glass of milk and toasted his rival on a "great season man." Later in his career, when Gordon won the spring 2007 race at Phoenix and tied Earnhardt at 76 wins, he took a victory lap with a black flag emblazoned with the Intimidator's legendary No. 3. Dale Earnhardt Jr called "really classy." While the fans might have been the ones to create this rivalry, Earnhardt and Gordon were great friends on and off the track.

Personally speaking, I was always an Earnhardt fan. But not just because of his success. I was young at the time, so a great deal of my decision making went into how the cars looked. Plain and simple, Earnhardt's jet black, silver trimmed Monte Carlo was so much cooler than Gordon's Chevy with the big, girly rainbow on the hood. I'd like to think any other seven year old boy would have found that to be an easy decision too. "The Man in Black" or "The Rainbow Warrior?" It was really a no brainer.

Gordon drives to victory lane after I saw him win the fall 2014 Dover race,
potentially his final victory in the Sprint Cup Series

But now, looking back on how the sport of NASCAR was back then versus how it is today, Gordon doesn't seem all that bad anymore. Now that he's retiring, one of the last of the old guard is hanging up his helmet. While I'm still not a fan of Gordon, it's hard to not have respect for how he carries himself and for the great amount of success. 92 wins, four titles, three Daytona 500s, 77 poles and 454 top tens to date? A quarter of those numbers is a career for most drivers. Yes Gordon might have had more help getting to the top, but he clearly had the talent to stay put once he got there. It will be strange to see the No. 24 car with a different driver next year; or perhaps not even on the track at all. But while his car will have a different driver (cough...chaseelliott... cough), Gordon has already signed on to be a color commentator for select FOX Sports Xfinity Series broadcasts.

While it will be an adjustment seeing him behind a microphone instead of behind the wheel, Gordon has done everything you can possibly do and won all there is to win in NASCAR. Heck, if he wins at Kentucky this year, he'll have won at every NASCAR track he's ever raced on (including Rockingham and North Wilkesboro). He's retiring on his terms and, unlike many other drivers, he's going out at the top of his game. But perhaps the most important thing is that Gordon is leaving this sport much better than it was when he first arrived on the scene 22 years ago. And for that, every race fan owes him a big thank you.