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With two races left in the regular season NASCAR Sprint Cup series points leader, Greg Biffle, has been thinking about an empty spot in his trophy case which would complete a sweep of the three-top series.
Many NASCAR fans forget that Biffle, who drives a Ford Fusion for Roush Fenway Racing, already has been a Truck Champion and a Nationwide Series Champion. He hasn't.
“I don't think about it week to week because it consumes me when I do think about it or talk about it or daydream about it for five or 10 minutes,” said Biffle in NASCAR's weekly teleconference. “Or when you are driving down the road - it puts you in a special spot in the sport.
Because of my background and where I came from and how I did it, all of the things that go into that make it pretty overwhelming to think about to be in that position. I try not to think about it a lot. It is always right there when somebody mentions it but I am just thinking about how can I win it this year? That is what it comes down to. How can I do it? That is what I am focused on mostly.”
The how is a big question especially considering that five-time champion; Jimmie Johnson, appears to be ready to peak when the Chase starts at Chicagoland Speedway later in September.
Under current NASCAR rules a win in the regular season is worth bonus points in the Chase. So now that he's locked into the Chase his team can afford to be more aggressive and race for wins. Or can it?
“We have been decent in the points so we have kind of tried to step out of the box and do some things to try and learn for the Chase and really be more aggressive with the setup and go for the win and say, ‘Hey, if it doesn't work we won't cry over spilled milk,'” said Biffle.
“That is all you can do. You can't flip a switch. We are already running as hard as we can. The thing we can do is take some more chances on the setup, whether it might work for the race or not is basically what we have been doing. Obviously it didn't work Saturday night at Bristol and we are hoping that at Atlanta it turns out more like Indy and Michigan for us than what Bristol did.”
Whatever happens in the next two Sprint Cup races Biffle is not getting ahead of himself with Championship dreams.
“Oh yeah. I don't want to jinx myself and actually I haven't done it yet. I am not superstitious but I have a spot picked out and have always said that I am going to build a trophy case with the center one missing and all of that but I am going to make it a special place when I do have the third one. I will proudly display my trophies. We are always kind of changing things around with a little addition on my shop here and there. I can't wait for the day to complete that trophy case.”
Many NASCAR fans forget that Biffle, who drives a Ford Fusion for Roush Fenway Racing, already has been a Truck Champion and a Nationwide Series Champion. He hasn't.
“I don't think about it week to week because it consumes me when I do think about it or talk about it or daydream about it for five or 10 minutes,” said Biffle in NASCAR's weekly teleconference. “Or when you are driving down the road - it puts you in a special spot in the sport.
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| Greg Biffle (Photo: Getty Images for NASCAR) |
Because of my background and where I came from and how I did it, all of the things that go into that make it pretty overwhelming to think about to be in that position. I try not to think about it a lot. It is always right there when somebody mentions it but I am just thinking about how can I win it this year? That is what it comes down to. How can I do it? That is what I am focused on mostly.”
The how is a big question especially considering that five-time champion; Jimmie Johnson, appears to be ready to peak when the Chase starts at Chicagoland Speedway later in September.
Under current NASCAR rules a win in the regular season is worth bonus points in the Chase. So now that he's locked into the Chase his team can afford to be more aggressive and race for wins. Or can it?
“We have been decent in the points so we have kind of tried to step out of the box and do some things to try and learn for the Chase and really be more aggressive with the setup and go for the win and say, ‘Hey, if it doesn't work we won't cry over spilled milk,'” said Biffle.
“That is all you can do. You can't flip a switch. We are already running as hard as we can. The thing we can do is take some more chances on the setup, whether it might work for the race or not is basically what we have been doing. Obviously it didn't work Saturday night at Bristol and we are hoping that at Atlanta it turns out more like Indy and Michigan for us than what Bristol did.”
Whatever happens in the next two Sprint Cup races Biffle is not getting ahead of himself with Championship dreams.
“Oh yeah. I don't want to jinx myself and actually I haven't done it yet. I am not superstitious but I have a spot picked out and have always said that I am going to build a trophy case with the center one missing and all of that but I am going to make it a special place when I do have the third one. I will proudly display my trophies. We are always kind of changing things around with a little addition on my shop here and there. I can't wait for the day to complete that trophy case.”