Second-place Jeff Burton and third-place Greg Biffle are trying for an upset.
Head2Head: Burton or Biffle?
Who has the better shot of catching Jimmie Johnson?
October 16, 2008
1:19 PM EDT
Jimmie Johnson is in the driver’s seat for his third consecutive Cup Series title at the halfway point of the Chase. But there are two drivers, Jeff Burton and Greg Biffle, that are within 100 points and pose the most serious threat to the No. 48’s three-peat chances.
Biffle won the first two Chase races and Burton won last week at Lowe’s, but who has what it takes to catch Johnson? Read both sides of the argument and then weigh in with your take.
Who has the better shot of catching Jimmie Johnson: Jeff Burton or Greg Biffle?
| BURTON | BIFFLE |
|---|---|
|
Aside from the fact that Greg Biffle has a love-hate relationship with Martinsville Speedway and has an average finish of 24.0, there are other reasons why Jeff Burton will catch Jimmie Johnson before the No. 16 does. One reason being attitude, it’s everything. And Burton has the right one heading into the second half of the Chase. The No. 31 Richard Childress Racing driver is out there to have fun. That’s all Burton could talk about after his win last week in Charlotte. His team is committed to having fun, no matter what happens. A relaxed, confident attitude like that will take you far. And if you look at the tracks that still remain in the Chase, Burton is more favorable. He is the only driver with multiple Cup wins at Texas Motor Speedway; he has two wins at Phoenix International Raceway and also has a win at Martinsville. Plus, he could be the feel-good story of the season. Burton, known as the “Mayor” in the Cup garage, is 41 years old. In the increasingly growing ageist sport of NASCAR, Burton has something to prove to these young crumb crunchers. And for Burton, a driver with more Chase experience than Biffle, a championship could mean something more. He’s credited with the successful turnaround of RCR after joining the organization halfway through the 2004 season. A championship would be one more layer of confirmation. Last, things are getting a little kooky over there at Roush Fenway Racing. I think we’ve already seen the best of Biffle. Two wins was a pleasant surprise, but his streak will likely end there. • Raygan Swan, NASCAR.COM |
Jeff Burton’s win at Lowe’s this past Saturday was exciting, but if I’m picking one driver to catch Jimmie Johnson, it’s Greg Biffle. The Biff has been very impressive in the first five Chase races, both on and off the track. Two wins to start the Chase, a third at Kansas and a seventh at Lowe’s shows the No. 16 can be competitive on different kinds of tracks. Add to that he probably would have finished top-five or top-10 at Talladega until his teammate got to his bumper and we could be looking at Biffle in the top spot. But what was really impressive was The Biff’s maturity after the ‘Dega debacle. He wasn’t mad at Carl, he kept his cool and proved he’s ready to win his first Cup title to go with those Truck and Nationwide Series titles. Add to that the final five tracks set up pretty good for Biffle and this could finally be his year. Yes, Martinsville is a horrible track for Biffle. One top-10 in 11 races there — but that one top-10 came in this race last season, so the tide could be turning. Next is Atlanta where he has a pole and three top-fives; then Texas where Biffle has a victory and at Phoenix, Biffle finished second there last fall and ninth in the spring. If Biffle is still in the hunt when the season wraps at Homestead, look out. He’s won three of the last four races and will go to South Florida this season as the heavy favorite.< This is Jimmie Johnson’s Chase to lose, but if he does slip up, Biffle will be the one to slide in and take the championship. • Bill Kimm, NASCAR.COM |
