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Gregs Bio
Driver of the #16 National Guard Ford Fusion
Greg Biffle came to Roush Racing from the short tracks of the Northwest and quickly made a name for himself when he took the 1998 Rookie of the Year Award in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. He went on to win the truck series championship two years later and captured the Busch Series Rookie of the Year honor in 2001. In 2002, Biffle became the first driver to win both the Craftsman Truck and Busch Series Championships. He accomplished a life-long goal in 2002 at Daytona with his first NASCAR Nextel Cup Series victory. In 2003, Biffle added two more wins to his Cup record but nothing would compare to the 2005 season when he ran away with five wins in the first 15 races. Biffle added one more victory at Homestead to become the winningest driver of the 2005 NASCAR Nextel Cup season. He finished second in the points to Tony Stewart, missing his third NASCAR Championship by only 35 points.
Since joining Roush Racing in 1998, Biffle has clearly shown that NASCAR racing is his forte. Even before becoming a member of the Roush stable, Biffle was recording impressive statistics in other racing series, including NASCAR Winston Racing Series Championships at Portland Speedway and Tri-Cities Raceway. It wasn’t until his rookie season in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, however, that he truly began making a name for himself.
Biffle caught the eye of NASCAR Hall-of-Famer Benny Parsons during the 1995/96 NASCAR Winter Heat Series, which proved to be the key that opened the door to what has been a remarkable career to date. Parsons told Jack Roush that there was no way he could pass up the chance to hire Biffle, and that if he did he would regret it while watching Biffle win races for another team owner.
In 1997, Grainger Industrial Supply went to Roush Racing for advice on how to build a motorsports platform that would work for their business. The recommendation was to become a primary sponsor in the budding NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, and to latch on to an up and coming driver. Biffle was the guy, and since the two hit the track together in 1998, they have become one of the most successful combinations in NASCAR.
During his rookie campaign in the truck series, Biffle established a rookie record for Bud Pole positions with four. Only Biffle’s teammate Kurt Busch was able to tie that record in 2000, but no other rookie driver has been able to top it. Biffle also led at least one lap in 12 different events that season and recorded eight top-five and 12 top-10 finishes en route to securing the Cintas Rookie-of-the-Year honors.
The following year was the breakthrough year for Biffle and the Grainger team in the truck series. He captured his first career series win at Memphis Motorsports Park, and went on to set a series record for nine wins in a single season. Biffle finished the year second in the overall point standings, just eight points shy of a championship.
The 1999 success set the stage for what would be an incredible run in the truck series for Biffle and gang in 2000. In 24 events the team won five races, posted 18 top-five and top-10 finishes on their way to capturing Roush Racing’s first NASCAR championship.
The truck series proved to be a good starting point for Biffle, but after three successful seasons it was time to graduate to the next level; the NASCAR Busch Series.
Biffle tore through his inaugural year in the Busch Series like a seasoned veteran. In 33 events, he and the Grainger team recorded five wins, two poles, 16 top-five finishes and 21 top-10 finishes. Biffle finished the 2001 Busch Series season fourth in the overall point standings, while receiving Raybestos Rookie-of-the-Year honors. Collectively, he and the team set eight rookie records including most wins, most top-five finishes, most top-10 finishes, most starts, most points overall (4509), most laps led (948) most races led (19) and most money won.
The 2002 Busch Series season proved to be yet another memorable year for Biffle and Roush Racing, as he and the Grainger team won the series title. It was a hard fought battle between Biffle and Jason Keller, but in the end the No. 60 Grainger Ford Taurus reigned supreme. Biffle produced four wins, five poles, 20 top-five finishes and 25 top-10 finishes on his way to winning his second NASCAR Championship. He also became the first driver to win over two million dollars in a single Busch Series season.
Biffle’s inaugural season at NASCAR’s elite level produced mixed results, highlighted by his first career Winston Cup win in the Pepsi 400 at Daytona International Speedway on July, 5, 2003. Overall he and the No. 16 Team recorded one win, three top-five and six top-10 finishes en route to a 20 th-place position in the final point standings.
The 2004 Nextel Cup Series season got of to a promising start when Biffle took the pole for the Daytona 500. The first half of the season was a little rocky for Biffle and the National Guard team. However, they refused to give up and their persistence paid off with a top-five finish in Pocono. The following week they turned in a sixth place finish in Indianapolis and two weeks later, Biffle drove the National Guard Ford to a dominating win at Michigan International Speedway. Following the Michigan victory, Biffle picked up another top-five and two more top-10’s on his way to a dramatic season-ending win at Homestead. Biffle finished 17 th in the 2004 Nextel Cup driver’s point standings. Biffle also completed a full Busch Series Schedule in 2004 driving the No. 60 Charter Communications Ford. He finished the season third in the points with five wins, two poles, 15 top-fives and 21 top-10’s.
Heading into the 2005 season, Biffle was a dark horse for the championship. He quickly turned some heads however, when he one five of the first 15 races. The second half of the summer was filled with several top-fives and top-tens but it wasn’t until the dramatic season finale at Homestead that Biffle drove the National Guard Ford to victory lane for the sixth time of the season. With the victory at Homestead, Biffle took second in the point standings to Tony Stewart and fell just short of a third NASCAR Championship.
As 2006 approaches, Biffle is no longer a dark horse but a favorite for the championship. If he wins, he would be the first driver in history to win a championship in all three of NASCAR’s premiere series.
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