Biffle Puts Ford in California Victory Circle
Written by John Davison · February 27, 2005
In a virtual reverse of last week’s domination by the bow-tie brigade, Jack Roush’s Fords took the blue oval to the front at California Speedway Sunday. Greg Biffle took his No. 16 Ford to the win over Jimmie Johnson’s Chevrolet with three more Roush Fords in the top ten.
In a virtual reverse of last week’s domination by the bow-tie brigade, Jack Roush’s Fords took the blue oval to the front at California Speedway Sunday. Greg Biffle took his No. 16 Ford to the win over Jimmie Johnson’s Chevrolet with three more Roush Fords in the top ten.
At one time in the first third of the race, all five of the Roush cars were in the top seven positions and led at least once. Matt Kenseth took only four laps to move from sixth at the start to the lead, sweeping around the youngsters from Hendrick – Kyle Busch and Brian Vickers who set a new age record for the front row.
Series rookie and new youngest pole winner Kyle Busch flattened the right side of his car on the wall early, dropping back a couple of laps to the leaders. Dale Earnhardt Jr suffered recurrent left-front tire problems, taking the No. 8 Chevy out of contention with several blown and cut tires.
After a brilliant pit stop, Joe Nemechek led at mid-race, followed by Jimmie Johnson and Kevin Harvick. Kasey Kahne held fourth and Mark Martin, dominant in Saturday’s Busch race, headed a trio of Roush Fords. Nemechek lapped Kurt Busch just before lap 140 while Dale Jr was in the pits with yet more tire problems and an ignition box woe. He returned to the track to make laps, 13 laps down and last car running.
Dave Blaney had his second crash in two days, slamming the wall in Turn Four on lap 144 before driving his backup car to the garage. More wholesale pit stops ensued with Nemechek winning the pit road race over everyone else. Mark Martin followed “Front Row Joe” onto the track with Jimmie Johnson, Kevin Harvick and Rusty Wallace filling out the top five. 26 cars
Kasey Kahne brought out a fifth caution when he slid into the wall. Jimmie Johnson’s crew played a fuel game, taking on only fuel just fifteen laps after the last scheduled stop. Nemechek’s team opted for right-side tires only and got him out just behind Johnson. Rusty Wallace, Michael Waltrip and Elliott Sadler exited the pits in the balance of the top five, but Waltrip exited the pits too fast and had to drop to the back of the field on the restart, moving Carl Edwards, Kevin Harvick, Jamie McMurray, Mark Martin, Bobby Labonte and Jeff Gordon into the top ten.
Nemechek took only one lap under green before passing Johnson for the lead but after holding off all challengers the engine in the No. 01 Chevy gave up, relegating him to 39th position at the finish. Carl Edwards took the point for 15 laps until Kevin Harvick got around him, then Mark Martin led for one lap under a caution for oil on the track.
Harvick took the lead again until another oil caution when Kurt Busch grabbed the lead for nine laps, only to have Greg Biffle take over to lead the final 23 laps.
Unofficial finishing order, Auto Club 500:
Fin Str Car Driver Team Laps Pts Bns Award Status Ti. Led Lps Led
1 5 16 Greg Biffle National Guard/Post-It Ford 250 185 5 $288,650 Running 2 46
2 8 48 Jimmie Johnson Lowe’s Chevrolet 250 175 5 $235,041 Running 1 4
3 20 97 Kurt Busch Sharpie Ford 250 170 5 $208,075 Running 2 11
4 15 42 Jamie McMurray Texaco/Havoline Dodge 250 160 $143,225 Running
5 19 99 Carl Edwards Office Depot Ford 250 160 5 $125,600 Running 3 33
6 31 29 Kevin Harvick GM Goodwrench Chevrolet 250 155 5 $148,811 Running 2 23
7 18 6 Mark Martin Viagra Ford 250 151 5 $116,825 Running 4 4
8 41 38 Elliott Sadler Pedigree/M&M’s Ford 250 142 $141,316 Running
9 9 12 Ryan Newman ALLTEL Dodge 250 138 $138,616 Running
10 23 2 Rusty Wallace Miller Lite Dodge 250 134 $127,383 Running
11 7 88 Dale Jarrett UPS Ford 250 130 $130,458 Running
12 10 0 Mike Bliss NetZero Best Buy Chevrolet 250 127 $94,500 Running
13 14 18 Bobby Labonte Interstate Batteries Chevrolet 250 124 $127,225 Running
14 38 49 Ken Schrader Schwan’s Home Service Dodge 250 121 $90,575 Running
15 13 40 Sterling Marlin Coors Light Dodge 250 118 $120,383 Running
16 27 22 Scott Wimmer Caterpillar Dodge 250 115 $115,233 Running
17 29 20 Tony Stewart The Home Depot Chevrolet 250 112 $133,111 Running
18 36 45 Kyle Petty Georgia-Pacific/Brawny Dodge 250 114 5 $103,933 Running 1 2
19 32 31 Jeff Burton Cingular Wireless Chevrolet 250 106 $113,420 Running
20 26 32 Bobby Hamilton Jr. Tide/Give Kids the World Chevrolet 250 103 $102,583 Running
21 2 25 Brian Vickers GMAC Chevrolet 250 105 5 $93,675 Running 1 1
22 16 41 Casey Mears Target Dodge 249 97 $104,633 Running
23 1 5 Kyle Busch # CARQUEST/Kellogg’s Chevrolet 249 99 5 $110,225 Running 2 2
24 35 77 Travis Kvapil # Kodak/Jasper Eng. & Trans. Dodge 249 91 $91,550 Running
25 33 4 Mike Wallace Lucas Oil Chevrolet 249 88 $83,350 Running
26 6 17 Matt Kenseth USG Sheetrock/DeWalt Ford 249 90 5 $127,286 Running 3 57
27 37 43 Jeff Green General Mills Whole Grain Dodge 249 87 5 $110,186 Running 1 1
28 3 19 Jeremy Mayfield Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge 248 84 5 $104,495 Running 1 1
29 24 14 John Andretti VB/APlus at Sunoco Ford 248 76 $77,950 Running
30 28 24 Jeff Gordon DuPont Chevrolet 246 73 $126,936 Engine
31 43 37 Kevin Lepage R&J Racing Dodge 241 70 $77,525 Running
32 40 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Budweiser Chevrolet 237 67 $124,728 Running
33 12 10 Scott Riggs Valvoline Chevrolet 229 64 $95,597 Engine
34 42 07 Dave Blaney Jack Daniel’s Chevrolet 224 61 $84,900 Running
35 25 7 Robby Gordon Harrah’s Chevrolet 222 58 $76,700 Engine
36 11 44 Terry Labonte Kellogg’s Chevrolet 216 55 $76,550 Rear Gear
37 39 11 Jason Leffler FedEx Express Chevrolet 215 52 $76,325 Engine
38 30 15 Michael Waltrip NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet 203 49 $103,289 Engine
39 4 01 Joe Nemechek U.S. Army Chevrolet 180 56 10 $104,255 Engine 3 63
40 17 9 Kasey Kahne Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge 167 43 $107,880 Accident
41 21 21 Ricky Rudd Motorcraft Genuine Parts Ford 145 40 $102,894 Engine
42 34 34 Randy LaJoie Mach 1 Racing Chevrolet 47 42 5 $75,575 Transmission 1 2
43 22 91 Bill Elliott Stanley Tools Dodge 23 34 $75,788 Accident
Race Comments Before and extimated crowd of 90,000, Greg Biffle won the Auto Club 500, posting his fourth NASCAR NETEL Cup Series victory. Prior to the green flag, the following drivers, under penalty, dropped to the rear of the field for the reasons indicated: #20 - (transmission); #07 (backup); #14,34,37,38,43 (impound violation).
Failed to Qualify (5) Stanton Barrett, #92; Hermie Sadler, #66; Stan Boyd, #79; Eric McClure #, #73; Kirk Shelmerdine, #27.
Time of Race 3 hours, 34 minutes, 45 seconds Average Speed 139.697 mph Margin of Victory 0.231 Seconds
Caution Flags 7 for 40 laps: Laps 26-30 (#91 accident turn 1); 60-66 (Debris backstretch); 108-114 (Debris turn 2); 144-150 (#07 accident turn 4); 161-164 (#9 accident turn 2); 204-209 (Oil on track); 218-221 (Oil on track).
Lead Changes 26 among 14 drivers: K. Busch 1; B. Vickers 2; K. Busch 3; G. Biffle 4-26; K. Petty 27-28; R. LaJoie 29-30; M. Kenseth 31-45; C. Edwards 46-60; K. Busch 61; J. Mayfield 62; J. Green 63; M. Kenseth 64-66; C. Edwards 67-68; M. Kenseth 69-107; M. Martin 108; J. Nemechek 109-143; M. Martin 144; J. Nemechek 145-160; M. Martin 161; J. Johnson 162-165; J. Nemechek 166-177; C. Edwards 178-193; K. Harvick 194-203; M. Martin 204; K. Harvick 205-217; K. Busch 218-227; G. Biffle 228-250.
Top 10 Driver Points (1) K. Busch 340; (2) J. Johnson 335; (3) M. Martin 301; (4) C. Edwards 287; (5) G. Biffle 273; (6) E. Sadler 272; (7) T. Stewart 268; (8) R. Wallace 268; (9) S. Marlin 260; (10) J. Gordon 258.
Top 5 Rookie Points (1) Travis Kvapil 21; (2) Kyle Busch 21; (3) Eric McClure .
Bud Pole Award Kyle Busch # (188.245 mph)
Commit to Win Award Kyle Busch # 5
Goodyear Gatorback Fastest Lap Award Joe Nemechek #01 (183.299 mph, Lap 152)
MBNA Mid-Race Leader Award Joe Nemechek
Mobil Oil Command Performance Driver of the Race Kevin Harvick
Raybestos Rookie of the Race Carl Edwards
USG Improving the Finish Award Elliott Sadler #38 (33 Places)
WIX Lap-Leader Award Joe Nemechek #01 (63 Laps)
EA Sports Move of the Race Award Greg Biffle
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