Greg Biffle had a decision to make Sunday at Michigan International Speedway: Does he come to the aid of his teammate or does he try and go for the win?
Greg Biffle has no regrets about not helping Carl Edwards
Greg Biffle and Carl Edwards have talked about the rift that developed between the two at Michigan. But Biffle has no regrets about his decision not to help his teammate.
Jared C. Tilton
Much to the chagrin of Carl Edwards, who was running second to Biffle and had a piece of debris on his grill that was causing his engine to overheat, Biffle chose the latter and denied his teammate’s request to forgo his sizeable lead.
It proved to be sound judgment, as he went on to win his first race of the season; a victory that will go a long way in helping him secure a spot in the Chase.
Thus the reason why two days later Biffle still has no regrets.
“Our crew chief had a strategy that we needed to be so many seconds ahead of the second-placed car so that we could pit under green and come back out,” Biffle said Tuesday during a teleconference. “If the caution came out, we’d still be on the lead lap, and that’s exactly what happened. ... Ultimately, that’s probably what ended up winning us the race.
“We want to work together at all costs, but we have to be reasonable about asking one another to do. ... He was a long way behind us before we got the message to us and just didn’t feel that it was close enough to help him.”
The decision greatly upset Edwards, who didn’t share a similar viewpoint. “He ain’t our teammate,” he radioed crew chief Jimmy Fennig when he learned of Biffle’s refusal to help. And post-race when asked about the incident, Edwards told the Sporting News that “It’s his job to help me.”
The two drivers discussed the incident in the competition meeting Roush Fenway Racing holds every Monday with its drivers, crew chiefs and engineers. They also plan on talking further later in the week. Although he wants to be perceived as a team player, Biffle believes sometimes circumstances dictate otherwise.
”You’ve got to put into context let’s help each other, he said. “If this situation rises again and I’m a third of a straightaway out in front, I’m not going to back up a third of a straightaway lead to help get paper off his grill. If it’s six car lengths or five, no problem. We all understand that.
“But you can’t ask another competitor to give up a quarter or half, third of a straightaway lead. It’s just not practical; it’s not feasible.”
As for Edwards’ remarks about him not being a good teammate, Biffle isn’t concerned. From his perspective every driver says things in the heat of the moment and when the two talked Monday, Edwards was happy Biffle had delivered Ford its 1,000th NASCAR victory.
”We all have different reactions when we’re in the car or when we just get out of the car and our finish or result isn’t what we wanted because of a certain situation. I’ve done the same thing.
“I’ve been there. And sometimes things get taken out of context of what you actually meant and what you said. I understand that’s part of it.”
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