Biffle’s surprise win baffles Daytona

If you had done a poll prior to Saturday’s running of the Pepsi 400 at Daytona International Speedway, asked every fan that came through the gate who would win the race, no doubt Greg Biffle’s name would have been far down on the list, if it would have been on the list at all. The July 4th race at Daytona has been a fixture for forty-five years, it has usually marked the midway point of the season. It seems the race unfolds with a different twist each year, since 1998 the difference is that it is has been run under the lights. This year’s race will be talked about for years to come and Greg Biffle will become the target of many trivia questions. His run until late in the race was mediocre at best, but his teammates had all worked their way up into the top ten. The race went sixty-four laps before the first caution period for Dave Blaney. Michael Waltrip had just gotten the lead from Kevin Harvick, who had led from the drop of the green flag, taking the first sixty laps in front, and Harvick looked like he had a great car along with Waltrip, Elliot Sadler, Earnhardt Jr., Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon. On lap seventy-four, the so-called “big one” happened when Kurt Busch had a right rear tire go down and spun in turn four. Seven other cars were involved but Busch was able to continue. Robby Gordon also got his car back on track later and had his hood come off the car, injuring one spectator after the hood flew into the grandstands. The real race came late as several drivers, including eventual winner Greg Biffle, played the gas mileage game and came in to top off on fuel just before a restart. Bobby Labonte also topped off and looked like he would challenge after Biffle got the lead with only twenty laps to go. With all the leaders pitting for fuel, Biffle, Bobby Labonte, Jeff Burton and Ricky Rudd were able to stay on the track and stay in front of the favorites. With just a handful of laps to go, Biffle saw Labonte in his mirror and would later say that was his only worry, when he noticed that Labonte started to slow and Biffle went on to win his first Winston Cup race. Jeff Burton was strong all day and stayed in the second spot with Ricky Rudd having his best finish for the Wood Brothers team. Terry Labonte also played the fuel mileage game and won with a fourth-place run just in front of brother Bobby after he ran out of fuel on the last lap. Matt Kenseth continues his fantastic season with a sixth place finish, keeping him on top of the points chase. Dale Earnhardt Jr took the seventh spot with Jeremy Mayfield taking eighth in front of Kevin Harvick who was credited with leading the most laps. Dale Jarrett took the tenth position as his team tries to turn their season around. The Winston Cup Series will travel to Chicagoland Speedway in Illinois next weekend.

Pepsi 400 Daytona International Speedway July 5, 2003 Race 17 of 36 Time of Race: 02:24:29 Lead Changes: 17 Cautions: 64-68, 75-79 Fin St Car Driver Make 1 30 #16 Greg Biffle * Ford 2 36 #99 Jeff Burton Ford 3 27 #21 Ricky Rudd Ford 4 25 #5 Terry Labonte Chevrolet 5 15 #18 Bobby Labonte Chevrolet 6 37 #17 Matt Kenseth Ford 7 5 #8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet 8 10 #19 Jeremy Mayfield Dodge 9 2 #29 Kevin Harvick Chevrolet 10 16 #88 Dale Jarrett Ford 11 6 #15 Michael Waltrip Chevrolet 12 40 #7 Jimmy Spencer Dodge 13 41 #154 Todd Bodine Ford 14 3 #24 Jeff Gordon Chevrolet 15 29 #23 Kenny Wallace Dodge 16 14 #9 Bill Elliott Dodge 17 19 #09 Buckshot Jones Dodge 18 11 #48 Jimmie Johnson Chevrolet 19 4 #40 Sterling Marlin Dodge 20 33 #6 Mark Martin Ford 21 13 #20 Tony Stewart Chevrolet 22 24 #12 Ryan Newman Dodge 23 42 #45 Kyle Petty Dodge 24 9 #38 Elliott Sadler Ford 25 12 #41 Casey Mears * Dodge 26 32 #180 Mike Bliss Chevrolet 27 22 #10 Johnny Benson Pontiac 28 38 #2 Rusty Wallace Dodge 29 34 #1 Jeff Green Chevrolet 30 28 #22 Ward Burton Dodge 31 35 #0 Jack Sprague * Pontiac 32 21 #60 David Green Chevrolet 33 43 #4 Stacy Compton Pontiac 34 26 #14 Larry Foyt * Dodge 35 39 #77 Dave Blaney Ford 36 31 #97 Kurt Busch Ford 37 8 #42 Jamie McMurray * Dodge 38 20 #25 Joe Nemechek Chevrolet 39 1 #30 Steve Park Chevrolet 40 18 #31 Robby Gordon Chevrolet 41 7 #49 Ken Schrader Dodge 42 23 #01 Mike Wallace Pontiac 43 17 #32 Ricky Craven Pontiac * Denotes Rookie