Biffle off short list for Dale Jr.'s No. 8
FOXSports.com
LONG POND, Pa. - Take Greg Biffle off the short list for the No. 8 Dale Earnhardt Inc. Chevrolet for 2008.
Biffle told FOXSports.com on Saturday that he is committed to finishing his out his contract at Roush-Fenway Racing that runs until the end of next year.
"My full intent is to race the No. 16 next year," Biffle said. "I can't leave next year. I have a contract with them and I have a contract with Ford. Speculation is over. I have two contracts that I'm obligated to do and I'm going to do. If for some reason we don't come to an agreement I will be driving something different in 2009, not 2008.
"I'm off the bargaining table for 2008. If they need a driver for the 8 next year, that's not me. That's just not me. Or for whatever other cars."
Although Biffle had been in negotiation talks for beyond 2008, he has chosen to put those conversations on hold and concentrate on getting the No. 16 up to speed and into the Chase for the Nextel Cup and work on a championship for the following season.
"I want to have something done this year," Biffle said. "I don't want it to go into next year. I want it done this year. That gives me five more months. That's a lot of time. Let's work on getting into the Chase instead of negotiating money and sponsor appearances and Busch stuff."
Biffle, who is currently 18th in points, has not enjoyed the success he had in the past with crew chief Doug Richert. To Biffle's surprise, Pat Tryson was relieved from his charge last month and replaced by Greg Erwin. Biffle admires what Erwin's plans are for the team and is completely behind his new chief.
"We were working on trying to do this extension thing and I just said, ‘we have a new crew chief, we got all this stuff going on let's work on the race car right now and we'll work on all the other stuff later,'" Biffle said. "It's not holding them up with what they need to do. They have sponsors that are ready to step up. They have that part handled so there's no pressure to get anything done in the next 30 days. We did. We went to Dover and finished sixth."
Biffle is in the driver's seat in more ways than one. If Biffle should leave the No. 16 Ford, Roush-Fenway could be forced to close down that operation in compliance with NASCAR's policy of limiting car owners to four teams.
"That would be another reinforcing issue of why I need to be there next year, even if we couldn't come to an agreement and decided to do something different," Biffle said. "That's another reason why next year I'm there because they can't say give us a million bucks and we'll let you out of your contract — the whole Kurt Busch/Jamie McMurray the whole saga was. It puts another whole twist on it.
"I'm driving this car. I'm happy driving this car. Greg is doing an unbelievable job. Pat was a hell of a crew chief. Pat got this team where it's at. Greg's taken over and it keeps going up."
Biffle Not Negotiating
BROOKLYN, Mich. - Maybe Greg Biffle's future isn't as secure as originally believed.
Last week, Biffle told a national television audience that he wasn't going to be a candidate to take an open seat at DEI, RCR or any other team because he was under contract to Roush Fenway through 2008.
Biffle thought he would be working on a contract extension, but now things are a bit more up in the air.
Biffle said Friday at Michigan International Speedway he won't continue talking with team owner Jack Roush on a contract extension until certain things are finalized within the Roush Fenway Racing team.
"I’m not 100-percent happy with the performance of the team,” Biffle said. “I’m not going to run 20th in points. If I’m not happy, why should I negotiate?"
Biffle's No. 16 team has lost primary sponsor Ameriquest, putting more speculation that car owner Roush might decide to downsize his team to the NASCAR mandated four car cap by eliminating that effort.
AFLAC was signed as an interim sponsor but there are ongoing searches to find a permanent sponsor for the team.
Biffle hasn't completely thrown in the towel at Roush, but rather has decided to just put moving forward on hold for the time being.
“I am convinced that we have the ability to make this a championship caliber car and team," he said. "I’m convinced that Roush Fenway has the ability to make this a championship caliber car and team."
“We’ve got all the tools and resources we need. We need to execute it as far as the management side of it. Have good people and there’s technology we need to get better at.”
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