Biffle's stock on the rise

DARLINGTON, S.C. - It has taken Greg Biffle three years to become a dominant driver in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series, and his victory in Saturday night's Dodge Charger 500 already has his car owner wondering how long he can keep the team together.

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With success comes opportunity for bigger, better things for Biffle, crew chief Doug Richert and other members of the Army National Guard team. That's why Jack Roush said the only real future for one of the hottest teams in the sport is this year.

"I don't want to throw any rain on this thing, any cold water on it, but I will throw the gauntlet down," Roush said. "You know, these relationships with the drivers and crew chiefs, they go through a period of romance courtship and productivity, which we're into right now. And many times they get to the point they can't help one another. Historically, it's about three or four years that they're really the best for one another and I hope that we don't have that cycle here that I've seen so many times."

Biffle will be a free agent at the end of the current season. Saturday night's win at Darlington Raceway was his third of the year and four in the past 11 races, dating back to the 2004 season finale.

Nobody else has won more races in that stretch.

While Biffle said he's confident he will return to Roush Racing next year, the car owner said it's difficult to keep a good group together. Dale Earnhardt, for example, won seven championships with three crew chiefs - including Richert. Jeff Gordon used two different crew chiefs to win his four championships.

"The stars have got to line up for all these things, but right now it's Doug and Greg's time," Roush said, "and I'm just glad to be watching it."

Biffle led 176 of 367 laps Saturday night, but he likely would have finished fourth - if not for a spin by Roush teammate Mark Martin. The caution allowed all but two of the lead-lap drivers to pit for new tires. Race leader Ryan Newman stayed on the track but had no chance to hold anyone off during the green-white-checkered overtime.

Biffle restarted fourth with two laps to go and was in the lead shortly after taking the white flag. From there, he ran away for an easy five-car length win over Gordon worth $305,975.

Newman faded to a fifth-place finish.

Kasey Kahne was third, followed by Martin in fourth, Newman in fifth, Jamie McMurray in sixth, Jimmie Johnson in seventh, Dale Earnhardt Jr. in eighth, Carl Edwards in ninth and Tony Stewart in 10th.

Defending series champion Kurt Busch, another Roush driver, crashed on the first lap, spent 60 laps in the pits making repairs, then had a confrontation with NASCAR after he passed the pace car during a caution period.

When he didn't stop on the backstretch to allow the pace car to take its rightful place, Busch unleashed a profane tirade on his two-way radio.

1. Greg Biffle, Ford, $305,975

2. Jeff Gordon, Chevrolet, $221,986

3. Kasey Kahne, Dodge, $185,100

4. Mark Martin, Ford, $136,350

5. Ryan Newman, Dodge, $161,216