Greg Biffle 2015 Season Preview
By Richard Tix
The 2014 season didn't go how Greg Biffle planned I am sure. He ended the season without a win, barely made the Chase, and overall just wasn't fast from week to week. As I have mentioned before on this blog, Roush Fenway Racing might take some of the blame for its drivers lack of speed in 2014.
Was it the engines? Was it RFR adapting to the new package NASCAR offered slowly? Was it the drivers? Or was it a combination of all of them?
It's easy to say it was a combination, because almost everything isn't laid 100% on one thing. I do think a big part of it was between the engines being a bit off compared to normal and RFR adapting slowly to the new package.
However, I don't think Greg Biffle gets a complete pass here. Carl Edwards had the same equipment and resources and still found a way to win two races in 2014. Where was Greg? His average finish of 16.4 was the second worst mark he has had in his last 7 seasons. He also tied a career low in top 5's with 3 total (full time seasons only).
In 2015 Biffle will head into the season with RFR as the veteran on the three car team after Carl Edwards bolted to JGR. Biffle could step into the role and help Trevor Bayne and Ricky Stenhouse Jr out in developing during the 2015 season. 2015 will be a big season for Biffle after struggling in 2014.
The Biff isn't getting any younger and his window of opportunity for a NASCAR Cup Title is slowly closing. Not only that bad he is quickly passing his prime years in the sport at the age of 44 (will be 45 in 2015).
Bold Predictions/2015 Season Expectations:
- Expectations will once again be to make the Chase in 2015. A driver with his experience and amount of wins should be looking at nothing less than that. Realistically he also needs to help groom two young drivers for RFR. Biffle has been a pretty stand up guy in NASCAR so it should come natural. I really think his peak is past him in NASCAR and it will start to show. That doesn't mean his days of notching top 10's and a win here of there are done, but it may start to be a bit more time in between each. He is still a force at tracks like Michigan as long as RFR figures out there 2014 struggles, but when RFR struggles the Biff wont have enough to overcome. 2015 will be the first time he has back to back win-less seasons in his career, but expect 4-5 top 5's and 12-14 top 10's.
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