Biffle on Johnson: “We're Catching Them”

It’s been four years since a driver not named Jimmie Johnson won the Sprint Cup Series championship.

It’s been four years of the same question: “Who is going to break their streak and when is it going to happen?”

It’s been four years of the same answer: “Not yet.”

However, drivers are getting closer, according to Greg Biffle, who said during a national teleconference on Tuesday that his team in particular is catching the Lowe’s Racing Chevrolet team.

Johnson isn’t letting up anytime soon, though.  Through six races so far this season, Johnson has piled up three first-place trophies, with wins at Auto Club, Las Vegas and Bristol.

Although, a ninth-place finish at Martinsville and the absence of a single lap led at a track he normally dominates may be a sign that drivers are getting closer.

Sadly, it takes more than a couple of good races to dethrone Johnson and company.  It will take perfection, Biffle says.

“We've been good so far,” Biffle said. “And that's not good enough. We're 13th in points, or we're 13 points or 14 points or whatever out of the lead.

“ … A person's going to have to be great. You'll have to be flawless at this. And we've been good so far. We've been good everywhere we've been. That's not good enough. We're going to have to be better than that. We know that. And we're prepared to work hard and continue to get better and better. And we're going to keep putting pressure on 'em.”

Biffle will roll into Phoenix International Raceway this weekend second in the Sprint Cup Series driver points, 14 points behind Johnson.  So far, the Roush Fenway Racing driver has a higher average finish than Johnson, a 7.5 compared to a 9.8, but he has a goose-egg in the “win” column.

Phoenix has been a good track for Biffle across NASCAR’s three national touring series.  All together he has four wins in NASCAR Phoenix.  Although, none of those four wins at Phoenix came in Sprint Cup Series competition.

Nonetheless, Biffle enjoys the track for its location, layout and his NASCAR racing success there.

“I really enjoy that racetrack,” Biffle said. “I love going out west. It's close to home for me. But, more importantly, I love that racetrack. I love the way it's laid out. Two different corners, one end to the other.

“We've had a lot of success there. Won in the Truck Series and the Nationwide Series a few times. But just never have gotten a Sprint Cup win there. Came close, but haven't been able to win there.

“And that's a racetrack I'd love to be able to win at. And hopefully this weekend, with everything -- you know, our season started off really well. Hopefully we can win there and possibly, depending on what the 48 car does, take over the point lead.”

For the record, Johnson has scored four victories, all coming in the last five races at Phoenix.  He scored a fourth place finish in last year’s spring race at Phoenix.