Biffle's goal: Rookie champ to Busch champ
By Marty Smith, Turner Sports Interactive
January 12, 2002
1:28 PM EST (1828 GMT)
LOS ANGELES -- For his fruitful racing exploits, Greg Biffle considers himself quite fortunate, lucky even. But in his case it's certainly arguable that he makes his own luck.
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Greg Biffle
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The ever-tenacious Biffle entered the NASCAR Busch Series in 2001 having just concluded arguably the most dominant Craftsman Truck Series stint ever.
After winning the 1998 Rookie of the Year title, he won an astounding 14 races over the two seasons, nine in 1999 and five in 2000 en route to Jack Roush's first championship as a team owner.
Such excellence prompted Roush to promote Biffle to the Busch Series ranks, handing him the keys to the most dominant car the series had ever seen - the No. 60 Ford, which Mark Martin drove to Victory Lane a record number of times.
Biffle didn't disappoint, picking up right where he'd left off in the Truck Series. In 33 events during the 2001 campaign, Biffle tied series champion Kevin Harvick atop the victory chart, winning five races and collecting 16 top-five finishes.
Friday night, he was crowned Rookie of the Year at the NASCAR Busch Series awards banquet in Beverly Hills, and during his speech conveyed that he was well aware how fortunate he is to be in an organization such as Roush, and assured the audience that his current run of luck isn't over just yet.
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Biffle celebrates after winning at Phoenix
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"I'm lucky to be in an organization that has limitless resources, such an awesome team and owner," Biffle said. "I also hope that I'm back up here next year, only then I want to accepting the championship trophy as your Busch Series champion."
It's highly likely that Biffle's wishes, indeed, will come to pass. With Harvick and Jeff Green jumping to the NASCAR Winston Cup Series full time in 2002, Biffle, along with Jason Keller, will be a lead contender for the crown from the outset of the season.
Moreover, he'll chart the Winston Cup waters for the first time next season. He has plans to run seven Winston Cup events before taking the plunge full time in 2003, where he hopes to once again stand before his peers as Rookie of the Year.
"I'd like the thank Raybestos, and if I'm lucky I'll be doing this again in a couple of years when we get to Winston Cup."
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