Pit decisions hamper Biffle, Hamilton Jr.

BRISTOL, Tenn. -- At the time, it didn't seem that big of a gamble.

Cautions at Bristol Motor Speedway are like hot summer days in the South. It's news when they don't happen.

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Each NASCAR Busch Series race at Bristol in 2003 featured 13 yellow flags, with the longest stretch of green-flag racing being 51 laps.

"I'm all about the statistics," said Brad Parrott, crew chief for Greg Biffle. "That's what cost us today."

A decision to stay out and wait for a caution came back to bite both Biffle and Bobby Hamilton Jr. during Saturday's Sharpie Professional 250.

Biffle dominated right from the drop of the green flag, leading the first 116 laps. But when most of the leaders pitted during a caution on lap 68, Biffle and Hamilton Jr. stayed out.

Biffle was still faster on worn tires than the rest of the field was on new rubber. But the strategy backfired when the race stayed under green for the next 96 laps.

There were only eight cautions on Saturday, three of those coming in the final 27 laps.

	Bobby Hamilton Jr. finished 24th Saturday, four laps down

"I guess you can chalk it up to new tires," Parrott said. "That shows you how good a driver Greg Biffle is. That's the kind of team Roush Racing is."

Hamilton Jr. finally gave up, losing four laps during his green-flag pit stop. Unofficially, he finished 24th.

Biffle dropped steadily through the field, finally pitting when the caution came out for Ashton Lewis Jr.'s accident on Lap 174.

Biffle was 12th on the restart and made it back to 11th by lap 185. But he was killed by lack of track position, stuck behind Kyle Busch until the final, wild last few laps.

SHARPIE PROFESSIONAL 250  •  Results  •  Standings

He was able to bounce back to fourth, but Parrott was still disappointed with what could have been.

"The finish was worse than what we could have had," Parrott said. "Especially the way we dominated this weekend. Call it a bad crew chief mistake.

"But you learn by your mistakes and Lord willing, we'll get right back at it at Texas."