Greg Biffle was the only non-Chase driver with multiple wins in 2004. Credit: Autostock

Preview: Greg Biffle

Maturing driver ready for next level in third Cup season

This is where it gets tough for Greg Biffle.

Biffle made tremendous strides in 2004, winning two races and finishing 17th in the standings, but the better one's stats get, the harder it is to improve.

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After a strong second half, Biffle will no doubt be expected to make the Chase for the Nextel Cup.

"We put that pressure on ourselves," said crew chief Doug Richert, who is entering his second full season with Biffle. "There are a lot of tracks where we ran good at that we missed the opportunities the first part of the year."

Biffle's win at Homestead sent him from 21st to 17th in the final standings. Credit: Autostock

Even with Roush Racing winning the last two titles, it won't be easy top crack the top 10.

The No. 16 team will have a mostly-rebuilt pit crew in 2005 -- the team will have a new gasman, catch-can an and tire changer. Car chief Bobby Bakeeff is back for a second season with Biffle and Richert.

"We lost a couple of good guys who went to pursue some other opportunities, so hopefully we'll be able to fill those voids with good people and not miss a beat," Biffle said.

Biffle has been outstanding at completing laps -- he's averaged a solid 96 percent laps completed ratio over his two seasons -- but he was bitten by nagging problems in 2004 that kept him from at least one more win.

Biffle also knows he needs to improve his qualifying-to-race ratio. He qualified better (average start: 14) than he finished (average finish: 19).

Greg Biffle Driver page Merchandise

"The thing was we always ran well, but we never finished well," said Biffle. "Once we got the finishing part down and once we started to realize some of the things that were happening to us, like losing the handle on the race track and things, we got better."

Richert thinks the team will quickly adjust to the the new rules package in 2005, where teams will qualify in race trim.

Biffle (left) with crew chief Doug Richert Credit: Autostock

"I don't think it will set us back, it has saved us a lot of work," Richert said. "Basically, you show up. You just go there and you're ready to race it's like having an extended Happy Hour.

Biffle, 34, will no doubt continue to draw from an improved Roush Racing infrastructure, which saw its engine program become a major strength.

He seemed to be one of the drivers who benefited the most from the new Roush Racing-Robert Yates engine alliance, which started reaping benefits in June, and Biffle went on to win at Michigan in August and Homestead in the season finale.

Biffle became more of an all-around driver in 2004, as he improved his performances on the short tracks and road courses.

"There is a certain knack to driving short tracks and we have got to continue working on our cars," Richert said. "The last time we were at Martinsville we finished in the lead lap. I call that a plus."