Greg Biffle and Doug Richert have had a lot to try and figure out this season. Credit: Autostock

Shop Talk: Doug Richert

No. 16 team surging into Dover with three consecutive top-10s

Doug Richert ducked into Greg Biffle's hauler last week at Lowe's Motor Speedway for a quick cell phone chat with his wife about the 26 dogs they've got to relocate.

A month ago, Biffle's crew chief felt like he'd gone to the dogs.

Greg Biffle won a year ago at Dover. Credit: Autostock

Inside the Numbers Greg Biffle in 2006 Site Finish Status Rank Daytona 31 running 30 Fontana 42 engine 38 Las Vegas 8 running 25 Atlanta 16 running 21 Bristol 7 running 15 Martinsville 31 running 18 Texas 42 accident 23 Phoenix 15 running 21 Talladega 38 engine 23 Richmond 4 running 20 Darlington 1 running 14 Lowe's 7 running 13 • Biffle: Driver Page | 2006 Stats Greg Biffle Statistical Rankings   No. Rank Avg. Running Pos. 13.736 8 Driver Rating 103.7 3 Mile Leaders 1099.56 1 Greg Biffle at Dover Year Start Finish 2002 5 33 2003 15 30   19 7 2004 40 26   19 11 2005 2 1   18 13 Average 16.9 17.3 • 1 DNF (crash in '03)

Biffle labored 23rd in the Nextel Cup point standings after a 38th-place finish at Talladega, having more bad luck over the first nine races than some do in a season.

But things are back on track. Biffle has three consecutive finishes of seventh or better, including a win at Darlington, and has led more laps than any driver in the series.

He has moved to 13th in points, 86 out of the top 10 that qualifies for the Chase.

Now the team heads to Dover International Speedway, where this time a year ago Biffle collected his fourth win of a season in which he finished second in the Chase.

Richert is excited about the prospects of a strong finish.

Q: After the Phoenix race, where Biffle ran out of gas on the final lap to turn at worst a second-place finish into a 15th-place disappointment, you were very frustrated. Has the luck turned around?

Richert: You've got to have luck. There's no doubt in my mind. We hadn't had any, whether it comes from ill decisions of pitting, not pitting, running out of gas. Maybe some of those calls come in desperation, as in, "Damnit, I want to get a good decent finish and if I would have pitted I would have given it away." And I give it away anyhow.

I hope that's all behind us.

Q: Do you ever question yourself when bad things happen?

Richert: Yes and no. The real questioning would come if you weren't running very good. But every race prior to Richmond I felt we ran good. We either led or led the most laps. There's been only two races we haven't led a lap so far. As long as you don't lose focus on that, you're OK.

We just had bad luck that doesn't show in the standings. Prior to Richmond, if you were to have taken all the races we fell out of and had bad luck, if you would have taken the finish of where we were running at the time of the bad luck, we would be second in points.

Q: Going into the Charlotte race last week Biffle's driver rating was second and he led more laps than anybody in the series. Does that help motivate you?

Richert: That just kind of shows you what kind of year we've been having. We just haven't gotten the finishes we deserve. I shouldn't say deserve. Let's just say that we have coming to us.

Q: What was it like when you finally got the fourth at Richmond and then won at Darlington?

Final lapBiffle and Gordon battle in the final laps at Darlington Victory LaneGreg Biffle dedicates his victory in Darlington to his mother! Top finishersGreg Biffle and Denny Hamlin talk about their runs at Richmond Driven to WinBiffle takes you along as he shoots a commercial and visits the National Guard Sign up for TrackPass now BUY THE NEXTEL i836

Richert: It was getting over the hump for us. The Richmond race didn't come easy. We had to fight for that one. We pitted and caution came out and there we were a lap down. We had to fight to get the lap back and fought back to get fourth, so it was a good night.

These races aren't always gravy trains. You can't expect them to be. But to put up a fight and come out fourth you're like, "All right! First top-five of the year!'' After everything that was going on we were happy.''

Q: This time last year you were about to get your fourth win of the year at Dover. Could you have imagined anything like this?

Richert: The performance was in line to have about the same kind of record, but we had all the bad luck.

Q: Are top-10 teams taking notice of the 16 in their rearview mirror now?

Richert: I hope so. I don't think they're going to run any differently. We're just going to continue to try to not make mistakes and put ourselves in a position we can't get out of.

Q: Have you bought in lucky charms?

Richert: I don't have a rabbit's foot if that's what you're asking. We just waited it out, I guess.

Q: Roush Racing teammate Matt Kenseth had a similar start last year, rallying from 24th after 14 races to make the Chase. Did you lean on his crew chief, Robbie Reiser, for advice?

Richert: Robbie and I talked a lot at the shop. He said, "Hey, we were further behind than you and we made it into the Chase.'' I know we can get there. We've just got to complete races.

Q: What was the key to last year's win at Dover?

Richert: We weren't really good at the beginning of the race. We probably adjusted on that car more than we ever have in any one race with wedge and rubbers. We'll take a look at all the notes and how much change we made. The body builds are a little bit different than last year, so it will allow us to do some things.

GREG BIFFLE •   No. 16 team 2006 Pit Cap!

Q: What do you like about Dover?

Richert: I've been fortunate enough to have drivers that have always run good there, so that makes it more enjoyable. It's a tight racetrack. Your car unloads getting into the corner. Then once it lands and compresses it turns into a tight condition. That's what you really struggle with.

Q: So what is your biggest challenge there?

Richert: Getting it to turn just good enough in the middle off and not be too loose. And you have to play the pitting sequence and not tear your tires up. There were some torn-up tires last time. We had a flat for the second race there, which really kept us out of a top-five finish. Your luck with that has to be good. You really have to have a durable car.

Q: What do you like to do at Dover besides race?

Richert: I may go over to the track casino and pull the handle a few times. I'm not a huge gambler. I'm the type of gambler when I put my money in I want something.

Q: Is gambling and being a crew chief similar?

Richert: I feel like in racing we have a little more control of the odds because there is some educated thought that goes into a lot of what we do. You pull the handle, and it's the odds of whatever that machine is set at.

Q: So you're a control freak?

Richert: I'd rather have control than not.