Track Smack: Biffle talks Chase dark horses, debuts

The 12 drivers in the Chase for the Sprint Cup spent Wednesday doing the media rounds in New York. Roush Fenway Racing's Greg Biffle took time between bites at the Hard Rock Café to talk at little smack -- and answer a fan-submitted question from Steve Ekleberry ...

1. Who is the leading dark horse candidate to win the Chase?

Greg Biffle: Everybody besides the obvious -- Carl Edwards, Jimmie Johnson and Kyle Busch. Everybody besides them are dark horses. I consider myself part of that group. Tony Stewart hasn't won a race this year. I wouldn't say there's one guy holding that spot.

Joe Menzer: I think the bigger question is: Can a dark horse win this thing? Or is it essentially a three-man race? If I had to pick a dark horse, though, it would be Biffle -- because he has been kind enough to join us today!

Duane Cross: Smoke and Jeff Gordon -- along with the top three -- make it almost a 50/50 proposition, but Matt Kenseth and Biffle (Joe you're a suck-up) have to be the top dark horses.

Joe Menzer: Me? A suck-up? Never!

Greg Biffle: Thank you. The only thing that comes to mind is everybody picked me, Tony and Carl to make the Chase in 2006 and none of us made it. So I hope I can live up to expectations. I feel good about the way we've been running. We've been consistent; we need to be more consistent.

Joe Menzer: Greg -- do you think, given Carl as a teammate and sharing information, that the Roush guys can bring the heat and make a statement during the final 10 races?

Greg Biffle: I absolutely think so. I think the three cars that we have that made the Chase are realistically a threat every week. That's why we got in there. We've been working hard at testing. I really think that we're going to bring the heat.

Duane Cross: Speaking of consistency -- Gordon was the poster child for that last year and still didn't win the Chase. Does that change a driver's thinking: instead of settling for a top five finish, I must press for the checkers?

Joe Menzer: I would think the only guy who might be able to play for points going into this thing is Kyle Busch, and he doesn't drive that way -- ever! The rest of the guys don't have that luxury anyway.

Greg Biffle: We try to press for the win every week. I ran as hard as I could at Bristol and finished 11th and did the same at California and finished second. Those two finishes were the best that I could drive and get. We're hopefully going to be more consistent than the 11th-place finishes but we're going to try to go for the win. Were you trying to coast along at Richmond, Matt?

Matt Kenseth: Yeah, I was trying to get 38th instead of 39th.

Joe Menzer: What is Matt eating anyway?

Greg Biffle: Pasta.

Joe Menzer: Weak. Better order a side of fries with that; Carl would. (Continued)