LOUDON, N.H. -- For Greg Biffle, Darlington must seem like a long time ago.

It was after a last-place finish in the Mother's Day weekend event when the Roush Fenway Racing driver criticized his team for a loose wheel that cost him a shot at the victory. There were no such concerns Sunday, when a recently-revamped No. 16 team turned in a series of quick, productive stops that helped Biffle win the Chase opener at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

"Spectacular," crew chief Greg Erwin said of his team's performance. "We've made some changes. The progress of the 16 pit crew has been pretty well-documented. We had one hang-up on one stop that, you know, cost us a couple of spots. But the difference is, nobody got down, because everybody knew the potential was there. We've seen that the last couple of weeks, as strong as we've been. I couldn't be happier for everyone."

What once seemed a handicap has suddenly emerged as a strength for Biffle, now third in Sprint Cup points after being largely eclipsed by the likes of Kyle Busch, Carl Edwards and Jimmie Johnson during the course of NASCAR's regular season. Although Biffle passed Johnson on the racetrack with 12 laps remaining Sunday, his pit crew kept him in contention for the victory, his first since winning at Kansas last season.

That pit crew has undergone some changes in recent weeks. Team owner Jack Roush tweaked the crews of both Biffle and teammate Edwards just before the Chase, moving some of the best people from the team of Jamie McMurray -- who didn't qualify for the year-end playoff -- to the No. 16 and 99 programs. He also hired a new jack man for Biffle's team. The changes went into effect before the Aug. 31 race at California, and the results were immediate. After finishing second in the Labor Day weekend event, Biffle raved about what it was like to have a crew that allowed him to beat other drivers off pit road.

"What a phenomenal job," Biffle said after that runner-up finish. "I feel bad. I let them down."

“

There were some members on the 26 car that were proven veterans ... we made the decision and allowed each of our teams to get some guys from the 26 car. It's helped.

”

-- GREG ERWIN

Not at New Hampshire. The changes, approved by team general manager Robbie Reiser and implemented specifically for the Chase, had paid off.

"It was all Chase-related," Erwin said. "It had been something that had been discussed between the crew chiefs and, quite honestly, Robbie Reiser, not just with the 16 team specifically, but with the three and potentially four teams we were going to have in the Chase. There were some members on the 26 car that were proven veterans. Both our team, as well as the 99, has had some issues with one guy in particular on each squad. Reiser stepped up to the plate and decided, look, this is our best foot forward. These are what we think are our most experienced under-the-gun-type players, and made the decision and allowed each of our teams to get some guys from the 26 car. It's helped. You know, without a doubt, it's helped."

It helped Edwards as well; the driver of the No. 99 car finished third Sunday. While he's tied with Johnson in championship points, Edwards has the advantage because he has more race victories. Roush points out that the pit crew changes made sense, given that Edwards and Biffle are vying for the championship (along with teammate Matt Kenseth), and McMurray and David Ragan are preparing for next year.

"We're looking at everything that we can to make those programs as strong as they can possibly be," Roush said. "So at the same time, we said, 'How can we close the deal for the Chase?' It was, 'How can we make those programs stronger, too?' We're a promote-from-within company. We have people from both those programs that will take more responsible jobs throughout the company as we make their lives more interesting and develop their careers. At the same time, the vacancies made here as we move some people out gave us a chance to bring in some real talented people and demonstrate what they can do in the next races."

For the No. 16 team, there was only one hiccup. Biffle was delayed getting away on one stop when he didn't see tire carrier Collin Pasi, who was trying to clear a piece of tape from a brake duct. The jack dropped, Biffle began to drive out of the pit stall -- and then had to halt briefly when he realized one of his own men was still in the way.

"I've known him for a long time, known him since he's been a little kid," Erwin said of Pasi. "So I feel good that we didn't run him over."