After re-signing with RFR in 2014, Biffle hasn’t sniffed the Chase for the Sprint Cup in the last two seasons. He thought 2016 might be the year. With a new crew chief in Brian Pattie, a lower-downforce aero package from the sanctioning body and a renewed effort at Roush, things appeared to line up for NASCAR’s elder statesman. And now, he’s 24th in the standings with just one top-five finish, at Loudon. So when Biffle said his most recent contract might be his last, it’s understandable. ‘Well, if I talk to you Sunday after the race in here, maybe that will be some inspiration,’ Biffle said in the media center where the winner is interviewed following the race. ‘I want to be competitive in races and run in the top 10. That’s my goal and my focus. If I’m not doing that, then I am probably going to do something different.’ Biffle has been rumored to be leaving Roush Fenway Racing at the end of the season. Although he owns the building that headquarters HScott Motorsports in North Carolina, Biffle said he has not discussed racing for Harry Scott after Clint Bowyer leaves in November. Biffle has heard the rumors that he’ll end up and Front Row Motorsports – a technical partner – but given his loyalty to Roush over his career, that’s unlikely to be something he’d consider. Still, it would take something more promising – and competitive – to pique his interest in continuing down the current path.(Motorsport)(10-15-2016)
UPDATE: hearing Biffle will leave Roush Fenway Racing and go to a second team fielded by JTG Daugherty Racing. No word if the team would secure a charter.(10-22-2016)
UPDATE 2: When motorsport.com reached out to JTGD team owner Tad Geschickter via text on Monday, he replied, ‘We are weighing the pros and cons of starting a second team as we speak.’ Geschickter expects to stay the course with RCR after their contract expires at the end of the year. Although the Wood Brothers have shared a shop with JTGD since the end of the 2005 season, the #21 team is transitioning to a new home in Mooresville. The additional space would provide ample room for JTGD to expand to a second car.(Motorsport)(10-25-2016)
UPDATE 3: Tad Geschickter, co-owner of JTG Daugherty racing, says it is ‘certainly a possibility’ his team may expand to two cars in 2017, adding ‘the economics’ of charter acquisition will play into a decision, which they may ‘have that done next week.’ Geschickter made the comments on SiriusXM Speedway on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. ‘That’s a big decision,’ Geschickter said. ‘Certainly we’re weighing out all the options right now. It’s no secret that we have to figure out are there are charters available and their cost, are there drivers available, what do they cost and certainly we ultimately have to report back to the sponsors and pull the trigger. But it’s Nov. 1, (eventually) we’ve got to make the call, but it’s a huge decision for a company of our size,’ said Geschickter.(NBC Sports)(11-2-2016)Texas Goodyear Tire Notes: Teams in all three NASCAR series will run the same tire set-up at Texas this week . . . teams in all of these series have also run this same tire set-up at Chicagoland earlier this season, and will run it again at Homestead in two weeks . . . in both Sprint Cup and Camping World Truck, this is the same combination of left- and right-side tires they ran at Texas earlier this season . . . this right-side tire code (D-4686) employs Goodyear’s multi-zone tread technology, which combines two distinct tread compounds on the same tire ‘ the outboard 10 inches of the tread (Traction Zone) features a compound that is designed for grip, while the inboard two inches of the tread (Endurance Zone) is toughened to enhance durability on the part of the tire sees the most heat and takes the most abuse . . . as on all NASCAR ovals greater than one mile in length, teams are required to run inner liners in all four tire positions at Texas . . . air pressure in those inner liners should be 12-25 psi greater than that of the outer tire.(Goodyear), see full notes, tire codes, pressures, set limits and more on the Texas Race Info page
