September 19, 2008
By Rebecca Gladden
The Chase is not a three-man race.
For the past two weeks in this column, I've been harping on the point that the Chase should not be characterized as a three-man race between Kyle Busch, Carl Edwards, and Jimmie Johnson, as so many in the media have been want to do.
Specifically, just two days before Loudon, I wrote:
"It amazes me that so many people are so readily dismissive of drivers like Tony Stewart, Jeff Gordon and Matt Kenseth - all past Cup champions - and guys like Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kevin Harvick and Greg Biffle, who seem more than capable of going on strong runs over the next ten races.
The fact is, in this or any other sport, if championships could be predicted solely on the basis of regular season performance, there would be no need to hold the Super Bowl, the World Series, the Stanley Cup, or any other playoff competition."
So, after Sunday's race, when so many people were in a state of shock about the results and asking whether Biffle was on anyone's radar before the race, I could truthfully say, "Yes - mine."
I understand that media pundits, in general, are always looking for a catchy angle to cover races from.
But portraying the Chase as a three-man race has always seemed ridiculous to me.
That's not to say that one of the Big Three won't eventually win some races and even wind up as the Cup champion.
It's just that the other Chase drivers shouldn't be written off so quickly - as I've been saying all along, and as Sunday's race confirmed.
And let's not forget that drivers who didn't make the Chase also have the potential to win races before the year ends. Ryan Newman and Kasey Kahne, for example, have both been to Victory Lane this season - Kahne more than once.
Speaking of Greg Biffle, Speed TV's John Roberts has selected Biffle as his fantasy racing pick pretty much all season long, even coining the catchphrase "Stick with the Biff." Roberts' faith finally paid off Sunday at Loudon.
My son, Patrick, now age 15, has been "sticking with the Biff" as his driver for quite some time - ever since meeting Biffle at a fan event in Phoenix back in April of 2005.
There were several marquee drivers at the autograph session that day, and we had gotten in line for a different one. Each driver was signing a strict limit of 400 autographs, but my son had a poster with all the Ford drivers on it and was hoping to get it signed by as many drivers as possible that night.
Later at the event, we saw Biffle standing behind the stage in a roped-off area after a fan Q&A. Patrick called over to him and held up his Sharpie, motioning towards the poster.
Biffle smiled, walked about 25 feet in our direction, climbed over the barrier that separated the fans from the drivers, and cheerfully signed the autograph - though he'd certainly more than fulfilled his obligation of 400 signatures that night.
At that instant, Patrick became a diehard Biffle fan, and he's been sticking with the Biff ever since - through thick and thin, DNFs and disappointing losses, bad luck and crew chief changes, even missing the Chase for two straight seasons.
Of course, Patrick's loyalty is not unique - NASCAR fans are known for that kind of devotion.
But it's a good reminder to all the drivers never to underestimate the impact of even the smallest gesture on fans - especially the young ones.
Biffle's fans appreciate him for his exciting driving, but also because he's never forgotten where he came from, and never places himself above the level of the fans.
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