Biffle comes to Kentucky with cautious optimism, despite testing spins

That’s the case for Greg Biffle at Kentucky Speedway.

Biffle has enjoyed success at the 1.5-mile track in the past. He won the inaugural NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race here in 2000 and finished second the following season when the Xfinity Series debuted in the Blue Grass State. Biffle went on to finish second again in 2002 and 2004.

Testing trouble

But the repave at Kentucky Speedway threw the veteran for a loop — literally. Biffle was one of 14 drivers who participated in the NASCAR organizational test last month. The sanctioning body wanted teams to get a feel for the venue with the new asphalt and after the banking was heightened from 14 to 17 degrees in Turns 1 and 2.

“With any track repave, the very first race there are a lot of unknowns,” Biffle said. “I spun out twice in testing at Kentucky. Turns 1 and 2 are quite a bit different. It’s got more banking.

“(Turns) 3 and 4 are still pretty flat, difficult entry, and then it’s got that progressive banking as you exit. Widening out that entry into three is where a lot of guys struggled during the test.”

Repave levels the playing the field

Despite Biffle’s success in the lower series at Kentucky Speedway, he is still looking for his first top-10 finish after five Sprint Cup starts. His best result came in 2014 when he finished 14th.

But with a new track surface, new turns and a new tire Goodyear is introducing this weekend, Biffle feels he has as good a chance as any competitor in Saturday’s Quaker State 400.

“It’s a tough race track, but a fun place,” Biffle said. “One small bump coming off Turn 2, but we are pretty much straight when we go over it so much nicer inside the car. I raced there when it was brand new and was able to win the very first race, so I’ve got my fingers crossed that I might be able to pull that off again.”