Biffle eyeing DEI? Crew chief says Roush not testing enough
Quote selected text Published May 24th, 2007 in NASCAR News
Pat Tryson doesn’t know where he’ll work next, but he hasn’t ruled out a reunion with driver Greg Biffle.
Fired as Biffle’s crew chief at Roush Fenway Racing this week, Tryson said on Thursday at Lowe’s Motor Speedway that he’s been contacted about a job from officials at Dale Earnhardt Inc.
He also acknowledged that Biffle has had ongoing conversations with DEI even before Dale Earnhardt Jr. announced he was leaving the organization that his father built.
“I know if they want to keep Greg Biffle, [Roush] better get some stuff together,” Tryson said during practice for Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600. “I don’t think Greg’s shopping himself. I also don’t believe he’s going to rush to sign.”
Biffle’s contract with Roush Fenway runs through 2008 and he’s in the middle of negotiations on an extension. While he’s said that an extension is his first choice, he wouldn’t be the first person to get out of a Roush contract a year early.
Kurt Busch left a year after the 2005 season to join Penske Racing.
Tryson said the same things that forced him out eventually could force Biffle. One of those was a difference of opinion on testing.
“You’ve got to do more testing than what [Roush has] been doing,” said Tryson, who said he’s had contact from Ginn Racing and other teams as well as DEI.
More at ESPN.com
Bookmark to:
- Biffle and Roush negotiations break down
- Greg Erwin to replace Pat Tryson for the #16 of Greg Biffle
- Biffle crew chief Pat Tryson quits Roush Fenway Racing
- Changes in store for #16 team
- Tryson takes over as crew chief for Kurt Busch
Wow…I can’t imagine Biffle leaving Roush at all! They’ve had so much success together in all 3 series, it’d be a shame. But then I guess that’d open up a seat for that ride…Dale Jr. to Roush? Hmmm interesting…
Dale Jr. wouldn’t touch a ford with a 20 foot pole. lol But seriously, I;m 99.9% posative he will stick to a Chevy. Good Luck June Bug!
You people need to learn how to spell. Damn.
if biffle does move on and rousch contacts jr I think that he will consider ALL options even if it is driving a ford
oh and billy SORRY but some of us are not or ever claimed to be english majors so sory fur the mis pelled wrds
I think Biffle will do a good with a different team if he leaves. Roush is behind on the COT cars.
-Chris
I am not a Jr. fan at all. But when asked about D.E.I. switching to Ford, He made it very clear he would never ddrive Ford!! Ford just can’t keep up with the COT! No ford for Dale Jr.
Oh really because you just know everything…sorry you and your crystal ball!
If I’m not mistaken…the article stating that his options are open and nobody should be jumping to conclusions about where he will be next year.
it was an interview with him and Nascar!!! When D.E.I. first started talking with Robert Yates about a merder between the 2. Dale flat out said he would not touch a Ford! He is sticking with Chevy!
Dear Anonymous,
I am fairley sure after the interviews that both kelly and dale have given that Jr. will drive for a chevy team. If money is not the issue and winning is, then why would he want to drive a ford.
“I am fairley sure after the interviews that both kelly and dale have given that Jr. will drive for a chevy team. If money is not the issue and winning is, then why would he want to drive a ford.”
You do realize that Ford won the championship with Kenseth and Busch fairly recently and it was only a year or so ago they had more cars in the Chase than anyone else? Granted… Hendrick is on fire at this juncture (easy to see they put more emphasis on COT than anyone else, something the rest will have to play catch-up on, esp. if it goes full time in 2007 like it appears to; but even there… I don’t expect Hendrick to be the only strong success story, it ebbs and flows and I’d not put it past another team winning the chase) but, I still think Roush is the second best overall team in Cup. Granted, if Jack doesn’t start putting on a happy face and quit losing crew chiefs and drivers (i.e. Doug Richert, Pat Tryson, Kurt Busch, Mark Martin, and potentially Greg Biffle) that might not stay that way. Then again… Roush could pull a coup, sign Jr., and lure Eury Jr. and Sr. over to help Jr. out as it’s obvious they have good chemistry. Given Roush’s personnel and proven resources, it could be the coup of the century and help push Roush back over the top. Losing Richert, IMHO, was the biggest mistake they’d made in eons. As good as Tryson is, Biffle I think ran better with Richert than him. I think they jelled much better.
If Jr. is serious about winning… lose the “It has to be a Chevy” mentality. Given the choice, I’d take a ride for Roush in a Ford over Ginn or Haas/CNC in a Chevy at this juncture without even a second thought. It’s not about brand loyalty if championships and wins are the prime focus… brand loyalty is just being stubborn esp. if the options on the table aren’t a top tier championship caliber team out of the box and wouldn’t likely be for a few seasons (remember, Mark Martin’s team at Ginn was the most successful of the teams with Nemechek behind the wheel, and it was a team that’s been around for probably 10 seasons filled with trials and tribulations dating back to MB2/MBV).
Any of the other options he’d take would be a ground-up build around him… vs. a plug-in to an established, experienced, and ultimately successful alternative like he could have at Roush if Biffle leaves. That’s especially true, as I’ve said, if he manages to take Eury Jr./Sr. with him. Heck, I’d say the same for RCR which has had it’s up and downs again this year after appearing fully sorted in ‘06. What car is he going to take over at RCR with Harvick’s successes, Burton’s successes, and with Bowyer having a strong start to ‘07? Answer: He’s not, so they’d have to build a brand new team around him. Anyone remember what Johnny Sauter and Jeff Green had to go through with the 30 car at RCR? How pitiful the thing was? It took RCR this long to get the team to success and it’s still not won a race (very close though) with Bowyer. Jr. is a good driver, but he’s not anymore a miracle worker than these other drivers.
I’m not bashing any of those alternatives though as I think they could be better in some ways (worse in others) than forging ahead with JR Motorsports in Cup. Looking at the uphill climb Mikey is having with 3 teams in Cup, and the advantage 3-car teams are generally, it’s not easy to secure good personnel and build up a team that’s aces out of the box. Championship potentials would come down the road… not *RIGHT NOW* as Jr. has emphasized was his prime motive for leaving DEI. Otherwise there’s little sense in leaving DEI as it’d likely take any of the alternative teams just as long to build up and achieve chemistry as it would for DEI to right the ship, and I don’t think they’re any further off than JR Motorsports, Haas, RCR, or Ginn would be with a brand new team in entirety or a brand new 4th car for any of the above. Then again, what better way to have total control of his own destiny than JR Motorsports? Anywhere else, much like DEI, he’ll have to lobby for change or be hopeful that it happens without input.
Ford has never had more cars on the track than chevy. Where the heck you getting your facts. Chevy always dominates nascar