Saturday, Jun. 21, 2008

NASCAR notebook: Biffle 'really close' to extending deal

The guessing game surrounding Greg Biffle's future is apparently on the verge of ending with a three-year contract extension with Roush Fenway Racing.

Biffle said Friday he hopes to finalize a deal this week and announce it at next week's race at New Hampshire International Speedway.

"We're really close to having it done. I've said that for a while now. But I think we're down just to getting it signed, more than anything," Biffle said. "I think we've worked out all the infinite details on it."

But the deal is not done, and it's also possible that the entire thing can implode before either party signs on the dotted line. These contract talks have been going on for months, despite Biffle's continued public statements that he intended to stay in the No. 16 Ford.

"The wheels can fall off of anything, I suppose," Biffle said. "But I'll be excited to get it done and get it behind me. That will put me at Roush Fenway for 13 years at the end of that contract. That's a long time to be with an organization. We've got good cars; we've worked really hard. Everybody is. We want to win the championship this year. That's everybody's goal ... but we really feel like we're that close."

OWNING UP

NASCAR admitted Friday it made a scoring mistake last week in Michigan when series officials allowed Mark Martin to line up in front of Brian Vickers before the final restart.

Vickers insisted he had passed Martin a full two laps before the caution, but when it came time to return to racing, Martin was moved in front of him. Vickers said earlier this week NASCAR told him the ruling was incorrect, and vice president of competition Robin Pemberton confirmed the error.

"There's no defense for it," Pemberton said. "But in all the commotion, and trying to set law and order at the front of the field, we made a mistake."

Vickers was outraged by the call and claims it cost him a chance to run for the win. Because he had to work to pass Martin in the closing laps, he didn't have enough time to chase down eventual winner Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Vickers wound up fourth.

NEW MONEY

With sponsorship hard to come by during the current economic slide, Richard Childress Racing is doing an exceptional job bringing new money into its organization.

RCR signed Caterpillar this week to sponsor Jeff Burton's car next season in its second substantial deal so far this season. The team previously announced General Mills would sponsor a fourth RCR car next season.

Burton said the incoming funds prove just how attractive car owner Richard Childress has made his three-car Cup organization.

"I think it's important that sponsors want to talk to us and that we're under consideration," he said. "We feel good about the amount of interest that we've had in our company, and that goes back to Richard.

"Richard's a very competitive person, doing his best to put competitive teams on the race track, but more importantly he's very honest, very straightforward."