AVONDALE, Ariz. -- Phoenix race winner Denny Hamlin isn't the only driver looking to put behind him a disastrous 2011 season. Greg Biffle also is attempting a bounce-back season after his worst points finish in seven years.
After two races in 2012, Hamlin and Biffle sit 1-2, respectively, in the Sprint Cup Series standings, with Biffle bringing home his second consecutive third-place finish Sunday in the Subway Fresh Fit 500 at Phoenix International Raceway.
I've got all new guys. I've got guys working really hard on the car ... and a guy that's really, really smart paying attention to all the fine details, and that's Matt Puccia.
It's a far better start to the season for Biffle than last year, when after two races he was mired 28th in points; he finished 16th, missing the Chase for the first time in four years. Now, Biffle sits six points behind Hamlin after the best start in his Cup career -- in nine previous full seasons, he never had started off with consecutive top-fives and only once had opened with back-to-back top-10s.
Biffle credits the quick start to a new start, of sorts, as the No. 16 team has a considerable different look, beginning with crew chief Matt Puccia.
"I've got all new guys. I've got guys working really hard on the car ... and a guy that's really, really smart paying attention to all the fine details, and that's Matt Puccia," Biffle said. "The reason why we got two third-place finishes is because of his leadership and his decision-making on pit road on what to do to the car. He makes the decisions he wants, and that's why we're sitting here now."
Puccia had his work cut out for him at Phoenix, as Biffle had trouble getting a handle on his car at the wave of the green.
"We fought the car really bad at the beginning of this race," Biffle said. "Matt never gave up on the car. He kept adjusting on it and I never thought it would get that good. I thought I was in trouble. I was ready to write that thing off for a 15th- or 20th-place finish.
"I am excited about how they got the car going."
Biffle's difficulty began with the weekend schedule, as there were no Saturday practices leading up to the race. After two practices Friday, the only on-track action for the Cup drivers Saturday was qualifying. Adding to Biffle's concern was a considerably warmer day Sunday.
"You know, I certainly would have thought we'd run better [Sunday] than we did," said Biffle, who had high hopes after his qualifying effort. "I knew my car was just super fast. But I went a little more aggressive on the front end. I was a little nervous about it with the heat [Sunday] and how warm it was, if what I was going to do was going to work out.
"I guess the track is just a lot different than it was on Friday. It is difficult coming to a green race track and do all your race stuff in one day to get set up for the race and just qualify on Saturday. It was challenging and I missed it a little bit."
Despite starting seventh, Biffle reported a loose car on Lap 52 and had fallen to 20th in the running order by Lap 75. He labored for the next 100-plus laps; he still was running 20th on Lap 195. Then, he started to make his move.
"It started out really loose and then we would go dead right," Biffle said. "We got the balance much better toward the end of that race and got some track position.
"It was a great third-place finish."
A third-place finish that could have been a runner-up. In fact, Biffle has had second in his sights in both races this season -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. passed Biffle for second in the Daytona 500.
On Sunday, Biffle could have passed Kevin Harvick, who coasted to the checkered flag on fumes, for second place, but Biffle was concerned with his own gas mileage. Or more precise, his team was worried.
"With about 20 [laps] to go they were panicked to say the least," Biffle said. "I heard the panic in their voice. ... They wanted me to slow down and I felt like I had saved enough gas so I kept my rhythm about right where I had it. With about four laps to go he sounded desperate and I backed up a little more and started drafting those lap cars and then they were like, 'The No. 29 [Harvick] is running out, try to pass him, try to pass him!'
"I was like, 'Well, it is a little late for that ... you should have told me that a lap ago and I could have passed him.' I missed him by like 100 feet at the start/finish line and we still had gas in the car. I made the cool-down lap and came back and still was running with no flicker of fuel pressure so I know I at least had one more lap. That being said, I probably could have easily got the No. 29 since he ran out. Obviously not the No. 11 [Hamlin] though."
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