One marquee driver having a rough 2013 got off the mat last week in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, as Tony Stewart got his first win of the season and rejuvenated his postseason hopes. Now Greg Biffle has to do the same, as the circuit heads to northeast Pennsylvania and Pocono Raceway for Sunday’s action.
Biffle is a veteran driver who started driving full-time in 2003 and placed 20th in his first two seasons. He made his first big splash in 2005 when he finished second and in the ensuing years, has enjoyed four additional Top 10 finishes, ranging from third to seventh. He’s never been outside the Top 20 and while the championship has eluded him, consistency has been a hallmark.
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series: The Standings That Really Count
The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series is headed for Michigan International Raceway on Sunday for the Quicken Loans 400 (1 PM ET, TNT). There are 12 races between now and the beginning of the postseason, so TheSportsNotebook is going to step back and take a bigger-picture look at how the season is shaping up.
HOW THE CHASE FOR THE CUP WORKS
The tenor of this column is geared toward fans that choose to casually follow NASCAR, and may not be aware of how the postseason rules functions, and why the points standings are not necessarily the best gauge of who’s in position to win the championship. Thus, let’s begin our overview with a brief primer on how the NASCAR “Chase For The Cup” playoffs function…