Greg Biffle, running in his first Gander Outdoors Truck Series race since 2004, survived a caution-filled event to win Friday night at Texas Motor Speedway.
Biffle led the final 13 laps in the 167-lap race.
It is Biffle’s 17th Truck win but first series victory since 2001 at what is now ISM Raceway. Biffle, 49, ran Friday’s race for Kyle Busch Motorsports. It is his only scheduled start for the team this year.
“It was not easy,” Biffle said. “I had my work cut out for me. At the beginning of the race, so much odd stuff happened. We ran five laps at a time and then the caution would come out. There was a lot of people wrecking in front of me and behind me. I was just trying to keep the truck clean and stay out of trouble. Then we got four-wide off of turn 2, and I didn’t know you could do that here.
“We beat the fenders in a bit, but the Mobil 1 Toyota ran really good tonight. I want to thank those guys for coming on board and helping us. Kyle Busch assembles a great group of guys. The pit stops were phenomenal. Rudy (Fugle, crew chief) did a great job calling the race from the top of the box. It’s not easy to win these, but I can see how Kyle has done very well.”
The race featured a record 13 cautions. The previous record was 10 on two different occasions.
MORE: Race results
MORE: Points report
Friday’s race was the opening round of the Triple Truck Challenge, awarding a $50,000 bonus to Biffle and the team. This is Biffle’s first NASCAR win since a Cup victory at Michigan in June 2013.
Matt Crafton finished second and was followed by Tyler Ankrum, Grant Enfinger and Harrison Burton.
Stage 1 winner: Johnny Sauter
Stage 2 winner: Ben Rhodes
Who had a good race: Rookie Tyler Ankrum finished a career-high third. Grant Enfinger’s fourth-place finish was his sixth consecutive top 10.
Who had a bad race: After winning the first stage, Johnny Sauter hit the wall. Austin Hill drifted up and made contact with Sauter, sending both into the wall early in Stage 2. That ended Sauter’s hopes of a win. Sauter placed 13th. … Todd Gilliland lost control when his Truck broke loose while battling for the lead on a restart in the second stage. He finished 27th.
Notable: Ross Chastain finished 10th and scored 38 points in his first race since declaring points for the Truck Series. He is 35th in the points. Chastain needs to be in the top 20 by the end of the regular season and have a win to be eligible for the playoffs. He is 64 points from 20th in the standings.
Next: June 15 at Iowa Speedway
Damn I’m a genius. 🏁🏆
— Kyle Busch (@KyleBusch) June 8, 2019
The Bifffffff!!!! @gbiffle 🏁🏁🏁🏁
— Daniel Hemric (@DanielHemric) June 8, 2019
The BIFF!!!!!!! Yes!!!!! Hell yes @gbiffle!!!!
— Bubba Wallace (@BubbaWallace) June 8, 2019
I would b happy to sir! Let’s chat! https://t.co/2zDeB8e2Vc
— Kyle Busch (@KyleBusch) June 8, 2019
— Clint Bowyer (@ClintBowyer) June 8, 2019