Biffle runs into some good luck

DARLINGTON, S.C. -- Stuck in one of the unluckiest ruts in recent NASCAR history, Greg Biffle was in serious danger of missing out on the playoffs.

Although it seemed his season was slipping away, he never panicked, even after empty gas tanks, flat tires and blown engines sabotaged every good run his team put together.

His patience is paying off.

Biffle finally broke through Saturday night, racing to his first win of the season by holding off a late charge from Jeff Gordon at Darlington Raceway.

"I think positive," Biffle said. "I never let myself get too down, and I knew that we were going to be able to snap out of it sooner or later."

It came in the form of a second straight win at Darlington, and in dominating fashion. Biffle led 170 of the 367 laps in the Dodge Charger 500.

He'd been the driver to beat at least four other times this season, only to have some freak mishap spoil his day. The bad breaks had been maddening for the driver who finished second in the standings last season and won a series-high six races.

The win pushed Biffle up a whopping six spots in the standings, to 14th, and only 97 points out of qualifying for the Chase for the championship. His surge was boosted by a fourth-place finish last weekend in Richmond, Va., and he has gained nine spots in two weeks.