NASCAR drivers baffled by Biffle’s victory

So how does a Nextel Cup driver finish first by crossing the finish line fourth?

Greg Biffle, who did exactly that in Sunday’s LifeLock 400 and placed ahead of Clint Bowyer and Jimmie Johnson in the finishing order despite falling behind both on the final lap, answered the question about a half-dozen times before finally being left as frustrated as many who tried to understand it.

“The race was over, the field was frozen, the caution’s out, and I didn’t know they were going to go by me,” Biffle said. “I don’t know what else to say. I don’t know how bad you want Clint to win.”

Biffle became the first to win during all four editions of the Chase for the Nextel Cup, but the victory will be remembered as the crowning moment of confusion on a day of chaos at Kansas Speedway.

Biffle said his engine began to sputter in Turn 3 while coming to the checkered flag under caution because the fuel pick-up system wasn’t working well with his car running slowly around the banking of the 1.5-mile oval.

Anxious to celebrate after ending a 28-race winless streak with his 12th career victory, he shut off the engine to conserve fuel for a burnout. Coasting while steering with his knees so he could unbuckle his belts and remove his helmet, he slid onto the apron well off the pace of the caution car and was passed by Bowyer, Johnson and Casey Mears.

Biffle stopped in the frontstretch grass and climbed out to celebrate but before he could refire the car, he was stopped by NASCAR officials who assumed he was out of gas. Biffle said his Roush Fenway racing crew pushed the No. 16 Ford to victory lane on NASCAR orders.

“I could’ve passed the pace car if you want,” said Biffle, whose Fusion contained a half-gallon of gas (about two laps’ worth) when inspected by officials. “I can go start the car up and do some burnouts in the garage and do some donuts if that’ll make everybody feel better.”

That wasn’t necessary for NASCAR, which awarded Biffle the victory (scoring monitors and early box scores indicated Bowyer led the final lap) because he maintained a reasonable speed in the judgment of the scoring tower. Passing isn’t allowed under yellow as long as cars keep pace, and NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston refuted Johnson’s assertion that a reasonable speed is equal to the 55 mph set by the pace car.

“If (Biffle) had come to a stop, then that car wouldn’t have won the race,” Poston said. “The 16 maintained a reasonable speed. The judgment comes from the tower and not the competitors.”

Fifth-place finisher Jeff Gordon said NASCAR made the wrong call, even though a victory for Bowyer would have dropped Gordon to third in the Chase. Johnson leads the standings by six points over Gordon and 14 over Bowyer.

“I want (Biffle) to win for points reasons, but let me tell you he didn’t win the race,” Gordon said. “You have to cross the start/finish line at pace car speed at least.”