Greg Biffle – Daytona 500 Advance
Team: No. 16 3M Ford Fusion
Crew Chief: Matt Puccia
Primary Chassis: RK-781 Last ran Daytona in July – finished 21st
Backup Chassis: RK-798 Last ran Talladega – finished sixth
ADVANCE NOTES
· Biffle in the Daytona 500
o In 2012 Biffle started second in the Daytona 500 and during the race led the field eight different times for a combined total of 44 laps. In the end he fell just short of winning, settling for a third-place finish.
o Biffle has 10 career Daytona 500 starts, earning two top-five and three top-10 finishes.
o Biffle earned his first career Sprint Cup pole position in 2004 for the Daytona 500.
· Duels
o With a 27th-place qualifying effort Biffle will start 14th in the first Duel at Daytona, on Thursday, February 21st.
· Biffle at Daytona
o July 2003 – Biffle earns first Sprint Cup victory at Daytona
o February 2004 – Biffle earns first career pole position for the Daytona 500
o February 2012 – Biffle is part of the Daytona 500 all-Ford starting row with a second-place qualifying effort
· The Car
o Chassis RK-781 hit the track for the first time a year ago in the Daytona 500 and earned a third-place finish. Robbie Reiser has nicknamed RK-781 “Jake” after Puccia’s pet cat.
· 3M
o The 2013 season will mark the sixth season 3M has been the primary sponsor of Greg Biffle and the No. 16. Post-it brand made the debut for 3M in 2005 and in 2006 3M could be seen on the hood in the Nationwide Series with Biffle. After sponsoring a few races in 2007, they moved up to full time in 2008.
· Florida Boys
o Two members of the 3M team call Florida home. Driveline mechanic Alan Buzze is from Vero Beach, FL, while chassis mechanic Jason Overstreet is from Clearwater Beach, FL.
Biffle on the Daytona 500:
“I’m looking forward to the Daytona 500 and I hope the 500 car is as good as the Unlimited car. We were a little slow in qualifying so we have some work to do with trying to find some speed, but the Duels will tell us where we’re at as far as drafting. We’ll keep working on it and see how good our 500 car is in the draft compared to the Unlimited car. I think we’ll be alright, but we definitely need some speed.”
Puccia on the Daytona 500:
“The Daytona 500 is a very important race for us, especially being the first points race of the season. Handling wise we learned what we need to do to the cars which will help us in the Duels and the 500. Handling will be a factor with this aero package and we are learning that these Gen 6 cars react to things differently than the old cars. Hopefully we can gather the right info to get a win in our 3M Ford next Sunday.”
2013 No. 16 3M “Pit Bulls”
Name Duties Hometown
Ben Beshore Engineer York, PA
Alan Buzze Underneath Mechanic Vero Beach, FL
Alex Cunningham Tire Specialist Hagerstown, MD
Kevin Doebler Pit Support Johnson City, NY
Justin Edgell Rear Tire Carrier Salisbury, NC
Joel Edmonds Spotter Dobson, NC
Justin Hines Engine Tuner Garden City, MI
Dale Hoffman Pit Support Allentown, PA
Bryan Huitt Front Tire Carrier Lincolnton, NC
Wesley Lape Interior Mechanic Sinking Springs, PA
Richie Letendre Car Chief Lowell, MA
Billy Manchester Shock Specialist Westport, MA
David Meade Pit Support Coeburn, MA
Sean Meckelson Jackman Boise, ID
Kevin Novak Front Tire Changer Veseli, MN
Jason Overstreet Mechanic Clearwater Beach, FL
Matt Puccia Crew Chief Watertown, NY
Justin Reissmann Gasman Chester, NJ
Ryan Rutzinski Engineer Waukesha, WI
Ben Surface Pit Support Pulaski, VA
Rick Testerman 2nd Truck Driver Plainsboro, NJ
Curtis Thompson Rear Tire Changer Mooresville, NC
DeWayne Zirkle Truck Driver Roanoke, VA
