As Chase nears, 10th-place Biffle deflecting pressure

Sitting 10th in the points with four races left would be enough to stress anyone. Being 10th in points, only 83 in front of 13th-place Clint Bowyer with four races left will add gray to the hair of the strongest of drivers.

But Greg Biffle is calm, cool and collected as he looks to secure a spot in the Chase for the Sprint Cup, beginning with this week's 3M Performance 400 at Michigan International Speedway.

3M Performance 400
Race Lineup

Pos. Driver Speed Time

1. B. Vickers 188.536 38.189
2. J. Johnson 187.028 38.497
3. E. Sadler 186.577 38.590
4. Dale Jr. 186.321 38.643
5. J. Gordon 186.032 38.703
6. P. Carpentier 185.979 38.714
7. D. Reutimann 185.907 38.729
8. R. Smith 185.874 38.736
9. G. Biffle 185.821 38.747
10. S. Riggs 185.821 38.747

• Lineup | Videos | Photos"I wouldn't say desperation, but we know where we are in the points," Biffle said. "We know that we need to finish 10th or better in these next four events."

That shouldn't be a problem at Michigan, where Roush Fenway Racing has dominated in what could be called the team's home track. In 139 races, Roush Fenway has compiled 10 wins, 39 top-fives and 74 top-10s. Biffle specifically has run very well at the 2-mile oval with two wins, four top-fives and six top-10s.

Unfortunately for Biffle, the past three races have seen a decline in those strong results. Finishes of 38th and 19th in the '07 races followed by a 20th in this year's spring race have Biffle struggling at a track at which he's unaccustomed.

Biffle, though, looks at the big picture, not just at where he crossed the finish line.

"The last time we were here we were running third and fourth and got the air hose caught on the splitter," Biffle said. "So the results on the piece of paper show we finished 21st or 20th and that's certainly not where we ran all day.

"We feel good about this weekend and getting a good, solid run. We feel like this is a good opportunity for us."

Things got off to a great start for the No. 16 team during Friday's practice, when Biffle posted a lap of 184.981 mph, tied with Jeff Gordon for 10th in the session behind Brian Vickers' fast lap of 187.373 (speeds).

It was more of the same in qualifying. Biffle will roll off ninth Sunday, after a lap of 185.821.

With no wins on the season, Biffle -- if he makes the Chase -- will be down at least 80 points to leader Kyle Busch when the 10-race playoff begins at New Hampshire. Biffle isn't concerned about bonus points though; he knows his focus has to be on points racing in the final four events at Michigan, Bristol, Fontana and Richmond to ensure a spot in the top 12.

"We've been saying for the last six races, we know if we [finish] 10th or better we're technically gonna lock ourselves in because we feel like those are good enough finishes.

"Certainly we want to win, get in the top five, that's the focus we have. But we feel the urgency to be in the top 10, for sure."