Roush Fenway drivers falling short

Time is running short for Roush Fenway Racing.

With four races remaining until NASCAR’s Chase begins – including Sunday’s Pure Michigan 400 at Michigan International Speedway – Roush Fenway drivers have yet to win a race this season and are outside the group that would make the 16-driver playoffs on points.

“We’ve been in Cup racing now for 28 years,” team owner Jack Roush said. “We’ve had times when we had the hot hand and the combination that everyone else wished they understood or could have.

“There have been times we have lacked that.”

It’s been a difficult season for Roush Fenway drivers Greg Biffle, Trevor Bayne and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. In addition to going winless, only Biffle (18^th) is close to making the Chase minus a victory. Bayne and Stenhouse have led just one lap between them all season (Stenhouse at Talladega, where he would finish 26th).

Despite those dismal numbers, Roush is confident.

“We are on a cycle now that is on its way back up,” he said.

Having Biffle racing at Michigan might be a reason why Roush feels that way.

Biffle has the highest driver rating of any driver on the circuit at Michigan (107.1). His four career victories at the track in Michigan’s Irish Hills lead all active drivers.

Biffle finished second at the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway in May. He had another strong performance two weeks ago, finishing fifth at Pocono.

“We feel pressure, trust me,” said Biffle, who has made the Chase six of the last seven seasons. “This is a great race track for us. Our car has to have the speed to be able to pull off a win. We felt like we have been close.”

The only other race in which a Roush Fenway driver was close was at Bristol, where Stenhouse finished fourth.

“All of my programs have potential,” said Roush. “(There) are races we certainly (Biffle) could have won and there have been many other races that we have had streaks of brilliance throughout the race, where a flat tire or something else has happened to our disadvantage and taken us out.”

No team owner has won as many races at Michigan as Roush, whose drivers have taken the checkered flag 13 times. So, if there is a track where the Roush Fenway drought might end – and if there’s a driver to do it – Michigan and Biffle might be the combination.

“This is a fun race track and I love the way it races and drives,” said Biffle. “It is a great race track for us and our whole company.”

There has been a Roush Fenway driver in every Chase since the format was introduced in 2004. Roush drivers won the title in 2003 (Matt Kenseth) and ’04 (Kurt Busch).

“I am not going to give up,” said Roush. “I don’t think (Biffle) will give up until we win the Sprint Cup, as well.”

This story was originally published August 15, 2015 at 6:55 PM with the headline "Roush Fenway drivers falling short."