[vincesanity82]

Roush Fenway Racing will announce a one-year-only sponsor deal for Greg Biffle and the No. 16 Ford Fusion within the next 30 days, team President Geoff Smith said Sunday morning at New Hampshire International Speedway.

And because the sponsorship deal has been agreed to, the urgency for the team and Biffle to negotiate a contract extension beyond 2008 is over, Smith said. Earlier this season, the team had been trying to ink Biffle to a long-term pact, a likely pre-requisite to signing a sponsor to a similar multi-year agreement.

That is no longer necessary, Smith said, and Biffle terminated extension talks two weeks ago to concentrate on improving his performance in hopes of qualifying for the Chase for the Nextel Cup this season. Biffle entered Sunday’s Lenox Industrial Tools 300 in 17th place in the NASCAR Nextel Cup points standings, five spots back of the 12th and final cutoff position for making the Chase field.

“The time crunch that we originally discussed is over,” Smith said Sunday. “Remember that time crunch was related to whether or not we were going to offer a longer-term program to sponsors or a shorter term. We ended up with all these team changes working out a one-year sponsorship.”

Biffle is expected to have multiple sponsors next year, possibly including Aflac, which sponsored Biffle’s car for the first time this weekend. “We’ve got it worked out,” Smith said. “We’ll be announcing it, I’d say, within 30 days.”

As for Biffle, who has been the subject of many “Silly Season” rumors this year, “He’s definitely in the car next year,” Smith said.

SPEEDtv.com | Nextel Cup | CUP: Roush Lands No. 16 Sponsor For '08 | by Tom Jensen

[LSC9901]

Originally Posted by vincesanity82

As for Biffle, who has been the subject of many “Silly Season” rumors this year, “He’s definitely in the car next year,” Smith said.

SPEEDtv.com | Nextel Cup | CUP: Roush Lands No. 16 Sponsor For '08 | by Tom Jensen

So I take that to mean that he is as good as gone !!!

[jks812]

I agree with LSC. Sounds like Biffle's got one more year with Roush.

[wingkey1]

Really (personally) expected, even hoped for, better overall performance / stats from Biffle in Cup. Not at all saying here that he has done poorly/miserably. Maybe others (potential sponsors) feel/felt same and that is reason for "1 year only" commitment.

Still view him as capable in the required attributes. Maybe we're wrong, but if not gotta wonder what the shortfall(s) might be.

[oncea3fan]

so which car will roush be droping to conform to the 4 team rule.

and what is the time table on that, can roush run 5 teams in 09, or is that when it has to be 4.

one year left for the bif and and 1 year sponsorship, sound like it's the death of the 16 team.

[jks812]

Originally Posted by oncea3fan

so which car will roush be droping to conform to the 4 team rule.

and what is the time table on that, can roush run 5 teams in 09, or is that when it has to be 4.

one year left for the bif and and 1 year sponsorship, sound like it's the death of the 16 team.

I think he has to be down to 4 by 2010. Sounds like it might be the 16 that gets dropped. Biffle could probably do with a change. Maybe he'll start running good again.

[tkj24]

Originally Posted by jks812

I think he has to be down to 4 by 2010. Sounds like it might be the 16 that gets dropped. Biffle could probably do with a change. Maybe he'll start running good again.

If I were Biffle I would look at Mark Martin and what he is doing now and say "Good Bye Jack Roush",

[oncea3fan]

I disagree , if he could get with HMS OR GIBBS, maybe RCR, I'd say yeah, but roush would be in "left field" for ever,, it was only 2 years ago that he had all five teams in the chase.

[Quality88]

Originally Posted by jks812

I think he has to be down to 4 by 2010. Sounds like it might be the 16 that gets dropped. Biffle could probably do with a change. Maybe he'll start running good again.

If i remember correctly at the time of the whole 4 teams rule being instated Roush had sponsorship contracts through 2009 that he had to honor there by lettin him keep all 5. However I think they have lost some key sponsors so who knows.