Negotiations between Biffle, Roush up in air

UPDATE #2 Roush-Fenway Racing will announce a one-year-only sponsor deal for Greg Biffle and the #16 Ford within the next 30 days, team President Geoff Smith said Sunday morning at New Hampshire. 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. 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

06/09/07 If there is any doubt Greg Biffle will return as driver of the #16 car next season he put those rumors to rest at Pocono. "It’s my full intention right now to race that car next year. I can’t leave next year. I not only have a contract with Roush-Fenway Racing. I’ve got a contract with Ford. The speculation is over. I have two contracts that I’m obligated to do and I’m going to do. If for some reason we don’t come to an agreement I’ll be driving something different in 2009, not 2008. I’m off the bargaining table. They need a driver for the #8 next year…that’s not me…or whatever other cars." Contract extension talks are on hold for at least the next month as Biffle wants to focus on the competition side with new crew chief Greg Irwin. "Greg is doing an unbelievable job" said Biffle. "Pat (Tryson) was a helluva crew chief. Pat got this team to where it is now. Greg’s taken over and it keeps going up. Let’s just work on getting into the chase instead of working on negotiating money, sponsor appearances, Busch Series stuff and all that. I want to have it done this year. I don’t want it to go into next year, so heck we’ve got five months and that’s a lot of time." PRNs Garage Pass

06/08/07 Contract negotiations between #16-Greg Biffle and Roush Fenway Racing have stalled, Biffle told ESPN.com Friday at Pocono Raceway. Biffle said the decision to break off talks was his and is based largely on improving the performance of a No. 16 team that has been up-and-down of late and in a state of transition following the firing of crew chief Pat Tryson two weeks ago and subsequent hiring of crew chief Greg Irwin. Biffle expects negotiations to resume in about a month. ESPN.com