Meet the voice in Greg Biffle's head

Sporting News, The, July 8, 2005 by Lee Spencer

Doug Richert is riding high on the racing roller coaster. It all started in 1980 when, at 20, he became the youngest crew chief in NASCAR history, guiding Dale Earnhardt to his first championship. Later, sharing crew chief duties with Jeff Hammond and Mike Hill at Junior Johnson's so-called Ingle Hollow University shop, Richert helped produce titles for Darrell Waltrip. He also has worked with Davey Allison, Buddy Baker and Benny Parsons.

In 1995, Richert reunited with Dale Earnhardt as the crew chief for Ron Hornaday in Dale Earnhardt Inc.'s entry in the Craftsman Truck Series. Jack Roush hired Richert as pit boss for Carl Edwards in the Truck series in 2003, a plum opportunity. Nine months later, Roush aligned Richert with Greg Biffle and the No. 16, where Richert has been ever since.

Eleven months later, the pair was victorious for the first time, at Michigan, and despite not making the Chase for the NASCAR Nextel Cup finished 2004 on a high note by winning the season finale at Homestead. That momentum has carried over. Biffle has five victories in 2005, and Richert says the No. 16 can win at any track.

"Greg has one of the highest tolerance levels of driving out here," says Richert, 45. "On our worst day, he can hate life, but he's driving the heck out of it every lap. I think that's why you've seen us with real consistent finishes lately--even when we're off a little bit, we just keep working on it, and he finds a way to drive the car for that day. That makes a championship driver."

Richert would know.