By: Jay W. Pennell
Sprint Cup Correspondent
HardcoreRaceFans.com

With six laps to go and leader Kasey Kahne in sight, Greg Biffle gave up. The Roush Fenway Racing driver who had one of the strongest cars all night radioed his crew, "Nice try [Greg] Erwin, maybe in the [Coca-Cola] 600 we'll make something happen."

Despite encouragement from his crew, Biffle was never able to mount a charge and was forced to watch Kahne drive away into the spotlight and take the win in Saturday night's Sprint All-Star Race.

Biffle, who started the day from the fifth spot, was a contender in each of the four 25 lap segments. The No. 16 Dish Network Ford was the only car able to keep Kyle Busch in his sights during the first segment. Pit stops during the first pause in the action relegated Biffle back to seventh.

Working through the field, Biffle retook the lead from fan favorite Dale Earnhardt Jr. on Lap 64. Leading the field to the end of the third segment, Biffle hit pit road with the lead and was the first car out that took tires. Three cars used strategy and got gas only on the final stop and Biffle restarted the race fourth, behind Jimmie Johnson, Kasey Kahne and Denny Hamlin.

When the No. 11 of Hamlin broke, that put Biffle in second spot with about fifteen laps to go. With two fresh tires and a strong car it appeared the race was in his hands. Biffle was able to lose in on Kahne, but never really mounted a serious charge for the win.

"I could have forced the issue," Biffle explained. "I had one opportunity, and he kind of closed the door on me a little bit, and I figured, 'No sense pressing it right now -- I've got plenty of laps to go.' Then it just got tighter and tighter as it went, and I never got a chance to get back at him again.

"I had good tires. I had taken two, and he hadn't taken any. I can't believe I got beat [by a car] with no [new] tires."