Jeff Green wins Busch race

BRISTOL, Tenn., March 23 (UPI) -- Jeff Green kept out of trouble at the short-track Bristol Motor Speedway and took the checkered flag Saturday at the NASCAR Busch Grand National series Channellock 250.

Green, who started second in a Chevrolet Monte Carlo, stayed clear of a record 14 caution flags for 88 laps en route to his first visit to Victory Lane at the .533-mile track. He led 187 laps and won his 15th Busch series race by 0.417 seconds over Mike McLaughlin.

The event was held up under red flag with nine laps to run after a crash between front runners Greg Biffle and Kevin Harvick in turn 4. The drivers were racing for position when their cars got tangled, but while Biffle escaped damage to finish fifth in his Ford, Harvick was sent into the wall and back down the track.

"I've always said Greg Biffle was a good guy, but he's the most impatient thing I've ever seen," said a frustrated Harvick who waited for Biffle at his pit box to exit his Ford. They exchanged heated words which turned into a mixup between crew members before NASCAR officials broke the conflict up.

"My side of the story is pretty apparent," Harvick said. "I let Greg Biffle get away with some stuff last year, and he comes and just rams me in the back. That's Biffle for you. Biffle's an idiot."

Biffle expressed his side of the situation.

"I didn't do it on purpose," he said. "That's just racing at Bristol. I feel bad, but I didn't do it on purpose."

The depleted field got back to racing 10 minutes later with Green leading the single-file field without much trouble to the checkered flag at an average speed of 66.093 miles per hour.

McLaughlin led between laps 84-132 before conceding the position to Green and finishing second in his Pontiac Grand Prix. Scott Wimmer was third in a Pontiac, followed by veteran Jimmy Spencer in a Chevrolet and Biffle, who became the series points leader by seven points over Green.

Former points leader Jason Keller was involved in one of the wrecks. Keller, who led the standings entering the race, got involved in a five-car accident after just 20 laps of competition.