updated 9:49 p.m. ET Feb. 25, 2006

FONTANA, Calif. - A gamble by Carl Edwards on fresh tires late in the NASCAR Busch Series race at California Speedway fell short, allowing Roush Racing teammate Greg Biffle to run off to an easy victory Saturday.

With Nextel Cup drivers, known as “Buschwhackers,” again dominating a race in the developmental series — finishing in the top 11 positions — Biffle passed former teammate Jeff Burton for the lead with 10 laps to go in the Stater Brothers 300. Biffle then drove away to a 2.256-second — half a straightaway — win over Ryan Newman.

It was the fifth consecutive win by a Roush-owned car on the 2-mile California track.

Edwards, who led 49 of the 150 laps, appeared to have the fastest car through most of the event. But he chose to give up the lead to pit for four fresh tires after debris brought out the last of four caution flags on lap 134.

Edwards said he didn’t think he could hold off Biffle and Burton if he didn’t get tires at the end. He radioed his crew chief asking to pit.

“I thought even going to the back we could get them,” Edwards said. “We’ve won a couple like that in the Busch Series, but it’s a gamble. You know, everything has to go just right. We probably needed another caution there with about five laps to go.”

Biffle, whose Ford Fusion led a race-high 52 laps, said the late caution flag was the key to his 18th career Busch victory and third at the California track.

“We weren’t going to catch them without a caution flag,” Biffle said. “We had to stay out because we had used up all of our sets of tires. I thought everybody was going to pit and I was shocked when they stayed out because new tires are really fast.

“I made an almost fatal mistake there on the first stop, tightening the car up too much. We just kept making big adjustments,” he added. “Our stops were a little slow because we were doing so much work. We really needed that caution.”

After Edwards pitted, it left Burton’s Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet in the lead. Biffle and Newman, in a Penske Racing South Dodge, were close behind and Edwards’ Ford was 10th when the green flag waved for the start of lap 139.

Slideshow   Week in Sports Pictures A boxing champ celebrates, a kicker regrets, fans mourn a hero, and much more. more photos

Newman grabbed second place from Biffle on that lap, but last year’s Nextel Cup runner-up retook the second spot the next time around the oval and chased down Burton. Once he got into the lead, Biffle began to steadily pull away.

Meanwhile, Edwards shot through traffic and got all the way to third, passing Burton on lap 146. But that’s as close as he could come to the leaders.

Newman said he had nothing for Biffle at the end.

“We were good on restarts, but just a little bit down on speed,” he said. “All in all, it was a pretty good showing for this team.”

All the Cup drivers will compete on the same track in Sunday’s Auto Club 500.

MORE FROM NASCAR / MOTORS

NASCAR / Motors Section Front

Martin faces daunting task in final race   Johnson, Martin take title race into finale Johnson looks to cap title run with race win Opinion: Johnson's dominance not embraced by fans Johnson takes pole at Homestead Johnson signs extension with Hendrick through 2015 For Hendrick, a 1-2-3 finish might make history Gordon wants to keep driving for Hendrick Kyle Busch wins title, Nationwide finale RPM driver Kahne will look elsewhere after 2010 NASCAR / Motors Section Front   Add NASCAR / Motors headlines to your news reader: