Greg Biffle’s humanitarian work reintroduced him to a broader viewers, particularly after his extraordinary efforts to help folks affected by Hurricane Helene final yr. These actions introduced him again into the general public eye regardless of his semi-retirement. However following his latest passing in a aircraft crash, Biffle is being remembered not just for stepping up when communities wanted assist, but additionally for his abilities behind the wheel, a capability that refused to fade even after lengthy stretches away from competitors. Just a few moments captured that actuality extra clearly than his 2019 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Collection victory at Texas.
Earlier than that night time, Biffle had not competed within the Truck Collection since 2004. Within the years that adopted, his profession grew primarily within the Xfinity and Cup Collection. Then, towards expectations and rust that sometimes dulls reflexes, he climbed into Kyle Busch Motorsports’ No. 51 Toyota in 2019.
As soon as he discovered his rhythm and understood the truck’s tendencies, he drove straight to victory, a efficiency that compelled friends, together with Todd Bodine, to reassess what they thought age and time away may do to a driver. Bodine defined how that race reshaped his view of Biffle.
“I do not forget that race, I had the pre-race present on the time… The primary a part of the race… it was basic Greg first stage, simply form of rode alongside there figured his truck out. He was using about eighth or ninth and simply getting used to issues, and the way they drove as a result of we didn’t no apply…,” mentioned Bodine.
“Second stage, he began getting on a little bit bit. He drove up into the highest 5 and was racing folks arduous and making good high quality passes,” he added.
Bodine recalled how the closing phase heightened the efficiency from stable to startling.
“And the final stage, they’d a superb pit cease. He acquired towards the entrance, went up previous I overlook who it was for a lead, and it’s like, “Holy cow, you already know, he hasn’t raced in two (together with Cup) years and have a look at as a racer it…
“Take a look at the expertise this man has. So to have the ability to try this, folks don’t know how arduous that’s to do… I received’t say that’s after I had a special respect for him, however I checked out him in another way after that.”
Bodine mirrored on his personal restricted schedule in 2022, noting that in six races within the Truck Collection, he may really feel the toll of time and understood how shortly sharpness can slip. Whereas he acknowledged that Biffle was not really previous, he emphasised that the prolonged absence from the Truck Collection made the feat much more spectacular.
That night time, the then-49-year-old led solely 18 of the 167 laps, but he managed the moments that mattered. The win marked his second Truck Collection victory on the venue and the seventeenth of his Gander Vehicles profession. It additionally represented his first nationwide sequence begin for the reason that 2016 Monster Power Cup Collection finale and his first Truck Collection look in 15 years.
Gas technique grew to become the ultimate check as Biffle managed consumption exactly over the closing run, nonetheless discovering sufficient tempo to cross the road 0.963 seconds away from the sector. Matt Crafton completed second within the caution-filled SpeedyCash.com 400.
