By: Andy DeLay, Staff Writer
If you were anywhere near downtown Mooresville this past week, you didn’t just hear the engines—you felt them in your chest. And if you looked around, you saw something that’s becoming rare these days: a community united not just by horsepower, but by heart.
We all know the tragic news from December. Losing Greg Biffle, his wife Cristina, their children Emma and Ryder, and close friends Dennis Dutton, Jack Dutton, and Craig Wadsworth is a wound that hasn’t healed. It’s a void in the garage area, a silence on the radio, and an empty seat at the table for so many. But if there is one thing racers do better than anyone else, it’s making sure a legacy doesn’t just fade away… it gets louder.
Cleetus McFarland, a man who has bridged the gap between the old guard and the new generation, took to the streets of “Race City USA” to make sure Greg got the send-off he deserved. It wasn’t a somber funeral procession; it was tire smoke, limiters bouncing, and a celebration of a life lived at full throttle.
The Burnout Heard ‘Round the World
The “Burnout for Biff” wasn’t just a stunt. It was a salute. As McFarland lit up the tires on Main Street, it felt like the perfect tribute to a man who spent his career driving the wheels off anything with an engine. But beyond the smoke and the spectacle, the real story was the message plastered on the back of cars and on the lips of every fan in attendance: “Be Like Biff.”
What It Means to “Be Like Biff”
For those of us who watched him wrestle a Cup car around Darlington or dominate in the Truck Series, we knew Biffle the Racer. He was tenacious. He was “The Biff”—hard-nosed and unapologetic on the track.
But this celebration in Mooresville highlighted the man behind the helmet, especially the Greg Biffle we saw during the Hurricane Helene relief efforts in 2024. That is the spirit that Cleetus and the community are asking us to carry forward.
To me, “Be Like Biff” isn’t about driving fast. It means:
Showing Up When It Counts: When the floods came, and people were stranded, Greg didn’t wait for permission or a camera crew. He fired up his helicopter and went to work, flying mission after mission to save neighbors he’d never met.
Bridging the Gap: Greg had time for everyone. Whether you were a Hall of Famer or a kid with a diecast at the fence, you got the same respect. He mentored young drivers like Cleetus not because he had to, but because he loved the sport and the people in it.
Loving Fiercely: Above all, this tragedy reminds us that Greg was a family man. “Be Like Biff” means holding your loved ones close and living with the kind of joy he shared with Cristina, Emma, and Ryder.
A Final Lap
As the smoke cleared in Mooresville, the silence didn’t return. Instead, there was a buzz… a collective promise from the thousands in attendance. We aren’t just going to remember Greg Biffle for the trophies on his shelf. We will remember him for the size of his heart.
So, the next time you see a neighbor in need, or you have the chance to help someone up when they’re down, don’t hesitate. Do it.
Be like Biff.
Image Credit: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images