NASCAR driver Greg Biffle is set for a return; It started yesterday
In 2002, Greg Biffle made his first career NASCAR Cup Series start. He then spent then next 15 years of his life following the almost year-long tour.
Following the 2016 season, Grag Biffle no longer had a ride. He had offers to compete. But, none of them were of the standards for the 20-time Cup Series winner.
For the last two years, Biffle hasn’t piloted a machine in any of the top-3 divisions of the NASCAR ladder. He’s been seen on planes, flying to the races. He brought his helmet to the Daytona 500 “Just in case.”
Now, on Thursday, Texas Motor Speedway hosted two round of NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series practice. Greg Biffle was on hand.
It’s the start of what could turn into a full-time ride for Greg Biffle. For 2019, there’s one race set in stone. He’s only running practice this weekend. On June 7th, 2019, Biffle will pilot the #51 in the race for KBM.
Kyle Busch on signing Greg Biffle
Following the multi-year absence, Kyle Busch Motorsports is here to put him in the seat. The team has been dominate so far in the truck series.
“As we were putting the finishing touches on our driver lineup for this year, we found ourselves looking for someone to drive the No. 51 Tundra in the June race and we are fortunate to be putting a driver of Greg’s caliber behind the wheel,” Kyle Busch said in a team release.
“I’ve been friends with Greg for a long time and we’ve always joked about how it would be cool for him to drive trucks again. When this opportunity came about the talks got serious and we both decided it was smart decision.”
“Not only is he capable of stepping right in and getting another win for the No. 51 team as we work towards the Owner’s Championship.”
“He will also be an experienced teammate for Harrison (Burton) and Todd (Gilliland) to lean on that weekend as they try to secure a spot in the playoffs and pursue another Truck Series Driver’s Championship for our organization.”
Greg Biffle on his return to NASCAR
“Kyle and I have been talking about it for awhile now. Over a few years,” Greg Biffle explained on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio via ‘Tradin’ Paint’.
“He actually contacted me a little bit after the ’16 season. Or over the winter of the ’16-’17 season. We were discussing maybe running a full-time deal for the championship.”
“I wasn’t really ready for something that committed.”
Court battle with ex-wife
At that time, Greg Biffle his ex-wife, Nicole Lunders who took Biffle to court on an invasion of privacy lawsuit.
Biffle had cameras installed inside his home for security purposes. Many of those cameras were placed in the guest bedroom and the master bathroom of the Lake Norman residence.
Biffle consistency insisted he did nothing wrong and that his wife and his mother in-law knew about the cameras. “I did nothing wrong,” Biffle stated from the stand in court.
He explained that the cameras were installed inside the home to catch maids which he believed were stealing valuables from him. The bathroom cameras were aimed at a closet inside the bathroom where some valuables were stored.
The courts declared Biffle guilty. However, they awarded Lauders $1 in damages. The jury could not come to an agreement on the amount of punitive damages and the case returned to court the following week where she then won an additional $250,000 in punitive damages.
That case was closed in August of 2018.
With that mess out of the way, Biffle is set to return to the race track…
Greg Biffle on the move to Kyle Busch Motorsports
Biffle is no stranger to the NASCAR Truck Series. It’s just been awhile.
“We’ve been talking about it for several years. This sort of materialized because they didn’t have somebody to run the June Texas race in the #51.”
“Kyle and I were talking about it in the desert. I said, ‘What are the chances of running and getting some practice in April? Get a look at the new track, new surface. Get a feel for the truck.’ That’s sort of how it all came together.”
“I think you need to ease back into it and get comfortable. The truck drives similar to the Cup car and so does Xfinity. They’re a little bit different. But, for the most part it’s ingrained in you.”
“I don’t expect to jump in this thing and be the fastest guy right out of the gate. But, I expect to be competitive.”
“I truly miss this sport.”
Greg Biffle made his debut in the NASCAR Truck Series back in 1998 and ran his last race in 2004. With 81 career starts, he’s notched 16 race wins.
More
Greg Biffle expresses an interest in returning to NASCAR (December 2018)
Greg Biffle to pay ex-wife punitive damages in invasion of privacy case
Biffle declared guilty in invasion of privacy case
Civil case against Greg Biffle heads to trial
Former NASCAR driver accused of using hidden cameras to watch his wife and mother in law
