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On Friday, January 16 friends, family and member of the NASCAR community gathered to pay tribute to the plane crash victims<\/p>\n
On Friday, January 17 the NASCAR<\/a> Industry and fans came together in remembrance of those who lost their lives in the plane crash with driver Greg Biffle.<\/p>\n A large throng that included family members of the seven fallen, those in the NASCAR industry and fans gathered at the Bojangles Coliseum to pay their respects and share stories. The lives lost were Greg Biffle, his wife Cristina, daughter Emma, son Ryder, family friend Craig Wadsworth, pilot Dennis Dutton and his son Jack Dutton.<\/p>\n The tragedy<\/a> took place on the morning of December 18, 2025 when Biffle\u2019s Cessna 550 Citation II took off from Statesville Airport, had mechanical trouble and attempted to make a return landing.<\/p>\n Honoring the victims were NASCAR drivers-turned-broadcasters Jeff Burton and Phil Parsons, niece Jordyn Biffle and friend Garrett Mitchell<\/a>, aka Cleetus McFarland.<\/p>\n Greg Biffle\u2019s Teammate Jeff Burton Talks Toughness<\/p>\n Burton, who was a teammate to Biffle when he drove for Jack Roush Racing, recalled how he once tried to hide a broken arm from everyone before a race at California Speedway. A late-night call to his PR person at the time, Patrick Rodgers, set in motion a master plan of coverup.<\/p>\n \u201cLate at night, Patrick is at home and gets a call from Greg,\u201d Burton shared. \u201cHe did it while \u2018climbing in the motorhome\u2019 which just so happened to be out at the sand dunes, feel free to draw your conclusions. Greg needed him to play along because he was going to hide the injury.<\/p>\n \u201cNow, racing in California like that it can be very hot there and it was that weekend. Well, Biffle showed up as late as possible to the next race at Fontana wearing a long sleeve winter coat to hide the cast on his arm.<\/p>\n \u201cHe rented a motorhome so he could walk right from the car, out of the garage and into the motorhome having as little contact with people as possible.<\/p>\n Biffle\u2019s team caught on pretty quickly to what was going on and being good teammates, they worked with their driver to keep the broken arm a secret.<\/p>\n \u201cGreg went out there and finished 18th, one lap down,\u201d Burton recalled. \u201cMe, with two good arms, finished behind him in 19th place. Seven races later, he wins the Pepsi 400 at Daytona.\u201d<\/p>\n Mitchell Gets Emotional About \u201cThe Biff\u201d<\/p>\n The YouTube star<\/a>, who goes by Cleetus McFarland on the channel, became friends with Biffle after the NASCAR driver had retired from full-time racing. He was the last to speak and brought forth laughter and tears recalling their antics and times together.<\/p>\n He talked about their shared love of racing, airplanes, helicopters and charitable efforts. Biffle led a major effort to help those who suffered from the Helene Hurricane that hit Western North Carolina in September 2024.<\/p>\n For those efforts, Biffle was recognized with the prestigious Myers Brother Award in November 2024. Mitchell encouraged other to live like his fallen friend.<\/p>\n \u201cBe Like Biff, since we lost our hero,\u201d he said through tears. \u201cAnd what does that mean? That means to take opportunities when you see them. Whether you\u2019re taking the opportunity to pass someone on the track. Or, getting off your couch and chasing a dream you\u2019ve been talking about for the last five years.<\/p>\n \u201cIt means showing up for your friends and family. It means using your heart to make the world a better place. It means being generous whenever you can and helping other humans when they\u2019re down.<\/p>\n \u201cThat is what it means to Be Like Biff, so spread the word.\u201d<\/p>\n Burnout for Biff<\/p>\n Later in the day, Mitchell used a custom made 1957 Chevrolet limousine to do a \u201cBurnout for Biff\u201d<\/a> in Mooresville as a final tribute. The town shut down Main Street as a very larger crowd gathered all around the designated burnout area.<\/p>\n It was done in front of Biffle\u2019s Walk of Fame spot, which was awarded to him September 2025.<\/p>\n Mitchell didn\u2019t disappoint with a burnout that shook windows, with the crowd cheering as a large plume of smoke ascended up into the heavens.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \n\t\t\tTim Packman<\/a> Tim Packman is a journalist for Heavy.com covering NASCAR. He grew up around the short tracks of Western New York watching his dad, stepdad and step brother race. His uncle was the head starter at many area tracks and member of the FOAR Score Hall of Fame.
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\nTim’s passion for racing took him to the announcer’s tower and writing program stories for multiple tracks in the area, namely Lancaster National Speedway. In 2000, he moved to Mooresville, NC to become an award-winning journalist for NASCAR.com. He took a job with Dale Earnhardt, Inc. as the team’s Communications Director and was part of two Daytona 500 wins and two NASCAR Championships.
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\nThe announcing experience led to becoming a Pit Reporter and News Director for MRN Radio. A return to the team side at Richard Childress Racing as the Director of Corporate Communications took place, which also included another Championship.
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\nFrom 2015 to 2018, Tim returned to where his career began in 1994 – Lancaster National Speedway & Dragway – as the Track President. He earned Short Track Promoter of the Year awards in 2016 and 2017.
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\nUpon returning to NC, he joined The Garage Shop as Communications Director and host of it’s Podcast and MAV-TV docuseries “Legacy of Speed” talking about Land Speed Racing at Bonneville, and other places.
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\nTim has hosted two other Podcasts, namely “Pub Table Racers,” and wrote three books. One was with NASCAR Hall of Famer Bobby Allison titled, “Bobby Allison, a Racer’s Racer” and two Children’s books, “Funny Dan the Race Car Man” and “Petey the Pace Car.”
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\nHe also served in the US Navy. More about Tim Packman<\/a>\t\t<\/p>\n