On December 18th, Greg Biffle, one of NASCAR’s 75 greatest drivers, along with his wife, children, and two others, was en route to meet popular YouTuber Garrett Mitchell, more commonly known as Cleetus McFarland, when their aircraft experienced difficulties and crashed. In contrast to the outpouring of grief from Biffle’s fanbase, this loss was deeply personal for McFarland, as Biffle had become one of his close friends over the past couple of years. In memory of the fallen legend, McFarland produced a 40-minute tribute video directed specifically at Biffle.
The footage began with approximately 30 minutes of video clips documenting their adventures over the past year and a half, filmed while the two were spending time together. Among the clips were segments featuring Mitchell’s recordings with Biffle’s wife, Cristina, and his two children, Ryder and Emma.
Captioning the video, McFarland stated, “The last year and a half with him has been some of the greatest moments of my life. I am fortunate to have had him as a mentor and a close friend. I have never met someone with whom I had so much in common.”
Indeed, they had a considerable amount in common. They initially connected through Hurricane Helene relief efforts, where both shared a desire to assist affected communities using helicopters to deliver supplies. Over the past year and a half, they had maintained that enthusiasm for aviation, and Biffle had mentored the 30-year-old YouTube sensation in his ARCA starts at Daytona, Talladega, and Charlotte.
McFarland added, “Cristina Biffle was an absolute pleasure to be around and a remarkable mother. There is so much more to say, but here are some of our best moments. We love you guys so much. It’s a tragic loss that we had to experience with the Biffles.”
The video commenced with Biffle speaking directly to the camera, detailing his journey into racing and his current efforts to introduce his son to the sport. It then transitioned to show specific clips of Biffle’s involvement in Hurricane Helene relief efforts.
“Treat people the way you want to be treated,” stated Biffle in a clip.
The video continued with a montage of Biffle’s most significant moments in NASCAR, from his first victory. McFarland curated the video by assembling various clips of Biffle speaking between segments, specifically about his relationship with McFarland. He even compared McFarland to a 15-year-younger version of himself while footage of the pair laughing and participating in various driving experiences played in the background.
“It’s a lot of fun for us to do things together,” said Biffle.
Throughout the tribute, the group’s profound respect for Biffle was evident, with the brightest smiles and happiest times seemingly accompanying their time together. One individual during their time racing sand cars remarked, “When you start hanging out with Greg Biffle, your life just changes,” speaking volumes about the kind of man Biffle truly was.
On Friday, December 19th, National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) member Michael Graham confirmed all seven individuals on board the aircraft had perished. The aircraft had only been in flight for approximately 26 minutes before it crashed just short of the runway.
A preliminary report detailing the cause of the crash is expected within 30 days, while the final report may take up to a year as investigators continue to interview witnesses, review audio recordings, and conduct further analysis. Graham stated that the investigation is in its initial phases and that conclusions or speculation are premature.
As of Friday, investigators are unable to determine who was piloting the plane, as three individuals on board were licensed to fly. Graham announced that a black box from the plane had been recovered. When questioned about the presence of a call from the aircraft, he replied that they had not been made aware of one.
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