This year’s Christmas proved to be a difficult one for NASCAR, owing to the events that transpired last week. With all the legal proceedings settled, it looked like Christmas would be a major celebration this year, but the tragic passing of Greg Biffle and his family proved otherwise. Grief has remained the primary theme ever since, with the Hendrick Motorsports team being among the first ones to react to the news.
While many came forward to share their message of grief, one of the most respected voices in the HMS camp remained mum. Ray Evernham, the Championship-winning crew chief for Jeff Gordon, had opted for the silent path when Biffle passed. But with Christmas festivities in full flow, the HMS icon couldn’t help but lay forth a sobering truth.
HMS Icon Delivers a Gut-Wrenching Truth to NASCAR
Tragedy struck NASCAR last Thursday as news surfaced of the Biffle family passing away in a plane crash alongside three others. The family of four was on its way to Florida to meet up with Garrett Mitchell, aka Cleetus McFarland, but 10 minutes into their flight, the Cessna 550 ran into trouble and couldn’t make it back to the runway safely.
Ever since, the NASCAR world has been struggling to come to terms with reality, with Mark Martin spending considerable time researching the potential reasons behind the plane’s failure.
While all that goes on, Gordon’s former crew chief decided to take to X and leave a few people teary-eyed with what he had to say.
“It’s been a rough week or so, but today is a special day. It’s Christmas, and it’s about family, it’s about being together, it’s about great memories,” said Evernham. He added, “And we don’t know how many Christmases we’re going to get. Some of the Christmases, people who start the year with us won’t be here.”
Speaking further, the iconic crew chief expressed his gratitude for the gift that life is while also being thankful for all of his friends and family, hoping to carry great memories into the new year.
Evernham’s words come just in time for “Biffmas,” an annual initiative started by Biffle that centers around spreading holiday cheer through daily cash giveaways and prizes for fans.
To make this year’s Christmas even more chilling, those close to the Biffle family ended up receiving their Christmas mail from the departed souls during the holidays.
One such incident happened with Ron Herbert of North Carolina, who received the festive season’s greetings from the Biffles in his mailbox. The mail proved to be a harsh reminder of the reality that cannot be escaped, with Evernham’s message further highlighting just how precious life is.
