During the Mecum auction held at Nashville Superspeedway, RFK Racing presented a variety of high-performance cars and memorabilia for sale. A standout item was the legendary No. 16 Ford Taurus, sponsored by the National Guard and driven by Greg Biffle in the 2004 NASCAR Cup season and into 2005. This vehicle, chassis RK-195, is powered by a Roush-engineered 358 cubic-inch (5.8L) Ford V-8 engine. While Biffle won two of his 19 career Cup Series races in 2004, the RK-195’s top finish was third place at Atlanta in early 2005. The earnings from this car’s sale will support the Biffle Family Legacy Impact Fund.
Greg’s niece, Jordyn Biffle, expressed her gratitude on Facebook, thanking Jack Roush and the Roush team for including Greg’s car in the auction and donating the proceeds to the family fund. YouTuber-turned-racer Cleetus McFarland, whose real name is Garrett Mitchell, purchased the car on Saturday. He had developed a close friendship with Biffle before Greg’s tragic passing, and the Biffle family had planned to visit Cleetus in Florida when the fatal plane crash took place.
Jack Roush attended the auction in person, and Cleetus initially bid remotely at $35,000 before continuing to compete and ultimately securing the car for $47,000. With Greg Biffle acting as his mentor, Cleetus has pursued his own racing career, even though he briefly thought about quitting after Biffle’s death. He remains committed to advancing in NASCAR, having competed twice each in the NASCAR O’Reilly and Truck Series, and eight times in the main ARCA division. His accomplishments include a top-five finish in an ARCA East race at Rockingham, earning an ARCA national series pole position at Michigan, and finishing a close second in the Talladega ARCA race. Recently, he also acquired a late model car to gain further stock car racing experience.
Fan Take:
This auction highlights the deep connections and legacy within NASCAR, showing how the sport’s history is preserved and honored through fans and racers alike. Cleetus McFarland’s purchase and dedication signify a promising future for the sport as emerging drivers carry forward the passion and mentorship of legends like Greg Biffle.
Source: www.motorsport.com
