Former NASCAR driver Greg Biffle is one of many North Carolinians helping those in the western part of the state after Tropical Storm Helene.
Biffle is a Washington native, but his shop is out of Mooresville, and he’s also a helicopter pilot.
This week, Biffle’s sights have been set on flying into the mountains to save lives. He’s getting attention for a dramatic rescue he made when he saw a flash in the distance and spotted a man signaling for help with a mirror.
The former NASCAR Busch series champion is volunteering alongside Operation Helidrop. He is one of dozens of pilots flying helicopters into remote, hard-to-land areas and dropping off supplies.
A viral video of Biffle is highlighting the strengths of North Carolinians in helping others through hardships.
Video shows Biffle flying over a mountain and catching a light out of the corner of his eye. It was a man holding a mirror signaling for him.
“We’re in that area looking for people, they’re putting X’s in their yards or writing SOS on the ground with whatever they can find,” Biffle said.
He saw someone holding a mirror, but landing the helicopter would prove challenging.
“It was 4,000 feet elevation,” Biffle said. “All the way down into this ravine, power lines across, trees and obstacles to try to get down into it.”
Biffle would have to get the most out of his piloting skills, but it was worth it.
“I saw a guy, I caught him out of the corner of my eye and I was several miles away,” Biffle said. “I was saying to my partner there’s no way we’re gonna find someone up here or a place to land. I saw him flashing a mirror. A mirror is a great signaling device.”
“We dropped insulin, EpiPens, formula, diapers, food, water, chainsaw, gasoline,” he said. “About everything I could fit in the helicopter we dropped at that location. They were so thankful.”
Biffle was back up in the air on Thursday. He’s telling people to bring supplies to airports for trucking and flying.
The operation has volunteers out of Statesville, Hickory, Morganton and Rutherford County. Biffle said the help will continue.
“I’m gonna keep going until we feel like everybody’s got what they need,” Biffle said.
NASCAR and Charlotte Motor Speedway are hosting a two-day (9am-9pm) food/supply donation drive at CMS on Wednesday, Oct. 2 and Thursday, Oct. 3. The initiative is calling on the NASCAR industry and local communities to donate priority items (non-perishable food, water, diapers, wipes).
Donations are being collected at the Silver Parking Lot (6558 Bruton Smith Boulevard, Concord). Supplies will be transported to North Wilkesboro Speedway, where they will be received by Wilkes County officials and distributed to neighboring, affected counties in conjunction with Samaritan’s Purse.
NASCAR collecting donations for hurricane relief
- Talladega Superspeedway will collect donations at the track during this upcoming race weekend.
- Martinsville Speedway will host a water drive at the track on Friday afternoon, Oct. 4.
- Darlington Raceway is planning a Track Laps for Charity event on Oct. 10 with proceeds supporting aid for affected families.
- Bristol Motor Speedway opened its Medallion Campground beginning last Friday evening (Sept. 27) free-of-charge for evacuees seeking refuge from Hurricane Helene.
