December 19, 2025 • 10 mins
Tune in here to this Friday edition of the Brett Winterble Show!
we’re joined by Winston Kelley of the NASCAR Hall of Fame to discuss the tragic events that shook the racing community and the life and legacy of Greg Biffle. Winston reflects on the profound sense of loss felt across NASCAR, sharing personal memories of Biffle as both a fierce competitor and a generous, service-minded individual. He details how the Hall of Fame is honoring those lost through permanent memorials, digital tributes, and its in-memoriam displays, ensuring their impact on the sport is never forgotten.
The conversation also touches on Biffle’s humanitarian work, particularly his hands-on efforts helping communities after Hurricane Helene, highlighting a character defined by action rather than words. Winston further addresses questions about travel safety in motorsports and looks ahead to upcoming projects and expansions at the NASCAR Hall of Fame. It’s a sobering but heartfelt discussion centered on remembrance, gratitude, and honoring lives that left a lasting mark on racing and beyond.
Listen here for all of this and more on the Brett Winterble Show!
For more from Brett check out his YouTube channel
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:05):
One O seven point nine f M w BT Charlotte's
FM News Talk. It's a pleasure to be with you today,
and I want to welcome to the program somebody who
who I've admired for a long time, and it's been
far too long since we had a conversation. Unfortunately, the
circumstances are that that Winston Kelly is spending time with
us here because of what happened yesterday.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
Winston, It's great to have you here from the from from.
Speaker 1 (00:31):
The Hall of Fame, and and and all of the
great stuff that is happening. Uh in that regard, but
certainly we we should be focused on on what it
was that we saw happen yesterday.
Speaker 2 (00:42):
Your your your thoughts on this, Winston.
Speaker 3 (00:45):
Well, tragic. I don't know that the devastated is a
strong enough word. I think we're all numb with it.
Just seven wonderful people, Uh, that tragically we lost way
too soon. You know, we're we're remembering, remembering them, honoring them,
(01:05):
and thankful for to have had them in our life.
Speaker 1 (01:08):
Now, my understanding is you have you have an installation
over there remembering him.
Speaker 2 (01:14):
Is that is that the is that the case?
Speaker 3 (01:16):
We do it various places throughout the hall. On our
exterior video board that faces Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard,
we will have a part of that scrolling video a
remembrance of Greg with his picture in some of the
highlights of his career. Similarly, in the on our fan billboard,
which is our large display in the NASCAR Hall of Fame,
(01:39):
then we'll have something leading into the Hall of Honor.
He's there also front and centers the first thing you
see when you pull up our website. So that's how
we honor inductees or nominees or people like that that
we've lost. And then we have a thing we call
in memoriam that stays in here forever that when we
lose people that are within the industry, we put them there.
(02:03):
So off seven that were on the plane will be
a part of that in memoriam.
Speaker 1 (02:07):
That's that's wonderful, that's good. That's the sort of thing
that is going to make people feel, I think what
they should be.
Speaker 2 (02:15):
Feeling that in that regard, what can you.
Speaker 1 (02:19):
Think back to the first time that you spent time
with him or went and saw him. Can can you
share that with the audience.
Speaker 3 (02:29):
It would have been in the late nineteen nineties. When
he came into the truck Series back in nineteen ninety eight,
nineteen ninety nine. I can't remember the specific first time,
but I remember the championship that he had in two
thousand with the Truck Series, in two thousand and two
with then Bush Series now O'Reilly Auto Parts Series. And
(02:52):
I also remember, you know, his last Cup victory was
in June of twenty thirteen. He won the one thousandth
win for Ford Racing in NASCAR, and it was the
first time his daughter Emma was in victory lane with him.
So I remember that one. And I remember the last
time I saw he and Christina both just two weeks
(03:14):
ago at a fundraiser that we were there till nine
thirty going on ten o'clock. That they were both there
signing autographs for a children's charity in Mooresville, in the
Moorsville area, so continuing to give back.
Speaker 1 (03:29):
What a good man, I mean, what a what a
good man. But when you had him behind the wheel,
he was ferocious as well, right, I mean he was
he was really in it to get it.
Speaker 3 (03:42):
If I had to remember a few words about him, say,
fierce ferocious fits into that fierce fair, respected by his competitors,
and versatile. He could win in every type of vehicle
and on all types of tracks, are toughest tracks like Darlington.
He was a master at Michigan one four times there,
(04:03):
so ferocious would definitely fit in that category for Greg Biffel.
Speaker 1 (04:07):
Great to be spending time with you here, Winston Kelly
joining us here from the NASCAR Hall of Fame. What
will we see a change in terms of the way
people travel in this regard in the sport itself? You know,
obviously you've got to get to so many different places
(04:28):
in so many different ways. But but is there going
to be some sort of of a change in terms
of those those independent folks that get on those aircraft
and you know, get out there and try to get
from here to there.
Speaker 3 (04:43):
Yeah, I think I don't think so. And here's you know,
if you think about the volume of hours that we've
got a thirty six race season that only a handful
we're driving to and we were moving thousands of people,
whether it's on commercial air craft or whether it's in
private aircraft. And you know, flying is safer by volume
(05:06):
a number of people than driving. So I think unless
something comes out of the NTSB investigation that suggests something different.
I think it's a very safe way to travel. It's
just it's tragic. So, you know, I think the nature
of the bit of any sports, but especially something like NASCAR,
(05:27):
where you're not football teams, basketball teams, baseball teams, half
of their games are at home. Right there's three or
four in this area that you drive to, but the
majority we have to drive to to be all over
the country. So, you know, I think it's a safe
way to travel. I know Greg was very safe, and
I think we'll have to wait and see what the
(05:49):
NTSBUH brings out of this investigation.
Speaker 1 (05:52):
Now, one of the things that was very evident for
him he was very brave, was he was a smart person.
He was he was ready to get back and that
was demonstrated so much, especially after Helene, when when he
was getting out there and helping those folks that were
that were stuck in a really bad in a bad way.
Speaker 3 (06:12):
Yeah, he got a text from a friend, he's got
a helicopter, he has the means, and he's definitely got
the heart to go survey and see what was needed.
And he was the catalyst to a lot of people
collecting supplies and delivering them either to the States full
or the Hickory Airport and then have to helicopter men
because as you well know, and you and everybody at
WBT covered, there were so many areas that were inaccessible
(06:36):
and a helicopter is the only way you could get
it there. And he didn't do it for days, he
didn't do it for weeks. He did it for months,
majority out of his own pocket. He would take a
donation for fuel, but nothing else. And that's just the
heart he had. And his wife, Christina is involved in
a lot of cherries and charities, including our NASCAR Hall
(06:57):
of Fame Foundation. She's repelled off the side of the
Embassy suites with us five or six different times to
raise money for our foundation that subsidizes children most in
need to be able to come to our stem based
programming here. So that's just who they were is. They
wanted to roll their sleeves up and be involved, not
(07:19):
just to write a check.
Speaker 1 (07:20):
Talk a little bit about the Hall of Fame obviously,
it's a destination like nothing else. And you have a
bunch of great projects that are happening. Give us a
little preview of what you all are working on well.
Speaker 3 (07:37):
The first and next year, we will have about five
different exhibits that change out, everything from our Glory Road
that changes out every three years, to our inductee exhibits,
also our induction ceremony. Our big project is what we
call our space optimization project. We've got more children, more
education groups, and more events that also overlap with our
(08:02):
general admission customer to be able to accommodate them, so
we've got a plan to add a dedicated space for
our education groups and then move our gift shop where
it's out front of the building where it's more accessible,
move our cafe to an area that's also more accessible
in the building, but where the cafe is. Put an
(08:22):
infill over some open area to be able to have
larger events space. So we're working on those designs and
contracts and all to start that next year. So it's
a good problem to have to not have enough space
for different types of guests. So we're very excited about
that project that starts next year. The construction will start
(08:43):
sometime mid next year.
Speaker 1 (08:45):
Where do folks go to get more information on all
the great projects that you're doing.
Speaker 3 (08:50):
Nascar Hall dot com can tell you about everything that's
in here and then when new exhibits come in, we'll
start posting about the project next year. But when you
pull up the website, first thing you'll see is a
tribute right now to Greg Biffel uh and the folks
that we lost. We won't always remember how seven of them.
And I think the way Greg would want it, not
(09:10):
just himself, but Christina, Ema Ryder, Dennis and Jack Dutton
and Craig Wadsworth. So appreciate you highlighting them as well.
Speaker 2 (09:18):
It's it's it's it's our pleasure.
Speaker 1 (09:20):
I mean the the it's it's it's such a terrible
thing to have happened, but just like everybody else, you know,
people band together and and they understand UH that it's
important to UH to respect all of the people that
lost their lives on that day. Uh. Winston Kelly, it's
a pleasure to speak with you, and I wish you
(09:40):
a merry Christmas and a happy new Year. And let's
let's get together sooner rather than later down the road.
Speaker 2 (09:47):
How about that.
Speaker 3 (09:48):
I would love that. Brett, thank you so much for
having us on and hope you and your family have
a merry Christmas.
Speaker 2 (09:53):
Yeah you as well.
Speaker 1 (09:54):
Absolutely, that's Winston Kelly such a pleasure to talk to
him about what's going on with with all of these
big story lines.
One O seven point nine f M w BT Charlotte's
FM News Talk. It's a pleasure to be with you today,
and I want to welcome to the program somebody who
who I've admired for a long time, and it's been
far too long since we had a conversation. Unfortunately, the
circumstances are that that Winston Kelly is spending time with
us here because of what happened yesterday.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
Winston, It's great to have you here from the from from.
Speaker 1 (00:31):
The Hall of Fame, and and and all of the
great stuff that is happening. Uh in that regard, but
certainly we we should be focused on on what it
was that we saw happen yesterday.
Speaker 2 (00:42):
Your your your thoughts on this, Winston.
Speaker 3 (00:45):
Well, tragic. I don't know that the devastated is a
strong enough word. I think we're all numb with it.
Just seven wonderful people, Uh, that tragically we lost way
too soon. You know, we're we're remembering, remembering them, honoring them,
(01:05):
and thankful for to have had them in our life.
Speaker 1 (01:08):
Now, my understanding is you have you have an installation
over there remembering him.
Speaker 2 (01:14):
Is that is that the is that the case?
Speaker 3 (01:16):
We do it various places throughout the hall. On our
exterior video board that faces Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard,
we will have a part of that scrolling video a
remembrance of Greg with his picture in some of the
highlights of his career. Similarly, in the on our fan billboard,
which is our large display in the NASCAR Hall of Fame,
(01:39):
then we'll have something leading into the Hall of Honor.
He's there also front and centers the first thing you
see when you pull up our website. So that's how
we honor inductees or nominees or people like that that
we've lost. And then we have a thing we call
in memoriam that stays in here forever that when we
lose people that are within the industry, we put them there.
(02:03):
So off seven that were on the plane will be
a part of that in memoriam.
Speaker 1 (02:07):
That's that's wonderful, that's good. That's the sort of thing
that is going to make people feel, I think what
they should be.
Speaker 2 (02:15):
Feeling that in that regard, what can you.
Speaker 1 (02:19):
Think back to the first time that you spent time
with him or went and saw him. Can can you
share that with the audience.
Speaker 3 (02:29):
It would have been in the late nineteen nineties. When
he came into the truck Series back in nineteen ninety eight,
nineteen ninety nine. I can't remember the specific first time,
but I remember the championship that he had in two
thousand with the Truck Series, in two thousand and two
with then Bush Series now O'Reilly Auto Parts Series. And
(02:52):
I also remember, you know, his last Cup victory was
in June of twenty thirteen. He won the one thousandth
win for Ford Racing in NASCAR, and it was the
first time his daughter Emma was in victory lane with him.
So I remember that one. And I remember the last
time I saw he and Christina both just two weeks
(03:14):
ago at a fundraiser that we were there till nine
thirty going on ten o'clock. That they were both there
signing autographs for a children's charity in Mooresville, in the
Moorsville area, so continuing to give back.
Speaker 1 (03:29):
What a good man, I mean, what a what a
good man. But when you had him behind the wheel,
he was ferocious as well, right, I mean he was
he was really in it to get it.
Speaker 3 (03:42):
If I had to remember a few words about him, say,
fierce ferocious fits into that fierce fair, respected by his competitors,
and versatile. He could win in every type of vehicle
and on all types of tracks, are toughest tracks like Darlington.
He was a master at Michigan one four times there,
(04:03):
so ferocious would definitely fit in that category for Greg Biffel.
Speaker 1 (04:07):
Great to be spending time with you here, Winston Kelly
joining us here from the NASCAR Hall of Fame. What
will we see a change in terms of the way
people travel in this regard in the sport itself? You know,
obviously you've got to get to so many different places
(04:28):
in so many different ways. But but is there going
to be some sort of of a change in terms
of those those independent folks that get on those aircraft
and you know, get out there and try to get
from here to there.
Speaker 3 (04:43):
Yeah, I think I don't think so. And here's you know,
if you think about the volume of hours that we've
got a thirty six race season that only a handful
we're driving to and we were moving thousands of people,
whether it's on commercial air craft or whether it's in
private aircraft. And you know, flying is safer by volume
(05:06):
a number of people than driving. So I think unless
something comes out of the NTSB investigation that suggests something different.
I think it's a very safe way to travel. It's
just it's tragic. So, you know, I think the nature
of the bit of any sports, but especially something like NASCAR,
(05:27):
where you're not football teams, basketball teams, baseball teams, half
of their games are at home. Right there's three or
four in this area that you drive to, but the
majority we have to drive to to be all over
the country. So, you know, I think it's a safe
way to travel. I know Greg was very safe, and
I think we'll have to wait and see what the
(05:49):
NTSBUH brings out of this investigation.
Speaker 1 (05:52):
Now, one of the things that was very evident for
him he was very brave, was he was a smart person.
He was he was ready to get back and that
was demonstrated so much, especially after Helene, when when he
was getting out there and helping those folks that were
that were stuck in a really bad in a bad way.
Speaker 3 (06:12):
Yeah, he got a text from a friend, he's got
a helicopter, he has the means, and he's definitely got
the heart to go survey and see what was needed.
And he was the catalyst to a lot of people
collecting supplies and delivering them either to the States full
or the Hickory Airport and then have to helicopter men
because as you well know, and you and everybody at
WBT covered, there were so many areas that were inaccessible
(06:36):
and a helicopter is the only way you could get
it there. And he didn't do it for days, he
didn't do it for weeks. He did it for months,
majority out of his own pocket. He would take a
donation for fuel, but nothing else. And that's just the
heart he had. And his wife, Christina is involved in
a lot of cherries and charities, including our NASCAR Hall
(06:57):
of Fame Foundation. She's repelled off the side of the
Embassy suites with us five or six different times to
raise money for our foundation that subsidizes children most in
need to be able to come to our stem based
programming here. So that's just who they were is. They
wanted to roll their sleeves up and be involved, not
(07:19):
just to write a check.
Speaker 1 (07:20):
Talk a little bit about the Hall of Fame obviously,
it's a destination like nothing else. And you have a
bunch of great projects that are happening. Give us a
little preview of what you all are working on well.
Speaker 3 (07:37):
The first and next year, we will have about five
different exhibits that change out, everything from our Glory Road
that changes out every three years, to our inductee exhibits,
also our induction ceremony. Our big project is what we
call our space optimization project. We've got more children, more
education groups, and more events that also overlap with our
(08:02):
general admission customer to be able to accommodate them, so
we've got a plan to add a dedicated space for
our education groups and then move our gift shop where
it's out front of the building where it's more accessible,
move our cafe to an area that's also more accessible
in the building, but where the cafe is. Put an
(08:22):
infill over some open area to be able to have
larger events space. So we're working on those designs and
contracts and all to start that next year. So it's
a good problem to have to not have enough space
for different types of guests. So we're very excited about
that project that starts next year. The construction will start
(08:43):
sometime mid next year.
Speaker 1 (08:45):
Where do folks go to get more information on all
the great projects that you're doing.
Speaker 3 (08:50):
Nascar Hall dot com can tell you about everything that's
in here and then when new exhibits come in, we'll
start posting about the project next year. But when you
pull up the website, first thing you'll see is a
tribute right now to Greg Biffel uh and the folks
that we lost. We won't always remember how seven of them.
And I think the way Greg would want it, not
(09:10):
just himself, but Christina, Ema Ryder, Dennis and Jack Dutton
and Craig Wadsworth. So appreciate you highlighting them as well.
Speaker 2 (09:18):
It's it's it's it's our pleasure.
Speaker 1 (09:20):
I mean the the it's it's it's such a terrible
thing to have happened, but just like everybody else, you know,
people band together and and they understand UH that it's
important to UH to respect all of the people that
lost their lives on that day. Uh. Winston Kelly, it's
a pleasure to speak with you, and I wish you
(09:40):
a merry Christmas and a happy new Year. And let's
let's get together sooner rather than later down the road.
Speaker 2 (09:47):
How about that.
Speaker 3 (09:48):
I would love that. Brett, thank you so much for
having us on and hope you and your family have
a merry Christmas.
Speaker 2 (09:53):
Yeah you as well.
Speaker 1 (09:54):
Absolutely, that's Winston Kelly such a pleasure to talk to
him about what's going on with with all of these
big story lines.
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