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Sad News - Garland Jack Biffle: #16-Greg Biffle tweeted Tuesday morning that his father has passed away, "My father/veteran Garland Jack Biffle passed away this morning at 10:32am.. He taught me some much in life and I will miss him greatly..RIP". No additional details available at this time.(7-20-2016)
Obit: Garland Jack Biffle, 75, of Mooresville, NC, passed away on Tuesday, July 19, 2016. He was born on March 8, 1941 in Pasadena, CA, to the late Garland Jack Biffle and Eileen Woodward Biffle. Mr. Biffle was a US Army veteran, where he served in France and Germany. He was retired owner and operator of a steel construction company. Jack loved Mexico, where he sent half the year in San Carlos. He also enjoyed cars, racing, fishing and all kinds of outdoor activities. Jack is survived by his wife, Sally Frye Biffle; sons, Jeff Biffle and Greg Biffle both of Mooresville, NC; sisters, Jane Rader and Joann Caro both of Anderson, CA; and granddaughters, Megan, Jordyn, and Emma Biffle. A Celebration of Life will be held at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, July 26 at Cavin-Cook Funeral Home Chapel. A reception will follow the service in the Heritage House of Cavin-Cook Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Friends of the Animals, P.O Box 3937, Mooresville, NC 28117. Cavin-Cook Funeral Home, Mooresville, is serving the Biffle family. Condolences may be made to the family at www.cavin-cook.com.(7-21-2016)
Sad News - Richard Donlavey: Charles Richard Donlavey, 68, of Chesterfield, died July 10, 2016. He was preceded in death by his parents, Junie and Phyllis Donlavey; and his first wife, Janet M. Donlavey. He is survived by his wife, Sandy Donlavey; daughter, Ashley Gold (Andrew); two stepsons, Brent and Zach Harper; and two sisters, Linda Perkins (Billy) of Williamsburg, Va., and Beverly Swata of St. Petersburg, Fla. Richard was a member of the NASCAR Donlavey Racing Team of Richmond, Va. A memorial ceremony will be held 2:00pm Wednesday at Bliley's-Chippenham, 6900 Hull Street Road, with a reception to follow.(Richmond Times-Dispatch)(7-12-2016)
Sad News - Carl Haas: Carl Haas, an important figure in American motorsports for nearly 50 years, died June 29 at the age of 86, it was revealed Thursday (at haasauto.com). A quirky character who became famous for chomping on a huge cigar that he rarely lit, Haas built a business as the North American distributor for Lola cars and Hewland gearboxes in the 1960s and branched into racing team ownership in the early '70s. After dominating the Sports Car Club of America's Formula 5000 and Can-Am championships, Haas joined forces with actor (and rival Can-Am team owner) Paul Newman to form Newman/Haas Racing in 1983 with driver Mario Andretti. NHR immediately developed into one of the top teams in the CART IndyCar series and expanded to run two cars in 1989 when Andretti's son Michael joined. The Andrettis combined to score 57 of the team's 107 race wins, a total that ranks second only to Team Penske's 183, and each won a CART championship during their time at NHR. Newman/Haas won a total of eight Indy car championships with drivers including Nigel Mansell, Cristiano da Matta and Sebastien Bourdais. The team competed in the Verizon IndyCar Series through the end of 2011, at which time Haas withdrew from public life due to the effects of Alzheimer's disease. In 1985 and '86, Haas was the last American Formula 1 team owner prior to Gene Haas' (no relation) entry this year. Carl Haas also served as the chairman of the board of the SCCA and was presented with the Woolf Barnato Award in 2007, when he was inducted into the SCCA Hall of Fame. In all, Haas-owned cars won a total of 147 races. His other notable drivers included Jackie Stewart, Peter Revson, Brian Redman, Alan Jones and Paul Tracy. The only thing missing from Haas' record as an Indy car team owner is a win at the Indianapolis 500. His cars finished second in 1985 and '91.(ESPN), Haas also co-owned a NASCAR Winston Cup Series team with Travis Carter for eight seasons. In lieu of flowers, a contribution can be made to the Alzheimer's Association at 8430 W. Bryn Mawr, Suite 800, Chicago, IL 60631 (847/933-2413) or The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp at www.holeinthewallgang.org.(7-8-2016)
Sad News - David Smith: David Ray Smith, 65, went to be with his Lord and Saviour June 30, 2016. He was born in Forsyth County, on August 25, 1950, to Ina Lois Smith, and the late Thomas Mclean Smith. David knew early in life that racing would be his life's direction. He began racing at Bowman Gray Stadium that eventually led to a career in NASCAR with Richard Childress Racing. He was the award-winning and multi-championship jack man for the #3 Chevrolet for many years as one of the "Flying Aces." He then became Crew Chief in 1996 during his tenure in his career. He moved on to being team manager and pit crew coach for the multi-team operation. His testimony of being a Christian was well known throughout the racing industry as he witnessed to all with whom he came into contact. His successful career was replicated in being a real estate agent with Coldwell Banker Realtors. He is preceded in death by his father; and one brother, Tommy Smith; one nephew, Jonathan Whiteheart. Surviving is his beloved wife of 36 years, Karen Opal Smith; two sons, Joshua and Justin Smith; one grandson, Owen Smith; his mother, Ina Lois Smith; two sisters, Janet (Terry) Griffin, and Susan Whiteheart; sister-in-law, Linda Smith. He is also survived by his in-laws, Glen and Opaline Shockley; two brothers-in-law, Michael (Lisa) Shockley, and David (Becky) Shockley. Surviving in addition are several nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts, and uncles. A funeral service will be conducted 3:00 P.M. Thursday, July 7, 2016 at Freedom Baptist Church in Rural Hall, N.C. with Pastor Jon White and Rev. Clint Fredericks officiating. Interment will follow at Rural Hall Memorial park. The family will receive friends Wednesday, July 6, 2016 at Hayworth-Miller Chapel Rural Hall from 6 PM to 8 PM. The family would like to give special thanks for those at Kate B. Reynolds Hospice Home for their professional care given. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Freedom Baptist Church, PO Box 159, Rural Hall, NC, 27045, and Kate B. Reynolds Hospice Home, 101 Hospice Lane, Winston-Salem, NC, 27103. Online condolences may be made at Hayworth-Miller Rural Hall.(Winston Salem Journal), to help out with funeral expenses, a fund has been set at gofundme.com(7-6-2016)
Sad News - Mario Fiore: Former NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour championship team owner and New England Racing Hall of Fame member Mario Fiore passed away Thursday of an undisclosed illness. Fiore was 65 years old. Fiore was widely known across the Modified racing scene for the immense success of his #44 teams in the 1970's, 80's and 90's. Fiore was inducted into the New England Auto Racing Hall of Fame in 2012. Fiore, a Springfield, Mass. native, got involved in race team ownership for the first time in 1969. He won track championships at the former Riverside Park Speedway in Agawam, Mass., Stafford Speedway, New Smyrna (Fla.) Speedway and Monadnock Speedway in Winchester, N.H. He won his first and only NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour championship in 2000 with driver Jerry Marquis.(RaceDayCT)(6-24-2016)�