NASCAR fan favorite returns to Daytona 500?

Greg Biffle, who never officially retired from NASCAR racing, is slated to return to the Cup Series for the 2022 season-opening Daytona 500.

The current entry list for the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series season-opening Daytona 500 is one entry short of a full field of 40 cars, and there are still several unchartered entries believed to be in the game to make this one to occupy last spot — and maybe a spot or two past that 40-car number.

One such possibility is the NY Racing Team, who recently teased a Daytona 500 return with their #44 Chevrolet on Instagram.

They also teased a return last year, although nothing came of it.

But this time it might be a little more interesting.

According to Lee Spencer, there have been reported sightings of former Cup Series driver Greg Biffle having his seat adapted for the #44 Chevrolet – and at Richard Childress Racing.

With rumors of the NY Racing Team looking to return to the Cup Series and field their #44 Chevrolet at this year’s Daytona 500, these sightings make sense.

NY Racing Team, which hasn’t competed in a Cup Series race since 2018 and hasn’t competed in the Daytona 500 since 2015, it wouldn’t be a huge surprise to seek some sort of partnership with an established team to come back.

Additionally, the 52-year-old Vancouver, Wash. native never really retired, having retired from Cup Series competition after the 2016 season, his 14th season as a full-time driver.

More than five years later, the former Roush Fenway Racing driver is still not retired. Biffle has since returned to the sport twice, although neither of those two appearances have been in the Cup Series.

He made a triumphant return in 2019 with Kyle Busch Motorsports in the Truck Series at Texas Motor Speedway, earning his first NASCAR victory since winning a Cup Series race at Michigan International Speedway in 2013 – and his first Truck Series victory since his victory at Phoenix racetrack in 2001.

Biffle returned to Darlington Raceway for another Truck Series race in 2020. He drove for GMS Racing and finished 19th. Since then he hasn’t come back.

So will anything come out of these recent sightings? Will the 2004 Daytona 500 polesitter return to the Great American Race for the first time since he finished 34th in February 2016? The 64th edition of the race is scheduled for Sunday February 20th.