Greg Biffle made about 2,000 new fans Tuesday morning at Martinsville Speedway and it only took two laps around the historic half-mile oval.
Biffle stopped by the speedway to talk physical fitness to elementary school students from Martinsville and Henry County and to lead them in a brisk two-lap walk around the track.
Biffle spent much of the two laps chatting with youngsters, high-fiving and giving hugs to his new fans. When the laps were finished, he hung out with youngsters and teachers, posed for pictures and signed autographs until the last bus pulled out.
“We had a lot of fun with the kids today. It was cool when we came in on the helicopter, we could see them frantically waving at us,” said Biffle, who is helping his sponsor 3M with a program to teach school children the importance of physical fitness. “They were super excited to be here and walk on the race track and make a couple of laps.
“They were a lot of fun and they were really well behaved. I don’t remember myself being that well behaved when I was in grade school.”
Biffle admitted that unlike many NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers, he doesn’t spend a lot of his down time in the gym. Between his job and his love of the outdoors, he stays in tip-top condition.
“We’re in the race cars three days a week. Studies have shown we burn 4,000 to 6,000 calories in the car for 4 ½ hours,” said Biffle. “And I love being outside. When I’m not at the track, I’m outside hiking or working or walking the dogs.
“The reality is, I’ve always been very healthy. I love physical stuff. I love exercise. I love outside activities. If you find me on the couch watching TV, I’m usually sick. I don’t like spending a lot of time in the gym. I’d rather be outside doing something else.”
Biffle , who will be making his 300th career Sprint Cup Series start in the Goody’s Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway on April 3, found time to talk a little racing after the kids headed back to school Tuesday.
“I say we have a love-hate relationship with this track. We either do really good or really bad,” said Biffle. “Normally we do better in the spring. I don’t know exactly why that is, but it seems like the track has better grip in the spring. I always look forward to this spring race.”
The key to running well at Martinsville, Biffle said, is as it has always been: brake management.
“The difficult part here is to be easy on the brakes. You have a thousand braking zones in a race here,” said Biffle.
Someone asked Biffle “how long did it take you to learn how to conserve brakes here?” Biffle’s reply? “I’m not sure that I’ve learned that yet.”
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