DAYTONA BEACH — Tied to a dock at its longtime Daytona Beach home, the 112-foot yacht “Checkered Past” remains a testament to Greg Biffle’s love of adventure, as well as a testament to the NASCAR success that allowed him to make such a purchase several years ago.
But as also happens with boats of all sizes, the Checkered Past has been for sale for a year or more. Asking price: $4.395 million.
Biffle, his wife and two young children were among seven killed in a private jet crash Dec. 18 in Statesville, N.C., north of Charlotte. The retired racer, who had 19 career Cup Series wins between 2003-16, was 55 years old. The crash remains under investigation.
Greg Biffle in 2022: ‘This is truly the boat’
The Checkered Past was previously docked at a second home Biffle once owned in Fort Lauderdale — a home he bought in 2020 and listed for sale in 2022. In an article on the website of yacht broker Denison Yachting three years ago, the retired racer explained his lifelong love of the water and vessels that sit upon it.
“I bought my first boat when I was 16,” said Biffle, who grew up along the Columbia River near Vancouver, Washington. “I’m an active boater. I love being a part of it. Part of the enjoyment is working on the boat.”
Biffle had previously owned a 76-foot boat called In Too Deep. In the Denison article, he called the Checkered Past his dream boat and said he came up with a three-year plan to pay for it.
“I never thought I’d be able to buy one,” he said. “This is truly the boat.”
Biffle’s No. 16 Ford team, owned by Jack Roush, earned some $80 million in NASCAR prize money during his career.
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The Checkered Past sits surrounded by other yachts of various sizes outside the Chart House Restaurant at the Daytona Marina and Boat Works — that marina and the nearby Halifax Harbor Marina are often home to yachts owned by members of the NASCAR racing community.
The sales listing says the Checkered Past, built in 1999, can accommodate eight guests and four crew. With its 112-foot length and 20-foot beam width, it can nevertheless navigate in a little less than six feet of water.
It’s powered by twin MTU diesel engines, each pumping out 1,800 horsepower, and can reach a top speed of 24 knots, according to the listing.
Also from the listing: “Checkered Past features an efficient interior layout with a large salon/dining area, an enormous country-style kitchen with an adjacent dining banquette, and comfortably accommodates up to 8 guests in 4 staterooms including a full-beam master suite, VIP stateroom, a double and twin stateroom.”
According to a worker inside the marina office, the yacht belongs to the Biffle estate and remains for sale.
— Email Ken Willis at ken.willis@news-jrnl.com
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Greg Biffle’s yacht Checkered Past remains for sale at Daytona marina
Reporting by Ken Willis, Daytona Beach News-Journal / The Daytona Beach News-Journal
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