Former NASCAR driver Greg Biffle is in hot water after a North Carolina jury ordered him to pay $1 million in damages for secretly recording his ex-wife and her mother. The 54-year-old racing veteran was found to have violated the women’s privacy by installing cameras in their bedroom and bathroom without consent.
The civil verdict, handed down Thursday in Mecklenburg County, comes years after Biffle’s 2015 separation from his now ex-wife Nicole. The jury determined that Biffle had “intruded offensively upon the privacy” of both women, though his attorneys have already indicated they plan to appeal.
What exactly did Biffle do? According to court documents, he installed multiple hidden cameras in private areas of the couple’s Lake Norman home, including the master bedroom, bathroom, and closet. The NASCAR Cup Series veteran admitted to installing the cameras but claimed they were placed due to suspicions about a house cleaner.
A Long Legal Battle
The case has been winding through the legal system since 2018, when Nicole Biffle and her mother filed their lawsuit. During testimony, it emerged that Greg had shown footage from these cameras to others, including fellow NASCAR driver Kevin Harvick and his wife.
“This has been an incredibly difficult and painful situation,” Nicole Biffle said in a statement after the verdict. “No person should have their most private moments secretly recorded and then shared with others.” Her attorney characterized the behavior as “a fundamental violation of trust.”
Biffle, who raced full-time in NASCAR from 2002 to 2016 with 19 Cup Series wins to his name, didn’t deny installing the cameras. Instead, his defense hinged on the claim that the surveillance was intended to catch a potentially dishonest house employee. The jury clearly didn’t buy it.
Strange as it might seem, the $1 million verdict actually represents a partial victory for Biffle’s legal team. The plaintiffs had sought significantly more in damages, with some reports suggesting the original claim was closer to $9 million.
Who ultimately bears responsibility for the payment? While Biffle himself was found liable, his attorneys have indicated they believe insurance should cover the damages, though that determination will likely require additional legal proceedings.
Racing Legacy Tarnished
For NASCAR fans, the case represents an unfortunate postscript to what had been a successful racing career. Biffle won championships in both the Truck Series and what was then called the Busch Series (now Xfinity) before his lengthy Cup Series tenure with Roush Racing.
Since retiring from full-time competition, Biffle has made occasional racing appearances and worked as a broadcast analyst. Whether this verdict affects his future opportunities in motorsports remains to be seen, but the publicity surrounding the case has certainly cast a shadow over his post-racing career.
The legal battle might not be over, however. “We disagree with the verdict and plan to appeal,” said Biffle’s attorney in a brief statement following the court decision. “There are significant legal questions that need to be addressed.”
For now, the verdict stands as a costly reminder that privacy violations—especially those involving intimate spaces—can carry serious consequences, regardless of one’s celebrity status or racing accomplishments.
