NASCAR fan-favorite returning for the Daytona 500?

Greg Biffle, who never officially retired from NASCAR racing, has been rumored 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 shy of a full field of 40 cars, and there are still multiple non-chartered entries believed to be in play to fill that final spot — and perhaps a spot or two beyond that 40-car number.

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

They also teased a return last year, though nothing ended up coming of it.

But this time around, things could get a bit more interesting.

According to Lee Spencer, there have reportedly been sightings of former Cup Series driver Greg Biffle getting his seat fitted for the #44 Chevrolet — and at Richard Childress Racing.

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

NY Racing Team, which haven’t competed in a Cup Series race since 2018 and haven’t competed in the Daytona 500 since 2015, seeking some kind of a partnership with an established team to make their return would not be a huge surprise.

Additionally, the 52-year-old Vancouver, Washington native never actually retired after stepping away from Cup Series competition following the 2016 season, his 14th season as a full-time driver.

More than five years later, the former Roush Fenway Racing driver still hasn’t retired. Biffle has since returned to the sport twice, though neither one of those two appearances came in the Cup Series.

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

Biffle returned for another Truck Series race at Darlington Raceway in 2020. Driving for GMS Racing, he finished in 19th place. He hasn’t been back since.

So will anything come from these recent sightings? Will the 2004 Daytona 500 polesitter return to the “Great American Race” for the first time since his 34th place finish in February 2016? The 64th running of the race is scheduled to take place on Sunday, February 20.