Former NASCAR star Greg Biffle dead at 55 in plane crash, congressman says

Former NASCAR driver Greg Biffle, along with his wife and two children, died Thursday after a private jet he owned crashed at a North Carolina airport, Rep. Richard Hudson confirmed.

The crash happened around 10:15 a.m. ET at Statesville Regional Airport, according to authorities.

Biffle’s wife, Cristina, 14-year-old daughter Emma and 5-year-old son Ryder were also killed in the tragedy.

WSOC reported that Biffle, 55, owned the plane which crashed at an airport used often by NASCAR teams and Fortune 500 companies.

Hudson said, “I am devastated by the loss of Greg, Cristina, and their children, and my heart is with all who loved them.

“They were friends who lived their lives focused on helping others. Greg was a great NASCAR champion who thrilled millions of fans. But he was an extraordinary person as well, and will be remembered for his service to others as much as for his fearlessness on the track.”

Known as “The Biff,” Biffle enjoyed a strong racing career that earned him a NASCAR Hall of Fame nomination, along with a spot on NASCAR’s list of its 75 greatest drivers.

He won the 1998 Rookie of the Year award and the 2000 series championship in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, and then won the 2001 Rookie of the Year award and the 2002 championship in the NASCAR Xfinity Series – formerly known as the Busch Series – to make him the first person to win titles in both circuits, according to NASCAR.

He’s credited with 19 victories in 515 starts and six top-10 finishes during his Cup Series career from 2002-16, including a second-place standing in 2015.

Biffle also triumphed 20 times in the Xfinity Series, 17 times in the Craftsman Truck Series and won twice at the legendary Darlington Raceway in South Carolina.

The Washington native primarily raced for the legendary Jack Roush, and began his NASCAR career in the mid 1990s.

Biffle made headlines last year when he flew his personal helicopter to save someone stranded in North Carolina during Hurricane Helene.

“The mirror that caught our attention well over a mile away only way we we were able to find someone stranded in the mountains at bottom of steep canyon,” he wrote on X last Oct. 2. “(Six) attempts to land due to difficulty but we got there – got him a chainsaw, EpiPens, insulin, chicken food, formula, gas, 2 stroke oil, and sandwiches premade from Harris Teeter before we left.”

His efforts earned him the National Motorsports Press Association’s Myers Brother Award, per the Associated Press, which honors those who contribute to stock car racing.

Biffle had become an active social media user, even crafting a new Instagram post just Tuesday which read: “Kirkey Racing. Built for performance. Trusted by Legends.”

He often posted photos of his family to Instagram, along with other behind-the-scenes looks at his racing life and other endeavors.