Greg Biffle, one of NASCAR’s 75 Greatest Drivers who became known in his later years for his humanitarian work, died along with three family members in a plane crash Thursday. He was 55.
Officials said seven people died in the crash, and the families of those involved confirmed Biffle was a passenger on a Cessna Citation business jet that crashed while attempting to land at Statesville (N.C.) Regional Airport at around 10:15 a.m. ET. The Federal Aviation Administration arrived to investigate, and airport manager John Ferguson confirmed in a news conference that the airport had closed indefinitely.
Biffle’s wife Cristina, son Ryder and daughter Emma also died in the crash. Others on board were Dennis Dutton and his son, Jack, and Craig Wadsworth.
The families of those involved released a statement Thursday afternoon:
“We are devastated by the loss of our loved ones. This tragedy has left all of our families heartbroken beyond words.
Greg and Cristina were devoted parents and active philanthropists whose lives were centered around their young son Ryder and Greg’s daughter Emma (mother – Nicole Lunders).
Emma was a wonderful human being with a kind soul who was loved by many people. Ryder was an active, curious and infinitely joyful child.
Dennis Dutton and his son Jack were deeply loved as well, and their loss is felt by all who knew them.
Craig Wadsworth was beloved by many in the NASCAR community and will be missed by those who knew him.
Each of them meant everything to us, and their absence leaves an immeasurable void in our lives.
We ask for privacy, compassion and understanding as we grieve and begin to process this unimaginable loss. We are grateful for the kindness and support that has been extended to our families during this incredibly difficult time. At this moment, our focus is on honoring their lives and supporting one another.”
NASCAR released the following statement Thursday afternoon:
“NASCAR is devastated by the tragic loss of Greg Biffle, his wife Cristina, daughter Emma, son Ryder, Craig Wadsworth and Dennis and Jack Dutton in a fatal plane crash.
Greg was more than a champion driver, he was a beloved member of the NASCAR community, a fierce competitor, and a friend to so many. His passion for racing, his integrity, and his commitment to fans and fellow competitors alike made a lasting impact on the sport.
On the track, Greg’s talent and tenacity earned him championships in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series, as well as numerous wins and accolades in the NASCAR Cup Series. Beyond his racing career, he gave of himself for the betterment of our community. Most notably, Greg spent countless hours of his time helping the citizens of North Carolina during the disasters that followed Hurricane Helene. His tireless work saved lives.
Our thoughts and deepest condolences go out to Greg’s entire family, friends, and all who were touched by his life.”
Biffle won 19 races in a 15-year Cup Series career that spanned 515 starts, nearly all for car owner Jack Roush. In his climb up the NASCAR ladder, he became champion in both the Xfinity Series (2002) and the Craftsman Truck Series (2000).
Biffle was added to the list of nominees for induction into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2024. That same year, he was recognized with the NMPA Myers Brothers Award for outstanding contributions to the sport of stock-car racing for providing aid to Western North Carolina mountain communities in the wake of Hurricane Helene.
Biffle hailed from Vancouver, Washington. He first drew Roush’s attention after his success in the annual offseason “Winter Heat” series of late model races in Tucson, Arizona, with Hall of Famer Benny Parsons urging him to take note. “Six months ago, I didn’t know who Greg Biffle was. Benny Parsons kept telling me I should look at him,” Roush told The Oregonian in January 1998. “We have been friends a long time, and I have learned to respect what Benny has to say.”
Impressed with his work ethic after a test, Roush tapped Biffle for his first Craftsman Truck Series season in 1998, and he was a leading candidate for Rookie of the Year honors. “That would be nice, but I’m not focused on that,” Biffle told The Oregonian, nodding toward the award that would eventually come to fruition. “I have my eyes on something bigger.”
He won nine races in his second season, placing second in the series standings, then converted a consistent five-win season into the Truck Series title in 2000. He won 17 races in the Truck Series, including a final victory in a Kyle Busch Motorsports entry in 2019 at age 49.
His winning ways continued with a 2001 move to the Busch (now Xfinity) Series, and he was crowned champion the following year. Biffle won 20 times on that circuit, setting his course to the Cup Series in 2003 with a newly expanded Roush Racing organization. “Greg Biffle is a young man in a hurry,” Roush said before his rookie campaign in NASCAR’s big leagues, setting a goal of a win and a pole for his incoming driver.
Biffle broke through with a triumph at Daytona International Speedway as a rookie, holding off teammate Jeff Burton in the summertime 400-miler. He won at least one race in each of his first six Cup Series seasons, finishing a career-best second in the standings after a five-win year in 2005.
Biffle and Roush parted ways after the No. 16 Ford team’s 2016 campaign, with the veteran driver expressing his appreciation for “an incredible run” together. “For a kid that grew up in Washington, I’m extremely proud of everything we have been able to accomplish over the last 19 years — both on and off the track,” Biffle said. “I’ve enjoyed every minute.”
The veteran driver competed on a part-time basis in recent years, making five Cup Series starts for the NY Racing organization in 2022. Just this past season, Biffle returned to the ARCA Menards Series West for a pair of races in the Pacific Northwest, scoring top-five finishes in each.
Biffle was named to NASCAR’s list of 75 Greatest Drivers during the sport’s diamond anniversary season in 2023. The honor came at Darlington Raceway, where Biffle notched two of his biggest Cup Series victories in back-to-back years (2005, ’06) in the Southern 500.
Biffle’s name, however, became more prominent after Hurricane Helene caused catastrophic flooding and damage across the Southeastern U.S. in late September 2024
Biffle took a leadership role in the efforts to bring relief to Western North Carolina, running helicopter rescue routes into ravaged and remote mountain communities. His social-media posts from his bird’s-eye vantage point shed light on the destruction, and he used his platform as a NASCAR star to amplify the need for help.
“There’s communities over there that we discovered that are just devastated,” Biffle told NASCAR.com, nearly a week after the storm. “The reason why I’m still going is people are still in need, and I don’t want to leave a soldier behind. That’s why I’m still at it.”
