NASCAR driver Greg Biffle died Thursday, December 18 in a plane crash in Statesville, North Carolina. He was 55 years old.
A Cessna C550 business jet owned by Biffle crashed off the end of the runway while landing at Statesville Regional Airport at 10:20 a.m. local time, resulting in several deaths, including Biffle, his wife Cristina (Grossu) Biffle, their son Ryder, 5, and Biffle’s daughter Emma, ​​14, from his marriage to his first wife Nicole Lunders. Dennis Dutton, his son Jack and Craig Wadsworth also died, according to a joint statement released by the families of those killed.
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“We are devastated by the loss of our loved ones. This tragedy has left all of our families heartbroken beyond words,” the families said.
Biffle was named one of NASCAR’s 75 greatest drivers by the organization in 2023 to celebrate its 75th anniversary season.
Born December 23, 1969 in Vancouver, Washington, Biffle began his racing career at short tracks around the Pacific Northwest before making his debut in the NASCAR Northwest Series in 1989.
Biffle made his NASCAR Cup Series debut in 2002 and spent 14 years as a full-time Cup Series driver for team owner Jack Roush from 2003 to 2016, earning 19 wins, 92 top fives and 175 top 10s.
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His first Cup victory came at NASCAR’s most famous track when he took the checkered flag at Daytona International Speedway on July 5, 2003. His last two victories each came at Michigan International Speedway in 2012 and 2013.
In his third full-time season, Biffle led the series with six wins in 2005 and nearly won the season championship, finishing second to Tony Stewart. He finished third in the 2008 standings and fifth in 2012.
“The entire Charlotte sports community has suffered a tremendous loss” Roush said in a statement Thursday. “The tragic accident involving Greg Biffle and his family today is incredibly heartbreaking. I have lost a dear friend and partner in our NASCAR program. His contributions to our racing team over the years are immeasurable.
“My condolences go out to everyone who loved and knew Greg and his family.”
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Current Cup Series driver Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing co-owner Brad Keselowski also released a statement following the confirmation of Biffle’s death:
“I am heartbroken by the news regarding the Biffle family,” Keselowski said. “I had the privilege of racing alongside Greg for many years and, like so many others in our sport, I gained a deep respect for him, not only as a champion on the track, but also as a competitor who helped define an era of NASCAR.
“His impact on Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing is profound and his accomplishments helped lay the foundation on which we continue to build today.
“My thoughts, along with those of the entire organization, are with the Biffle family and all their loved ones as they navigate this extremely difficult time.”
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Biffle’s first NASCAR race was in 1996 when he debuted in the lower-tier Xfinity Series (then known as the NASCAR Busch Grand National Series). He became a full-time driver in 2001, finishing fourth in his rookie season. A year later, he won the 2002 NASCAR Busch Series championship. Before his rise, he raced in the NASCAR Truck Series from 1998 to 2000, finishing second in 1999 and winning his first NASCAR championship in 2000.
Biffle was still racing part-time in 2025 in the ARCA Menards Series. He competed in two races in August in the Pacific Northwest (Washington and Oregon) and finished in the top five in both events.
At NASCAR’s 2024 end-of-season awards ceremony, Biffle received the National Motorsports Press Association’s Myers Brothers Award for his service for victims of Hurricane HĂ©lènewhere he used his personal helicopter in rescue and relief efforts. He provided relief to those affected by the storm in eastern Tennessee and western North Carolina by helicoptering into hard-to-reach areas with supplies and resources.
NASCAR mourned the loss of Biffle in a press release published Thursday afternoon:
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“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 had a lasting impact on the sport.
“On the track, Greg’s talent and tenacity have earned him championships in the NASCAR lives.
“Our thoughts and deepest condolences go out to Greg’s entire family, his friends and all those who were touched by his life.”
Biffle, who spent the vast majority of his Cup Series career driving Ford cars, also received praise from the manufacturer.
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“We are devastated by the loss of our dear friend, his family and friends who were on the plane with him this morning,” Ford Racing shared on social media. “Greg was not only a champion driver, he was a wonderful husband, father, son and friend who did everything he could to support his community and those associated with NASCAR. He will always be a part of the Ford family. Our thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by this tragedy.
This article was originally published on the Indianapolis Star: Greg Biffle plane crash, dies with family, children, career as a NASCAR driver
