Greg Biffle, one of NASCAR’s 75 greatest drivers who became known in his later years for his humanitarian work, died Thursday along with three members of his family in a plane crash. He was 55 years old.
Authorities said seven people died in the crash, and families of those involved confirmed Biffle was a passenger on a Cessna Citation business jet that crashed while attempting to land at Statesville (NC) Regional Airport around 10:15 a.m. ET.
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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 centered around their young son Ryder and Greg’s daughter Emma (mother – Nicole Lunders).
Emma was a wonderful human being with a kind soul and loved by many. Ryder was an active, curious and infinitely happy child.
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Dennis Dutton and his son Jack were also deeply loved, and their loss is felt by all who knew them.
Craig Wadsworth was loved 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 provided to our families during this incredibly difficult time. Right now, our goal is to honor their lives and support each other.
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NASCAR released the following statement Thursday afternoon:
“NASCAR is devastated by the tragic loss of Greg Biffle, his wife Cristina, his daughter Emma, his 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 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 Xfinity Series and NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series, as well as numerous victories and accolades in the NASCAR Cup Series. Beyond his career as a pilot, he gave himself for the good of our community. Most notably, Greg spent countless hours of his time helping the citizens of North Carolina during the disasters following Hurricane Helene. His tireless work saved lives.
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Our thoughts and deepest condolences go out to Greg’s entire family, his friends and all those who were touched by his life.
BROOKLYN, MI – JUNE 16: Greg Biffle, driver of the No. 16 3M/Give Kids a Smile Ford, celebrates at Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Quicken Loans 400 at Michigan International Speedway on June 16, 2013 in Brooklyn, Michigan. (Photo by John Harrelson/Getty Images)
The NTSB provided updates Friday afternoon, with board member Michael Graham saying a preliminary report on the accident was expected within 30 days and a full investigation is expected to take 12 to 18 months before a full report is produced. Graham said officials recovered the plane’s cockpit voice recorder, which he said was on its way to Washington, D.C., for analysis.
Graham said the plane, made in 1981, was airborne for about 10 minutes before crashing short of the runway, and that investigators were still investigating why the plane turned around nearly five minutes after takeoff. Graham also said that at that time the NTSB was unable to verify who was flying the plane and that three occupants had pilot’s licenses.
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In an NTSB update Saturday, investigators confirmed that a passenger aboard the Cessna Citation sent a single text message saying “emergency landing” to a family member, with no other communications or calls for help reported from the plane.
Investigators have noted “strong indications” but cannot yet confirm who occupied the left seat (pilot position) despite three occupants described as pilots on board, with full details expected in the preliminary report.
Additionally, witnesses and video footage indicate that the plane was stable and configured to land with headlights on, but it flew unusually low, striking a runway lighting pole 1,800 feet from the threshold, consistent with the debris field. Beyond the cockpit voice recorder already present at NTSB headquarters in Washington, D.C., the team retrieved a ground proximity warning system, a Garmin G750 multifunction display and warning/warning panel for data extraction, as well as the aircraft’s maintenance logs to verify weight and balance.
Weather conditions at the time included a broken ceiling of 1,200 feet, visual flight rules visibility of five miles, and heavy drizzle, although its role is still under investigation.
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Biffle won 19 races during a 15-year Cup Series career that spanned 515 starts, almost all of them for car owner Jack Roush. During his rise up the NASCAR ladder, he became a champion in 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. The same year, he was honored with the NMPA Myers Brothers Award for his outstanding contributions to the sport of stock car racing and for his assistance to the mountain communities of Western North Carolina in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.
Biffle is originally from Vancouver, Washington. He first came to 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 watch him,” Roush told The Oregonian newspaper in January 1998. “We’ve been friends for a long time and I’ve learned to respect what Benny has to say.”
Impressed with his work ethic after a test, Roush called on Biffle for his first season in the Craftsman Truck Series in 1998, and he was a leading candidate for Rookie of the Year honors. “It would be nice, but I’m not focused on that,” Biffle told The Oregonian, nodding toward the prize that would eventually come to fruition. “I have my eyes on something bigger.”
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He won nine races in his sophomore 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 Series (now Xfinity), and he was crowned champion the following year. Biffle won 20 times at this track, heading to the Cup Series in 2003 with a newly expanded Roush Racing organization. “Greg Biffle is a young guy in a hurry,” Roush said ahead of his rookie campaign in NASCAR’s big leagues, setting a goal of a win and a pole for his new driver.
Biffle broke through with a triumph at Daytona International Speedway as a rookie, holding off teammate Jeff Burton in the summer 400-miler. He won at least one race in each of his first six Cup Series seasons, finishing second in the career standings after a five-win year in 2005.
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Biffle and Roush parted ways following the No. 16 Ford team’s 2016 campaign, with the veteran driver expressing appreciation for “an incredible run” together. “For a kid who grew up in Washington, I am extremely proud of everything we have been able to accomplish over the last 19 years, on and off the track,” Biffle said. “I enjoyed every minute.”
The veteran driver has competed part-time in recent years, making five Cup Series starts for the NY Racing organization in 2022. Last season, Biffle returned to the ARCA Menards Series West for two races in the Pacific Northwest, placing in the top five in each.
Biffle was nominated for NASCAR List of Top 75 Drivers during the sport’s Diamond Anniversary season of 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 to the southeastern United States in late September 2024.
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Biffle played a leadership role in efforts to bring relief to western North Carolina, organizing helicopter rescue routes into ravaged and isolated mountain communities. His social media posts from his bird’s-eye view highlighted the destruction, and he used his platform as a NASCAR star to amplify the need for help.
“We found communities out there that are just devastated,” Biffle told NASCAR.com, nearly a week after the storm. “The reason I still go is because the people are still in need and I don’t want to leave a soldier behind. That’s why I’m still there.”
