A tragic accident claimed the lives of former NASCAR driver Greg Biffle, his wife, daughter, son, and three others after their plane crashed at Statesville Regional Airport in North Carolina, the United States, the racing organisation confirmed.
Authorities said the Cessna C550 went down while attempting to land around 10:20 a.m. local time (15:20 GMT).
A highway patrol spokesman confirmed that Biffle and his family were among those on board.
“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,” NASCAR said in a statement confirming the deaths. “His passion for racing, his integrity, and his commitment to fans and fellow competitors alike made a lasting impact on the sport.”
Biffle’s contributions extended beyond racing. He was remembered for his humanitarian efforts in North Carolina following last year’s Hurricane Helene, using his personal helicopter to rescue stranded residents and deliver supplies.
Tributes poured in across social media. North Carolina Governor Josh Stein wrote, “Heartbreaking news out of Statesville. Beyond his success as a NASCAR driver, Greg Biffle lived a life of courage and compassion and stepped up for western North Carolina after Hurricane Helene.”
Motorsport YouTuber Garrett Mitchell shared a personal note on Facebook:, “Unfortunately, I can confirm Greg Biffle, his wife Cristina, daughter Emma, and son Ryder were on that plane… because they were on their way to spend the afternoon with us. We are devastated. I’m so sorry to share this.”
Statesville Airport Director John Ferguson described the aircraft as a corporate jet that was already engulfed in flames upon arrival.
The jet, owned by a private company associated with Biffle, had taken off around 10:06 a.m. local time but was in the air only briefly before crashing.
The cause of the crash is under investigation. Ferguson said Statesville Airport would remain closed until debris is cleared.
The National Transportation Safety Board has dispatched a team to lead the investigation into the fatal accident.
Located about 45 minutes north of Charlotte, the Statesville Regional Airport serves Fortune 500 companies as well as several NASCAR teams.
Biffle, 55, whose racing career spanned more than two decades, was named one of NASCAR’s 75 Greatest Drivers in 2023. He accumulated 19 Cup Series wins across the Xfinity Series and Craftsman Truck Series.
A Vancouver, Washington native, Biffle first gained national attention in 1995 during NASCAR’s Winter Heat Series. He earned the Rookie of the Year award in the Craftsman Truck Series in 1998 and won the 2000 series championship.
He went on to become 2001 Rookie of the Year in the Xfinity Series and captured the 2002 championship, making him the first driver to win championships in both series.
Biffle also co-founded the Sand Outlaws Series and continued racing intermittently after scaling back in 2016, including a victorious one-off race at Texas Motor Speedway in 2019.
Reflecting on his career, Biffle told NASCAR.com in 2021: “Racing is racing. It’s that adrenaline, you want to be better than the competition, you want to build a better piece and have a faster car. I just enjoy the competition.”
