NASCAR Champion Greg Biffle Dead Alongside Wife and Kids After Plane Erupts in Fireball, Congressman Confirms
A friend confirms Biffle, 55, was traveling with his family to Florida when the plane crash occurred in foggy weather in North Carolina
Retired NASCAR driver Greg Biffle, his wife Cristina Grossu Biffle and their two children were among six people killed in a plane crash in North Carolina on Thursday morning, according to Rep. Richard Hudson, a family friend.
“I am devastated by the loss of Greg, Cristina, and their children, and my heart is with all who loved them,” Hudson wrote on X on Thursday, Dec. 18. “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.”
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Hudson added, regarding the Biffles’ humanitarian contributions: “The last time I spoke with Cristina, just a couple of weeks ago, she reached out to ask how she could help with relief efforts in Jamaica. That’s who the Biffles were.”
Biffle, 55, was traveling with his wife, daughter Emma, 14, and son Ryder, 5, aboard a Cessna C550 that crashed while attempting to land in foggy weather at Statesville Regional Airport in Statesville at around 10:15 a.m., according to the Associated Press.
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The plane had taken off shortly after 10 a.m. and was returning to the airport at the time of the crash, according to FlightAware data.
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Greg Biffle’s Friend Says NASCAR Champion, Wife and Kids Were on Plane That Crashed with Multiple Fatalities
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Plane Owned by NASCAR Driver Greg Biffle Crashes at North Carolina Airport with Multiple Fatalities Reported
The plane is owned by Biffle through GB Aviation Leasing, local news outlets WSOC and Fox 8 reported.
The NASCAR champion’s friend Garrett Mitchell also confirmed on Facebook that the family was on the business jet en route to Florida.
“Unfortunately, I can confirm Greg Biffle, his wife Cristina, daughter Emma, and son Ryder were on that plane,” Mitchell posted on Facebook. “Because they were on their way to spend the afternoon with us. We are devastated. I’m so sorry to share this.”
Biffle, nicknamed “The Biff,” won multiple championships during his racing career including in the Truck Series in 2000 and the Xfinity Series in 2002. The Vancouver, Wash. native was also named as one of NASCAR’s 75 Greatest Drivers in 2023. Last year, he received the 2024 NMPA Myers Brothers Award for humanitarian aid.