Biffle was named one of NASCAR’s 75 Greatest Drivers in recognition of his impact on the sport.
WASHINGTON — Authorities are investigating a fiery plane crash in North Carolina that killed seven people including former NASCAR driver Greg Biffle.
The North Carolina State Highway Patrol said seven people, including Biffle were killed. The FAA previously said there were six people on the Cessna C550 that crashed while landing at Statesville Regional Airport, about 45 miles north of Charlotte.
As of 4 p.m. Eastern, Greg Biffle was the only victim identified by authorities. The other six people have not been identified.
Hours after the crash, a family friend confirmed Biffle, along with his wife and two children, were among those aboard.
“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.”
Iredell County Sheriff Grant Campbell confirmed there were fatalities, but he declined to say how many.
Who is Greg Biffle?
Greg Biffle is a former NASCAR driver best known for his success across multiple national series. A native of Vancouver, Washington, he first gained national attention during the 1995 NASCAR Winter Heat Series, where his talent stood out among rising drivers.
According to the NASCAR Hall of Fame, on the advice of Hall of Famer Benny Parsons, team owner Jack Roush hired Biffle, beginning a partnership that led to immediate and lasting success as Biffle quickly proved himself as one of NASCAR’s top prospects.
Nicknamed “The Biff,” he went on to win the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series’ Rookie of the Year award in 1998, and the series championship in 2000. He followed that up with similar success in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, earning Rookie of the Year in 2001 and the series championship in 2002. As a result, Biffle became the first driver to win titles in both series.
Biffle then went on to compete full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series from 2002 to 2016. While he never won a Cup Series championship, he earned 19 wins in 515 starts, finished in the top 10 in the standings six times and placed second overall in 2005.
Biffle was later named one of NASCAR’s 75 Greatest Drivers in recognition of his impact on the sport.
Biffle married Cristina Grossu in 2022. Their son, Ryder Jack, was born in Sept. 2020. Biffle has a 14-year-old daughter, Emma Elizabeth, from his prior marriage to Nicole Lunders.
