Greg Biffle, a long-time NASCAR driver who won championships in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and CRAFTSMAN Truck Series, and won 19 Cup Series races, has unfortunately passed away alongside his wife Cristina, son Ryder and daughter Emma in a plane crash in Statesville, North Carolina, NASCAR officials confirmed. He was 55.

NASCAR released the following statement:

"NASCAR is devastated by the tragic loss of Greg Biffle, his wife Cristina, daughter Emma, 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 so many. His passion for racing, his integrity, and his commitment to fans and fellow competitors alike made a lasting impact on the sport.

On the track, Greg's talent and tenacity earned him championships in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series, as well as numerous wins and accolades in the NASCAR Cup Series. Beyond his racing career, he gave of himself for the betterment of our community. Most notably, Greg spent countless hours of his time helping the citizens of North Carolina during the disasters that followed Hurricane Helene. His tireless work saved lives.

Our thoughts and deepest condolences go out to Greg's entire family, friends, and all who were touched by his life."

A Vancouver, Washington, native, Biffle, often called "The Biff," was named one of NASCAR's 75 Greatest Drivers during the 2023 season and won 19 races in a 15-year Cup Series career that spanned 515 starts, nearly all for car owner Jack Roush. In his climb up the NASCAR ladder, he became champion in both the Xfinity Series (2002) and the Craftsman Truck Series (2000).

Biffle's name, however, became more prominent after Hurricane Helene caused catastrophic flooding and damage across the Southeastern United States in late September 2024, as he shared with PRI News earlier this year.

"The way it started was, I got a Facebook message that there was a family stuck up in North Carolina. They were in an Airbnb and had no power, no food, no supplies--out of baby formula, diapers, things like that. I was getting ready to leave for a trip, but I thought, if I don't go get the helicopter out and try to reach them, who's going to? Once I got in the air and posted that I was trying to reach them, I got about 4,000 messages back," Biffle shared with PRI News.

"What we saw from the air was hard to put into words. If you think about a couple of hundred miles in almost every direction, every road, every bridge, every power line, gone. The water wasn't 10 or 12 feet deep. It was 50 or 60 feet deep over the roadway. It took everything in its path: bridges, homes, entire towns. What started as rescuing one family turned into 11 days, flying from daylight to dark every day. And we started with two helicopters, then eight, then 20, then 35. By Day Four or Five, we had 75 to 80 aircraft flying across western North Carolina and surrounding states."

"People I didn't even know were calling me, offering helicopters, supplies, fuel. My phone was getting 600 texts a day. People just showed up. Cars lined up at the airport, dropping supplies. Volunteers came out of nowhere," Biffle continued before pointing out his racing DNA helped bring him to the rescue. "Race teams operate differently than normal businesses. They deal with problems that you can't plan for. They don't punch in at 9:00 and punch out at 5:00. They'll do whatever it takes to get the job done. That's just part of our DNA."

PRI sends its condolences to the Biffles' family and friends. For more on Greg Biffle's life and career, visit nascar.com.
 

Image courtesy of NASCAR | Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images