STATESVILLE, N.C. — The motorsports world is in mourning following the tragic news that former NASCAR champion Greg Biffle, his wife Cristina, and their two children were among seven people killed in a plane crash on Thursday morning.
The accident occurred at approximately 10:15 a.m. at Statesville Regional Airport, located about 45 miles north of Charlotte. According to preliminary reports from the FAA and local authorities, the Cessna C550 business jet—registered to a company owned by Biffle—had just taken off for Sarasota, Florida, before attempting an emergency return to the airport. The aircraft crashed and erupted into flames upon impact at the end of the runway.
A Legacy of Excellence
NASCAR released a formal statement expressing deep devastation over the loss of the 55-year-old veteran driver. Biffle was a cornerstone of the sport for over two decades, becoming the first driver in history to win championships in both the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (2000) and the NASCAR Xfinity Series (2002).
During his tenure in the Cup Series, primarily driving the No. 16 Ford for Roush Fenway Racing, Biffle secured 19 victories and finished as the championship runner-up in 2005.
The accident occurred at approximately 10:15 a.m. at Statesville Regional Airport, located about 45 miles north of Charlotte. According to preliminary reports from the FAA and local authorities, the Cessna C550 business jet—registered to a company owned by Biffle—had just taken off for Sarasota, Florida, before attempting an emergency return to the airport. The aircraft crashed and erupted into flames upon impact at the end of the runway.
A Legacy of Excellence
NASCAR released a formal statement expressing deep devastation over the loss of the 55-year-old veteran driver. Biffle was a cornerstone of the sport for over two decades, becoming the first driver in history to win championships in both the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (2000) and the NASCAR Xfinity Series (2002).
During his tenure in the Cup Series, primarily driving the No. 16 Ford for Roush Fenway Racing, Biffle secured 19 victories and finished as the championship runner-up in 2005.
