Greg Biffle dead: NASCAR star, who saved lives during Hurricane Helene, was 55
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Greg Biffle, 6 others killed in NC plane crash
A plane crashed early Thursday at Statesville Regional Airport, killing seven people, including NASCAR star Greg Biffle, his wife and two children, and three other people. Biffle, who flew aircraft in WNC to help victims of Hurricane Helene, owned the Cessna that crashed mid-morning north of Charlotte.
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For the bulk of his adult life, Greg Biffle could be found speeding around NASCAR racetracks, flying above mountains and soaring into hearts across North Carolina and the nation as a rescue pilot delivering much-needed supplies in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.
And all of that would’ve continued had tragedy not struck Thursday. Biffle, a NASCAR Hall of Fame nominee, died Thursday morning in a Statesville plane crash. He was 55 years old.
Biffle was among seven people killed in a crash at Statesville Regional Airport, according to his family and authorities. He owned the aircraft and was with his wife, Cristina, his daughter, Emma, and his son, Ryder, along with three other people. The three others: Dennis Dutton, Jack Dutton and Craig Wadsworth.
The news was confirmed in a statement just after 4:30 p.m. Thursday. The statement was authored by the families of the deceased: the Biffle family, the Grossu family (Cristina’s family), the Dutton family and the Lunders family (Nicole Lunders is the mother of Emma Biffle).
“We are devastated by the loss of our loved ones,” the joint statement wrote. “This tragedy has left all of our families heartbroken beyond words.”
The statement called Greg and Cristina “devoted parents and active philanthropists.” The families called Emma “a wonderful human being with a kind soul” and Ryder “an active, curious and infinitely joyful child.”
It continued: “Dennis Dutton and his son Jack were deeply loved as well, and their loss is felt by all who knew them. Craig Wadsworth was beloved by many in the NASCAR community and will be missed by those who knew him. Each of them meant everything to us, and their absence leaves an immeasurable void in our lives.”
Lawrence Garrett Mitchell, also known as Cleetus McFarland, a motorsports YouTuber, stated on Facebook just before 1:30 p.m. Thursday that he knew the Biffles were on board the doomed flight. “They were on their way to spend the afternoon with us. We are devastated. I’m so sorry to share this.”
A widely circulated post on X shows the Cessna plane sitting in flames, billowing fire and dark smoke into an overcast sky.
Biffle, a Mooresville resident, was an experienced pilot. Being fearless behind a wheel — any wheel, that is — is what made him an indelible sports figure and later, a hero during tragedy.
“The Biffles flew hundreds of rescue missions in western North Carolina after Hurricane Helene,” U.S. Rep. Richard Hudson, the Republican in the NC 9th District, said in a statement. “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.”
Gov. Josh Stein said it was “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. My heart goes out to all those who lost a loved one in this tragic crash.”
Greg Biffle: A talented NASCAR driver
Around the world of NASCAR, people remember the Vancouver, Washington, native as “The Biff.”
Biffle began his racing career out in the Pacific Northwest, rising up in grassroots racing leagues before moving to the Southeast. He was “discovered” by the late Benny Parsons, who, as the story goes, recommended Biffle to NASCAR owner Jack Roush. Roush then gave Biffle his shot in the NASCAR Truck Series in 1998.
The pair never looked back. Biffle won the Rookie of the Year award that first season, and then, in 2000, he claimed the Truck Series championship.
Biffle climbed up the ladder, winning the 2001 Rookie of the Year award in the Busch Grand National Series — a step below the premier Cup Series — and followed that up with a 2002 championship in that series. At the time, he was the only driver with championships in both lower-level national series in NASCAR history.
Biffle eventually got his shot in the Cup Series in 2003 and spent 14 seasons there, competing with the likes of Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr. He earned 19 wins over the course of 515 starts — and was one position away from winning the Cup Series championship in 2005.
He retired at the conclusion of the 2016 season and traded that in for a gig as a guest analyst on NBC Sports’ NASCAR America in 2017. He retired the same years NASCAR legends Tony Stewart and Carl Edwards did.
His last NASCAR win, however, came in 2019, three years removed from his Cup retirement, in a one-off race for Kyle Busch Motorsports at Texas Motor Speedway. While just in the Truck Series, it’s considered one of the most remarkable moments of his career.
He was named a NASCAR Hall of Fame nominee in 2025 and one of NASCAR’s 75 all-time best drivers in 2023.
“The entire Charlotte sports community has suffered a tremendous loss,” Roush, the aforementioned team owner who gave Biffle his first shot in NASCAR, said in a statement Thursday. “The tragic accident involving Greg Biffle and his family today is incredibly heartbreaking. I have lost a dear friend and partner in our NASCAR program. His contributions to our race team over the years are immeasurable.
“My condolences are with all those who loved and knew Greg and his family.”
The sanctioning body of NASCAR, too, shared a statement Thursday, calling Biffle “more than a champion driver.”
“He was a beloved member of the NASCAR community, a fierce competitor and a friend to so many,” the statement read. “His passion for racing, his integrity, and his commitment to fans and fellow competitors alike made a lasting impact on the sport. ...
“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.”
Life after NASCAR was meaningful
Biffle called a lot of places home after his retirement as a race car driver. His primary residence was in Mooresville, right on Lake Norman, 27 miles north of Charlotte. He also owned over 1,300 acres in the Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina called the Triple B Ranch Estate.
Though it wouldn’t be wrong to say he also lived to soar.
Biffle’s love of flying was never more under the spotlight — and necessary — than in the fall of 2024. He was one of a few NASCAR stars to use their personal helicopters to deliver supplies to hard-to-reach areas of Western North Carolina that were ravaged by the deadly Hurricane Helene.
He did so for a year and more, from September 2024 to the present day. In a video posted to YouTube three months ago, he documented his year-long effort to help families in the western part of the state.
“A year ago today, many lives were changed forever, including mine,” Biffle said.
He continued by describing the evening of Sept. 28, 2024, when he was taking shelter in his Mooresville home in what he figured was merely a day of heavy rain. Biffle was then forwarded a Facebook post, he said — a call for help from stranded tourists in remote Banner Elk. He headed for the Statesville airport to fetch his helicopter.
“I never imagined the decision I made would change my life and many people’s lives forever,” Biffle said. “I was blessed with the opportunity to have the resources, have the time and have the money to go help another family that was stranded in the mountains of North Carolina.”
Biffle was honored in 2024 with the National Motorsports Press Association Myers Brothers Award, which recognizes individuals or groups for their significant contributions to stock car racing.
Biffle was also planning a trip to Jamaica to help with the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, too, according to a story from WCNC.
Mooresville was home for Greg Biffle
Biffle had a decades-long presence in Mooresville, where he lived with his family on Lake Norman in a home on Doolie Road, off N.C. 150 West near Lake Norman High.
He was recognized as much for his achievements off the track as on in town. He drew cheers during appearances at local schools over the years, and on Dec. 2 signed autographs with other NASCAR notables at the 36th annual Stocks for Tots children’s charity event.
In February, the town issued a proclamation honoring Biffle as a 2025 NASCAR Hall of Fame nominee and a 20-year helicopter pilot who delivered critical supplies to families in distress after Hurricane Helene.
On Sept. 30, Biffle and fellow driver and Iredell County resident Ryan Newman were inducted into the Mooresville-based N.C. Auto Racing Hall of Fame’s Walk of Fame in downtown Mooresville.
Never far away from NASCAR
Biffle stepped away from broadcasting soon after retirement. But he was never far away from the racetrack.
One such instance will stick out forever. At the Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway in October 2024, Biffle was seated in the front section of the pre-race drivers meeting. Such a race hosted dignitaries from all across the state and included a visit from Vice President J.D. Vance.
During the meeting, Biffle was honored by NASCAR for the work that he’d done across Western North Carolina. He stood up, looking a bit surprised, and meekly raised his hand. He looked as if he was about to thank everyone for the acknowledgement.
But before he could speak, the crowd offered him a thunderous standing ovation.
Observer staff writer Joe Marusak contributed to this story.
This story was originally published December 18, 2025 at 1:43 PM with the headline "Greg Biffle dead: NASCAR star, who saved lives during Hurricane Helene, was 55."
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