NASCAR mourns Greg Biffle after plane crash kills 7
Pakinomist correspondent Jonathan Serrie reports from North Carolina after a Cessna 550 crashed near Statesville Regional Airport, killing former NASCAR driver Greg Biffle, his wife, Cristina, their two children and three others.
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Greg Biffle and his family sent holiday cards to friends and loved ones before last week’s fatal plane crash in North Carolina, leaving them among the dead.
Biffle’s longtime friend, Ron Herbert, shared the card in a social media post on Monday. The card featured a photo of the former driver, his wife Cristina, their son Ryder and his daughter Emma.
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NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Greg Biffle before the Duck Commander 500 at Texas Motor Speedway on April 6, 2014. (Jerome Miron/USA TODAY Sports)
“We hope you are able to slow down and enjoy the magic and joy that this season has to offer,” the card read. “We hope you have a great New Year!
“Sending love, Greg, Cristina, Emma & Ryder.”
Herbert wrote his post on Instagram: “I received this in the mail today. My words cannot say enough about the family.”
Biffle, 55, was killed along with his wife, Cristina, and children Ryder, 5, and Emma, 14, when their plane crashed at Statesville Regional Airport. Three others killed on board were identified as Dennis Dutton, his son Jack and Craig Wadsworth.
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Greg Biffle (16) during practice for the Duck Commander 500 at Texas Motor Speedway on April 4, 2014. (Jerome Miron/USA TODAY Sports)
The plane was returning to Statesville Regional Airport about 10 minutes after takeoff for an “emergency landing.”
Biffle’s wife, Cristina, sent a worrying text to her mother before the crash.
“She texted me from the plane and she said, ‘We’re in trouble.’ And we were,” Cathy Grossu told People last week. “So we’re devastated. We are devastated.”
Grossu told the magazine that the crew was headed to the Bahamas for a birthday trip. The plane was scheduled to fly to Sarasota, Florida before heading to the island nation.
The former pro driver received significant praise last year when he used his personal helicopter to deliver supplies and internet service to those in need in the wake of Hurricane Helene in parts of North Carolina. He even found a stranded family while flying due to their use of a mirror against the sun.
Biffle had provided Starlink services to residents of western North Carolina and reflected on his experience helping the stranded family whose mirror use saved them.
Greg Biffle celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series auto race at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kansas on October 3, 2010. (Orlin Wagner, File/AP Photo)
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Biffle had 19 NASCAR Cup Series wins, six of them coming in 2005 when he finished second in the Cup standings. He won three straight Ford 400s from 2004 to 2006 at Homestead. He also had 20 wins in the Xfinity Series, winning the title in 2002 and taking 17 other checkered flags in the Craftsman Truck Series, winning the championship in 2000. Biffle originally retired from racing in 2016, but returned six years later.
