Former NASCAR driver Greg Biffle was among several people killed Thursday in a plane crash at Statesville Regional Airport in North Carolina. NASCAR confirmed that three members of Biffle's family also died in the tragic crash. The victims included his wife Christina, daughter Emma and son Ryder. Dennis Dutton, his son Jack and Craig Wadsworth also died in the crash.
The plane, which crashed on landing at approximately 10:15 a.m., was registered to a company owned by Biffle.
Flight tracking data shows the plane took off from the airport around 10 a.m. but returned and attempted to land at the Charlotte airport. The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed that there were six people on board the Cessna C550 and that there were fatalities in the crash.
“NASCAR is devastated by the tragic deaths of Greg Biffle, his wife Christina, daughter Emma, son Ryder, Craig Wadsworth and Dennis and Jack Dutton in a plane crash,” NASCAR said in a statement. “Greg was more than just a champion driver, he was a beloved member of the NASCAR community, a fierce competitor and a friend to many. His passion for racing, his integrity and his dedication to fans and fellow competitors have had a lasting impact on the sport.
“On the track, Greg's talent and tenacity have earned him championship titles in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series, as well as numerous wins and accolades in the NASCAR Cup Series. In addition to his racing career, he has given of himself to our community. In particular, Greg spent countless hours of his time helping the citizens of North Carolina during the disasters that followed Hurricane Helen. His tireless work saved lives. Our Thoughts and deepest condolences go out to all of Greg's family, friends and everyone touched by his life.”
In the years since his retirement from racing, Biffle has been involved in humanitarian work in North Carolina and topped many NASCAR figures to assist with recovery from Hurricane Helen in 2024. Biffle flew a private helicopter to the hard-hit region of Western North Carolina to deliver supplies and internet service to those stranded.
“This is heartbreaking,” North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein said. said at a press conference. “It’s just heartbreaking. I only found out about this 20-30 minutes ago. I don't know if we know the number of victims. It is obvious that several people were injured. Our hearts go out to these families. There is no more tragic way to enter the holiday season.”
Biffle, 55, competed in 515 races during his 16-year NASCAR Cup Series career. He has 19 wins and 175 top-10 finishes. He competed for the Cup Series title many times. His best finish in the series came in 2005, when he finished second to Tony Stewart.
Biffle has won numerous awards throughout his prolific career and was named one of NASCAR's 75 Greatest Drivers in 2023. He won the 2000 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and the 2002 NASCAR Busch Series. He was the first of three riders to win both events. He was also one of 36 drivers to win a race in each of NASCAR's three national series.
