Who was Greg Biffle? Ex-NASCAR driver, wife, two children reportedly killed in plane crash in North Carolina

Greg Biffle, a former NASCAR driver, along with his wife and two children were reportedly among those killed in a plane crash in North Carolina on Thursday.

The crash took place at the Statesville Regional Airport at around 10.15 am local time on Thursday, when a Cessna C550 plane owned by Biffle's GB Aviation Leasing took off and returned immediately, only to go up in flames.

Immediately after the crash, authorities revealed that several people were feared dead, raising concerns about the former racer and his family.

Shortly after the crash, Biffle's friend and YouTuber Garett Mitchell, better known by his internet name Cleetus McFarland, confirmed on Facebook that the racer and his family had perished.

"Unfortunately, I can confirm Greg Biffle, his wife Cristina, daughter Emma, and son Ryder were on that plane...because they were on their way to spend the afternoon with us (sic)," he wrote.

"We are devastated. I'm so sorry to share this," the YouTuber added.

Shortly afterwards, Mitchell also posted a video of him pulling off vehicular stunts with Biffle.

“This will be one of my favorite videos of all time. A wheelie side by side with the Biff. This is the worst day ever,” wrote the YouTuber.

Authorities, however, have yet to announce the identities of the victims. It is also unclear how many people were on board the private aircraft.

Who was Greg Biffle? Career, wife, family

Born in 1969 in Vancouver, Washington, Greg Biffle's NASCAR career began in 1995.

Nicknamed ‘the Biff’, Biffle made a name for himself early on, being named Rookie of the Year in 2001.

From there, Biffle went on to have a tremendous 2005 Cup Series run, winning a series-high six races. However, he finished second in the championship standings, narrowly losing the title to Tony Stewart by just 35 points.

From 2003 to 2016, Biffle won 19 races, and was famously dominant at Homestead-Miami Speedway during the mid-2000s, winning the season-ending race three consecutive years (2004, 2005, and 2006).

He is one of just three drivers ever to win a championship in both the Busch Series and the Craftsman Truck Series, as well as one of only 36 drivers in history to win a race in all three of NASCAR’s national touring series.

Biffle married Cristina Grossu just two years back in 2023, and the couple shared a 5-year-old son, Ryder. The racer also had a named daughter Emma, 14, with ex-wife Nicole Lunders.

The ex-NASCAR driver and YouTuber Mitchell became close friends over the years, bonding over their love for racing and their joint efforts in providing community relief in North Carolina in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene in 2024, which left over 250 dead. It was the deadliest hurricane to have struck the mainland since Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans and surrounding areas in 2005.

Tributes pour in

Thousands of tributes poured in on social media as news about the crash spread, with people acknowledging his contributions to racing to his humanitarian work.

“I’m sure there’s 1,000,000 other posts out there but it cannot be stated how vital Greg Biffle was in organizing the western NC Helene relief effort which was among one of the largest civilian humanitarian missions ever on American soil,” wrote meteorologist Chris Jackson.

“The world didn’t just lose a NASCAR great today. The world lost a great man and great family that selflessly stepped up and used their resources for the greater good to help total strangers during their greatest time of need,” he added.

Congressman Richard Hudson from North Carolina also paid tribute, writing, “I am devastated by the loss of Greg, Cristina, and their children, and my heart is with all who loved them. They were friends who lived their lives focused on helping others. Greg was a great NASCAR champion who thrilled millions of fans. But he was an extraordinary person as well, and will be remembered for his service to others as much as for his fearlessness on the track.”

“The Biffles flew hundreds of rescue missions in western North Carolina after Hurricane Helene. 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,” Congressman Hudson added.

Names from the racing world of NASCAR also joined in.

“One of the silver linings to such a small and intertwined industry is the support and love we have for every member of the NASCAR family,” wrote Justin Marks, owner of NASCAR team Trackhouse Racing.

“Today is a tough one. We've lost a family that made contributions far beyond the racetrack. Rest in Paradise friends,” he added.