Former NASCAR driver Greg Biffle, his wife and children died in a plane crash at Statesville Regional Airport in North Carolina on Thursday (12/18). THE Sporting News gathers details of how the accident happened.
Greg Biffle: what happened?
On Thursday morning, WSOC reported firsthand that a Cessna C550 business jet, owned by Greg Biffle, had crashed at the end of the runway at Statesville Regional Airport in North Carolina, and that local authorities said the crash killed six people.
The United States Federal Aviation Administration and Statesville Regional Airport, located about 70km north of Charlotte, the capital of North Carolina, confirmed that a plane had crashed during the landing procedure shortly after 10am local time (12pm in Brasília).
The aircraft was expected to fly from Sarasota, Florida, to Treasure Cay International Airport in the Bahamas, before returning to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and then to Statesville later in the afternoon, according to WSOC.
A witness told WSOC that the jet was “very low” before there was “a huge explosion.” With the investigation into the accident still ongoing, authorities have not officially confirmed the names of the occupants or details about the possible causes of the collision.
However, Deputy Richard Hudson released a statement Thursday afternoon confirming that Greg Biffle, his wife, Cristina, and their two children died in the crash.
– I am devastated by the loss of Greg, Cristina and their children, and my heart goes out to everyone who loved them. They were friends who lived their lives focused on helping others,” Hudson said in a statement.
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…
— Rep. Richard Hudson (@RepRichHudson) December 18, 2025
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Greg Biffle: who was it?
Greg Biffle, 55 years old, was born on December 23, 1969, in Vancouver, in the state of Washington, and gained national prominence in 1995, during the NASCAR Winter Heat Series, the winter division of the automobile category. In the same year, the driver was hired by Jack Roush, founder, CEO and co-owner of Roush Racing, a NASCAR team based in Concord, North Carolina.
Biffle’s racing career included an induction into the NASCAR Hall of Fame and a place on NASCAR’s 75 Greatest Drivers list. He won the Rookie of the Year award in 1998 and the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series championship in 2000, as well as the Rookie of the Year award in 2001 and the NASCAR Xfinity Series championship in 2002.
He became the first driver to win titles in both categories. Biffle had 19 wins in 515 starts in the Cup Series between 2002 and 2016. With fame came the nickname that followed him throughout his career: “The Biff”.
After leaving full-time competition, Biffle began to participate occasionally in races and became involved in business, including activities in the aviation sector. He has been married since 2022 to Cristina Grossu, with whom he has a son, Ryder Jack, born in September 2020, and is the father of Emma Elizabeth, 14, from a previous marriage.
