NASCAR mourns Greg Biffle after plane crash that kills 7
PK Press Club correspondent Jonathan Serrie reports from North Carolina that 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 a fatal plane crash in North Carolina last week left them among the dead.
Biffle’s longtime friend Ron Herbert shared the card in a social media post Monday. The card featured a photo of the former driver, his wife Cristina, their son Ryder and 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 can slow down and enjoy the magic and joy this season has to offer,” the card reads. “We hope you have a great New Year!
“Sending love to you, Greg, Cristina, Emma and Ryder.”
Herbert captioned his Instagram post: “Received this in the mail today. My words can’t say enough about the family.”
Biffle, 55, was killed alongside his wife, Cristina, and children Ryder, 5, and Emma, 14, when their plane crashed at Statesville Regional Airport. Three other people 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 message to her mother before the accident.
“She texted me from the plane and said, ‘We’re in trouble.’ And that was it,” Cathy Grossu told People last week. “So we’re devastated. We’re heartbroken.”
Grossu told the magazine that the crew was heading to the Bahamas for a birthday trip. The plane was scheduled to fly to Sarasota, Florida, before heading to the island nation.
The former commercial pilot received widespread praise last year when he used his personal helicopter to deliver supplies and internet service to those in need following Hurricane Helene in parts of North Carolina. He even located a family stranded while flying due to the use of a mirror against the sun.
Biffle was providing Starlink services to residents of Western North Carolina and reflected on his experience helping the stranded family whose use of the mirror 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, AP file/photo)
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Biffle has 19 NASCAR Cup Series victories, including six in 2005 when he finished second in the Cup standings. He won three consecutive Ford 400s from 2004 to 2006 at Homestead. He also earned 20 victories in the Xfinity Series, winning the 2002 title, and earned 17 more checkered flags in the Craftsman Truck Series, winning the championship in 2000. Biffle initially stopped racing in 2016 but returned six years later.
