TC Daily Pit Stop: Greg Biffle, Wife, and Two Children Among 7 Killed in Thursday Morning Plane Crash
TC Daily Pit Stop: Friday, December 19, 2025
Greg Biffle, Immediate Family, and Three Others Confirmed Dead in Plane Crash
Greg Biffle, a former NASCAR star who was named to the sport’s 75 Greatest Drivers list in 2023, was killed Thursday morning in a plane crash at Statesville Regional Airport in North Carolina. A joint statement from the families confirmed that Biffle died alongside his wife, Cristina, their son Ryder, and his daughter (from a previous marriage) Emma, as well as Dennis Dutton, his son Jack Dutton, and Craig Wadsworth.
The tragedy sent shockwaves through the NASCAR community and beyond throughout Thursday as concern lingered due to the lack of confirmation of the identities of those fatally injured.
The aircraft, a Cessna 550 Citation owned by Biffle’s company, GB Aviation, took off from Statesville on an overcast and misty morning before reporting engine trouble and attempting to return to the airport.
The plane crashed during the attempted landing around 10:15 a.m. ET and burst into flames. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has taken over the investigation, and the airport was temporarily shut down as cleanup and investigative efforts continued.
In a heartfelt joint statement, the families described Biffle and his wife as devoted parents and philanthropists, centered on their children and community. They also paid tribute to Emma and Ryder, as well as to Dennis and Jack Dutton and Craig Wadsworth, all of whom were deeply loved. The families asked for privacy and compassion as they grieve and focus on honoring the lives lost.
NASCAR and longtime team owner Jack Roush both released statements expressing devastation over the loss. Roush called Biffle a dear friend and valued partner whose contributions to the team and the sport were immeasurable. NASCAR remembered Biffle not only as a champion and fierce competitor, but also as a generous humanitarian who notably helped North Carolina residents during the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.
A native of Vancouver, Washington, Biffle enjoyed a distinguished racing career that included 19 NASCAR Cup Series victories and championships in the Xfinity Series and Craftsman Truck Series. He spent the bulk of his Cup career with Roush Fenway Racing, driving the No. 16 Ford, and made occasional starts in later years across several series. His legacy endures both through his accomplishments on the track and his impact off it, within the NASCAR community and beyond.
READ MORE
Other NASCAR Headlines:
TRICON Garage Announces Contract Extensions for Tanner Gray, Gio Ruggiero
Liberty University Scales Back Sponsorship of No. 24 for Second Straight Year
Jeff Gordon to Hand-Deliver One-Of-One National Treasures Trading Card
Hamlin Blasts McReynolds, SiriusXM Over Unfair Pre-Trial Coverage
Haas Factory Team Confirms 2026 NASCAR O’Reilly Series Crew Chief, Car Chief Lineup
Jade Avedisian Continues Climb With Part-Time ARCA Ride at Nitro Motorsports
Additional Resources:
 | A guest post by
|