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Former NASCAR driver Greg Biffle, 55, was among seven people killed in a plane crash in North Carolina on Thursday.
Biffle, his wife, two children and three others were aboard a Cessna C550 owned by Biffle when it crashed at Statesville Regional Airport.
Biffle had 19 NASCAR Cup Series victories, six of them 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 wins in the Xfinity Series, winning the 2002 title, and earned another 17 checkered flags in the Craftsman Truck Series, winning the championship in 2000.
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NASCAR Cup Series driver Greg Biffle (44) during Daytona 500 practice at Daytona International Speedway. (Mike Dinovo/USA TODAY Sports)
Biffle had originally stopped racing in 2016, but returned six years later for five races, including his final Daytona 500. His best race finish was third in 2010 and 2012.
Biffle’s first checkered flag in any professional race came at the 2001 Tennessee Lottery 250 in Nashville. He won four more races that year before winning four more in his championship season. He had 26 other top-five finishes in that span.
While he never won the Daytona 500, his first Cup Series victory came at the famed track in the 2003 Pepsi 400. His best season in the Cup Series came in 2005, when he won a career-high six races en route to finishing second in the points standings behind Tony Stewart.
NASCAR Cup Series driver Greg Biffle (44) speaks to the media during the Daytona 500 media day at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona, Florida on February 16, 2022. (Mike Dinovo/USA TODAY Sports)
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After his racing days, Biffle put his flying skills to good use. Last year, it helped victims of Hurricane Helene by delivering supplies and internet service to those in need. He even located a family stranded while flying due to using a mirror to protect themselves from the sun.
Biffle had been providing Starlink service to residents of western North Carolina and reflected on his experience helping the stranded family whose use of the mirror saved them.
“The only way we could find someone stranded in the mountains at the bottom of a steep canyon. 6 attempts to land due to difficulties but we made it; we got him a chainsaw, EpiPens, insulin, chicken food, formula, gas, 2 stroke oil and pre-made Harris Teeter sandwiches before we left,” Biffle posted at the time.
NASCAR highlighted Biffle’s philanthropic work when it announced his death.
Greg Biffle holds a press conference before practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Pure Michigan 400 at Michigan International Speedway on August 14, 2015, in Brooklyn, Michigan. (Josh Hedges/Getty Images)
“Greg was more than 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 commitment to fans and fellow competitors had a lasting impact on the sport,” NASCAR said. “On the track, Greg’s talent and tenacity earned him championships in the NASCAR
“Their tireless work saved lives.”
