NASCAR mourns Greg Biffle after plane crash kills 7 people
Pak Gazette correspondent Jonathan Serrie reports from North Carolina after 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 Christmas cards to friends and loved ones before the fatal plane crash in North Carolina last week, leaving them among the dead.
Biffle’s longtime friend Ron Herbert shared the card in a social media post on Monday. The card showed a photo of the former driver, his wife Cristina, his son Ryder and his daughter Emma.
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NASCAR Sprint Cup 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 read. “We hope you have a great New Year!
“Sending you love, Greg, Cristina, Emma and Ryder.”
Herbert captioned his Instagram post: “Received this in the mail today. My words cannot say enough about the family.”
Biffle, 55, died along with his wife, Cristina, and children Ryder, 5, and Emma, 14, when their plane crashed at Statesville Regional Airport. Three other people who died 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.
“He 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 headed to the Bahamas for a birthday trip. The plane was scheduled to fly to Sarasota, Florida, before heading to the island nation.
The former professional pilot received major praise last year when he used his personal helicopter to deliver supplies and internet service to those in need after Hurricane Helene in parts of North Carolina. He even located a family stranded while flying due to using a mirror to protect themselves from the sun.
Biffle had been 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, File/AP Photo)
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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 had 20 wins in the
