NASCAR champion and Hall of Fame nominee Greg Biffle is believed to have been killed in a plane crash in Statesville, North Carolina on Thursday morning according to North Carolina State Highway Patrol.

The crash occurred at 10:15 a.m. ET. The plane took off out of Statesville Regional Airport shortly after 10 a.m. ET with plans to head to Sarasota, Florida. According to authorities, the plane reported engine troubles and circled back to Statesville Regional Airport shortly after take-off and then crashed at the edge of runway 28 at 10:15 a.m. ET.

The plane was a Cessna Citation C550 twin-engine private jet, which can seat up to eight people. It was owned by “GB Aviation Leasing,” which is a company owned by Biffle, who was a licensed pilot. Authorities confirmed that the plane had at least seven passengers on board.

“We can say at this point that seven confirmed occupants that were on the aircraft are deceased,” said Trooper Chris Knox of the North Carolina State Highway Patrol in a press conference. “Those names, we cannot definitively give you those names at this point because of the post-crash fire. The only person we are able to say is we believe Mr. Greg Biffle is one of those seven deceased occupants due to not only the information of those occupants that was recorded, but also visual from staff at the airport that he was one of those occupants that was on the plane at the time. The other names, we will have a list once we have those, but just like with a crash with an automobile we will have to await medical examiner confirmation.”

Motorsports enthusiast and YouTuber and friend of Biffle’s, Garrett Mitchell, also known as “Cleetus McFarland,” confirmed on social media that Greg, his wife Cristina, his son Ryder, and his daughter Emma, were headed to Florida to spend the afternoon together. Craig Wadsworth was also confirmed as one of the seven passengers on the flight by former NASCAR driver Kenny Wallace. A statement released by family members confirms the remaining passengers to be Dennis and Jack Dutton.

"We are devastated by the loss of our loved ones. This tragedy has left our families heartbroken beyond words," said the statement. "We ask for privacy, compassion, and understanding as we grieve and begin to process this unimaginable loss. We are grateful for the kindness and support that has been extended to our families during this incredibly difficult time.

Biffle, 55, raced full time in the NASCAR Cup Series from 2003 to 2016, scoring 19 victories, 175 top 10 finishes, and 13 poles. Biffle also won the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series championship in 2000 and the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series championship in 2002. Biffle was named as one of NASCAR’s 75 greatest drivers in 2023, and is also a nominee for the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Biffle’s final NASCAR victory came in 2019 at Texas Motor Speedway in a one-off start for Kyle Busch Motorsports.

In 2024, Biffle made headlines for his humanitarian work as he helped aid recovery efforts in Western North Carolina following Hurricane Helene. Biffle, along with Mitchell, flew their personal helicopters in and out of the storm-affected region to bring supplies into the area as well as make rescues of stranded citizens. 

Biffle’s annual “Triple B 100” race, which is an event held at his North Carolina mountain home on a makeshift dirt track with Crown Victorias, also aided in Hurricane Helene recovery efforts as all proceeds from ticket sales for the event in 2024 were donated to charity to help fill various needs like supplies, housing, food, and more.

As a result of his efforts, Biffle was given the prestigious Myers Brothers Award at the 2024 NASCAR Awards banquet in recognition of his efforts to deliver supplies and make rescues.