NASCAR mourning loss, celebrating life of Greg Biffle

Greg Biffle was recognized as one of NASCAR's top 75 drivers, but he's being remembered for victories far beyond the track.

Biffle, his wife Cristina, and their children Emma and Ryder were among seven fatalities Thursday morning in a plane crash in Statesville, N.C.

"The Biff" on the driving circuit, Biffle was a registered pilot and documented dozens of relief missions

Kevin Harvick is one of the handful of drivers who felt Biffle's fire outside the car and shared memories and insight about Biffle on Friday. Harvick, himself a fierce competitor, who took the same level of determination into philanthropic efforts widely celebrated in the Carolinas and beyond.

"I first raced against Greg Biffle in late models back in the mid-90s. Even then, he was a fierce competitor who never gave an inch. If you beat him, you earned it, and I have great respect for him," Harvick said Friday in a social media post. "I saw that same determination in the tireless commitment Greg and Cristina showed while volunteering in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. While Greg's legacy will always live on the track, the impact of the work he and his family did for those affected communities has reached far beyond racing.

"Our thoughts and condolences are with the families and loved ones of Greg, Cristina, Emma, and Ryder, as well as Craig Wadsworth, and Dennis and Jack Dutton, and everyone touched by this tragedy."

Jeff Gordon, connected to Biffle in multiple races but most notably the 2006 Southern 500 at Darlington, called the confirmation of Biffle's death in Thursday's tragic accident "devastating news."

"I had such tremendous respect for Greg as a driver, and we shared countless tough battles on the track," said Gordon, who pushed Biffle in the closing laps but finished as his runner-up in that 2006 classic. "Like so many others, I was inspired by his tireless relief work during Hurricane Helene. My heart goes out to the Biffle family and everyone hurting."

Biffle gained fans outside of racing with video documentation of his rescue and relief efforts following Hurricane Helene. He daringly delivered goods, supplies and performed rescues in mountainous terrain in North Carolina and Tennessee. More recently he piloted relief crews to Jamaica in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa.

When Biffle broke into racing as Craftsman Truck Series Rookie of the Year in 1998, he was outracing the likes of Kurt Busch, claiming 14 victories in a two-season span and emerging as the circuit champion in 2000, advanced to the then-Busch Series and won five races as Rookie of the Year, then added the Busch Series season title in 2002.

He won 18 total NASCAR Cup Series races in his career and was runner-up to Tony Stewart for the season title in 2005 with more wins (six) than any other driver that year. His final win came in 2013 at Michigan.

Biffle had a partial return to the Cup Series in 2022, competing in five races for the NY Racing Team and qualifying for the Daytona 500 for the 15th time in his career. He was named as one of NASCAR's 75 Greatest Drivers in 2023.

NASCAR said in a statement Thursday, "Greg was more than a champion driver, he was a beloved member of the NASCAR community, a fierce competitor, and a friend to so many. His passion for racing, his integrity, and his commitment to fans and fellow competitors alike made a lasting impact on the sport.

"On the track, Greg's talent and tenacity earned him championships in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series, as well as numerous wins and accolades in the NASCAR Cup Series. Beyond his racing career, he gave of himself for the betterment of our community. Most notably, Greg spent countless hours of his time helping the citizens of North Carolina during the disasters that followed Hurricane Helene. His tireless work saved lives.

"Our thoughts and deepest condolences go out to Greg's entire family, friends, and all who were touched by his life."