NASCAR great Greg Biffle, who dabbled in the Stadium Super Trucks with success and created the Sand Outlaw Series, died Thursday when his plane crashed at Statesville Regional Airport in North Carolina. He was 55 years old.

The accident occurred in the morning just after 10 AM. The plane, a Cessna Citation 550 registered by Biffle’s aviation company, took off from Statesville before looping around to land back at the airport. It crashed and burst into flames. The North Carolina Highway Patrol was initially unable to identify the seven victims due to the fire save for Biffle, whose name was listed on the flight records.

Biffle was joined on the flight by his wife Cristina, son Ryder, and daughter Emma via Biffle’s ex-wife Nicole Lunders. Pilot Dennis Dutton and son Jack, as well as former NASCAR motorhome driver Craig Wadsworth were also onboard. A joint statement by their families confirmed their presences on the plane.

Garrett Mitchell, a close friend and fellow SST alumnus better known by his persona Cleetus McFarland, said the Biffles were on their way to Florida to spend the afternoon with his family.

An investigation into the accident is underway.

Biffle won the 2000 NASCAR Truck and 2002 Busch Series championships before becoming a mainstay in the Cup Series for nearly two decades, winning 19 races at the highest level. His achievements across all three national series earned him a place as one of the sport’s 75 Greatest Drivers during NASCAR’s diamond anniversary in 2023, and he has consistently been a nominee for the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

In 2018, after his last season in the Cup Series, Biffle began trying out the Stadium Super Trucks. He made his debut at Road America in Bill Hynes’ truck, scoring a runner-up finish in Race 2. While never doing a full SST campaign, he appeared at three weekends in 2019 with a pair of podiums at Mid-Ohio and Portland before being on-hand for the series’ return to Australia at the Gold Coast.

His last SST start was the 2021 Mid-Ohio NASCAR slate, placing fourth and second in the two races.

He also oversaw the Pace Offroad UTV shop and Sand Outlaw Series, the latter a UTV drag racing and hillclimb championship.

“The entire SST family is heartbroken and devastated by the tragic passing of Greg Biffle, his wife Cristina, daughter Emma and son Ryder,” reads a statement from the Stadium Super Trucks. “We also send our condolences to the families of the pilots who lost their lives.”

Biffle is the second former SST driver to die in a plane accident this year. Barry Boes, a Trans-Am star who did the 2020 SST round at Road America, was killed when his Lancair crashed in August.

Outside of racing, he was a hobby aviator who flew planes and helicopters. In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene in 2024, Biffle and Mitchell flew supplies to help those affected in North Carolina.

NASCAR released the following comment:

NASCAR is devastated by the tragic loss of Greg Biffle, his wife Cristina, daughter Emma, son Ryder, Craig Wadsworth and Dennis and Jack Dutton in a fatal plane crash.

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.

Greg Biffle: December 23, 1969 – December 18, 2025

Featured image credit: Greg Biffle