How did Greg Biffle die? NASCAR honors fan favorite driver at Daytona
Greg Biffle, a former Cup Series race winner and champion in NASCAR's Craftsman Truck and second-tier Busch divisions, was among seven people killed when a private jet crashed near Statesville Regional Airport on Dec. 18, 2025 (ET). This weekend's festivities at the Daytona 500 included visible tributes from teams and drivers who called Biffle a friend and a defining presence in the garage.
What investigators found about the crash
Investigators with the National Transportation Safety Board released a preliminary assessment that said Biffle was not at the controls when the Cessna C550 went down while attempting to return to Statesville Regional Airport. The agency's initial findings noted that an experienced pilot was at the controls but that the passenger in the right seat lacked qualifications to serve as a copilot.
The jet, which had been bound for Florida, struck the ground less than a mile from the runway and erupted into a large fire. The crash killed Biffle, his wife Cristina, and their two children, Ryder, 5, and Emma, 14. Three other passengers also lost their lives: Dennis Dutton, his son Jack, and Craig Wadsworth. The tragedy stunned the NASCAR community and prompted renewed focus on aviation safety for teams and personnel who regularly use private aircraft.
Biffle was himself an experienced pilot who had used his own helicopter to assist residents after Hurricane Helene in the fall of 2024. In the weeks after the accident, Biffle's family home was further victimized when it was burglarized, compounding the loss for those who knew him.
Tributes at Daytona and the legacy on the track
On the weekend of the Daytona 500, teams with direct ties to Biffle altered their liveries to honor his memory. Drivers from the organization that employed Biffle for much of his career ran numbers stylized in the jagged font he favored, a graphical nod that team members described as a small but meaningful remembrance. Another team chose to apply that same stylized No. 16 to its car; Biffle famously drove the 16 for much of his career.
Teammates and executives framed the gesture as recognition of Biffle's influence beyond wins and poles. One current driver called the tribute a modest way to show appreciation and remembrance, while team leadership said Biffle was more than a championship driver — he was family whose legacy is woven into the organization's DNA.
Career highlights and the mark he left on NASCAR
Biffle rose from short-track racing in the Pacific Northwest to become one of NASCAR's most versatile competitors. He won a Craftsman Truck Series title in 2000 and the Busch Series championship the following decade, eventually accumulating 19 victories at NASCAR's top level. Across NASCAR's national divisions he amassed more than 50 wins, earned numerous top-10 finishes and twice triumphed in signature events such as the Southern 500 at Darlington.
His first Cup Series victory came at Daytona in 2003, and he challenged for a championship in the mid-2000s, finishing second in the Cup standings in 2005. Biffle stepped away from full-time competition after the 2016 season but remained a familiar and well-regarded figure around tracks and in the community.
As teams gathered at Daytona, the stylized numbers and public remarks served as a reminder that Biffle's impact extended beyond statistics. The weekend's tributes underscored how drivers, crew members and fans continue to honor the memory of a competitor who was both a fierce racer and a visible presence off the track.
