Former NASCAR star Greg Biffle, who died in a aircraft crash Thursday in Statesville, North Carolina, was not a flashy driver or particular person. For all his accomplishments, he was a lunch-pail driver who paid his dues, bought his shot and by no means regarded again.
Along with Biffle, the crash claimed the lives of his spouse, Cristina, their son Ryder and his daughter Emma, in addition to Dennis Dutton and his son Jack and Craig Wadsworth.
The primary studies of the crash took place 10:15 a.m. Thursday. The loss of life of the 55-year-old former NASCAR driver was confirmed by the North Carolina State Freeway Patrol.
“NASCAR is devastated,” the organization said about the tragedy.
Biffle was named considered one of NASCAR’s 75 Biggest Drivers in 2023, however he could have been underrated as a driver. He ranks among the many high 50 drivers in Cup Collection historical past with 19 victories. Biffle additionally gained championships in each the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Collection and the NASCAR Busch Collection (now Xfinity Collection).
Proprietor Jack Roush gave Greg Biffle a chance
Legendary crew proprietor Jack Roush gave the then-28-year-old Biffle the nod in 1998 to drive for his Truck Collection crew. In three years, Biffle gained 14 Truck Collection races and captured the 2000 championship.
Biffle moved as much as the NASCAR Busch Collection in 2001, successful the 2002 championship, earlier than Roush promoted him to Cup Collection competitors in 2003. Over a Cup Collection profession spanning 14 seasons, Biffle gained 19 races, together with a six-win marketing campaign in 2005 that noticed him end runner-up to Tony Stewart for the championship. Had he gained, Biffle would have turn into the one driver to win championships in all three of NASCAR’s high divisions.
Biffle’s remaining Cup Collection begin got here in 2022, along with his final victory in considered one of NASCAR’s high three sequence occurring in a Truck Collection race at Texas Motor Speedway in 2019. His final Cup Collection win got here at Michigan Worldwide Speedway in 2013, and he made the NASCAR playoffs for the ultimate time in 2014.
Biffle retired from full-time Cup Collection racing after the 2016 season.
