SEATTLE — Shock and grief are felt across the NASCAR community as it mourns retired driver Greg Biffle, a racing champion and humanitarian with strong ties to the Pacific Northwest.
SEE ALSO | NASCAR legend Greg Biffle and his family killed in plane crash at North Carolina airport
Biffle and his family were killed in a plane crash Thursday in North Carolina.
Evergreen Speedway CEO Doug Hobbs reports Biffle competed at the Monroe racetrack once in the 90s with the NASCAR NW Tour. He also drove there for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.
Before Biffle won more than 50 races across NASCAR’s three circuits, the Washington native got his start at Portland Speedway and Tri-Cities Raceway.
Former Portland Speedway President and General Manager Craig Armstrong calls this loss a “gut punch” right around the holiday season.
“I have known the man since he was 16 years old racing street stocks at Portland Speedway on the quarter mile, and I have to tell you, I saw something in him immediately,” Armstrong told KOMO News. “When he got behind the wheel, it was magic.”
Nineteen of Biffle’s NASCAR victories were at the Cup Series level.
Additionally, he had a Trucks Series championship in 2000 and the Xfinity Series title in 2002. He was named one of the 75 greatest drivers in NASCAR’s history in the 75th year of NASCAR.
Armstrong remembers Biffle as not only a championship racecar driver, but one of the most generous, humanitarian-natured people he’s ever met.
“He always remembered where he came from. He was always willing to come back and give back,” he explained.
As condolences for Biffle’s family poured in across social media on Thursday, NASCAR, in a statement, noted Biffle spent countless hours of his time helping people in North Carolina in late 2024 during the disasters that followed Hurricane Helene. He used his helicopter and personal resources to fly rescue missions in the Appalachians.
“He spent days on his helicopter bringing medical supplies and food and other supplies, saving lives and literally getting some people out of harm’s way,” Armstrong added.
Biffle was 55 years old at the time of the deadly plane crash.
Armstrong emphasized the retired racer’s lasting impact in the Pacific Northwest.
“I think what would honor Greg more than anything else is to emulate him in service to humanity,” Armstrong said.
Biffle was born in Vancouver and grew up in Camas.
A Cessna owned by Biffle crashed Thursday morning at Statesville Regional Airport about 40 miles north of Charlotte, where many NASCAR teams are based.
Flight-tracking data shows the plane had just taken off, then made a sharp turn and attempted to come back when it went down, sparking a massive fire.
The Statesville Airport does not have a control tower, so pilots have to self-report their position via radio.
The NTSB and FAA are investigating.