NASCAR’s month of tragedy from Greg Biffle’s plane crash death to Denny Hamlin’s house fire devastation

THE month of December has been horrible for the Nascar community.

Two massive tragedies hit the racing series within the span of two weeks.

Sign up for the Sport newsletter

Thank you!

Denny Hamlin looks on ahead of Nascar Cup Series qualifyingCredit: Alamy

Greg Biffle sits back on pit road ahead of Nascar qualifyingCredit: AP

Earlier this month, Greg Biffle tragically died in a plane crash alongside his family.

Biffle was flying his Cessna C550 business jet when he turned around to make an emergency landing soon after takeoff.

The plane didn’t make it back to the runway, and burst into a fireball when it hit the ground.

Seven people on board died — with Biffle, his wife Cristina, daughter Emma, and son Ryder all on board.

Also killed were Craig Wadsworth, and Dennis and Jack Dutton.

Biffle was a legendary Nascar driver, being named as one of the 75 greatest drivers in 2023.

He competed in the Cup Series from 2002 to 2016, winning 19 races in 515 starts.

Biffle’s death rocked the Nascar world, with countless drivers and legends sharing tributes to him.

Among those was Denny Hamlin, current Cup Series driver and co-owner of 23XI Racing.

“Today the motorsports world lost one of its fiercest competitors and kindest souls. Greg Biffle was a champion on the track and a humanitarian off it, whose impact reached far beyond racing,” Hamlin posted on X.

“We also mourn the loss of his wife Cristina and children Emma & Ryder, along with Craig Wadsworth, Dennis Dutton, and his son Jack. My heart is with all their families and loved ones.”

Unfortunately, Hamlin would face his own tragedy less than two weeks later.

A fire broke out at his North Carolina home with his parents inside.

Two individuals were found outside of the home and rushed to the hospital.

Hamlin alongside his father Dennis and mother Mary LouCredit: Facebook/Mary Lou Clark Hamlin

Biffle poses for a picture with his wife and two childrenCredit: Instagram/cristinagbiffle

However, Hamlin’s father Dennis, 75, died from his injuries.

His mother, Mary Lou, is reportedly in “critical condition” at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Burn Center.

It took between 10 and 15 fire crews over two hours to put out the fire, and the home was deemed a “total loss.”

A cause for the fire has yet to be identified, and Hamlin has not commented on the tragic fire.

Fire ravages Hamlin’s home in North CarolinaCredit: Facebook/@Lucia-Riverbend Fire Department

Investigators dig into the wreckage of Biffle’s CessnaCredit: Reuters