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The NASCAR community mourned driver Greg Biffle, 6 others who died in the plane crash at the memorial service

ballervisions 2026年1月16日

CHARLOTTE, NC (AP) – Hundreds in the NASCAR community gathered for a memorial service at Charlotte’s Bojangles Coliseum Friday for former driver Greg Biffle, his family and others who died in a plane crash last month.

Biffle was among seven people killed along with his wife, Cristina, and children Ryder, 5, and Emma, 14, when the plane crashed on its way back to the airport in Statesville, North Carolina, according to authorities. The others on the plane were identified as Dennis Dutton, his son Jack, and Craig Wadsworth.

Driver/promoter Garrett Mitchell, known as “Cleetus McFarland” in his YouTube videos and a close friend of Biffle’s, was among those who spoke at the service.

“We’ve all been saying, ‘Be like Biff,’ ever since we lost our hero,” said Mitchell, who became friends with Biffle later in life. “What does that mean? That means taking opportunities when you see them. Whether it’s taking the opportunity to pass someone on the track or getting off your couch to chase the dream you’ve been talking about for the past five years.

“It means showing up for your friends and family. It means using your heart to make the world a better place. It means giving whenever you can and helping other people when they’re down. That’s what it means to be like Biff,” added Mitchell.

Biffle, who was 55, was selected by NASCAR as one of its 75 greatest drivers in history, was a Hall of Fame inductee in the stock car series and drove for 18 years at the top of the sport.

Last year he made headlines for his tireless humanitarian efforts as a helicopter pilot providing aid in the wake of Hurricane Helene.

Biffle’s niece, Jordyn Biffle, told stories about Ryder’s hero father, Emma’s laughter and Cristina’s love.

He said the Biffle family was “full of life, very loving and giving freely.”

“Their lives remind us that what matters is not how long we are here, but how we use the time we are given and how much we love it while we are here,” added Biffle. “And while these losses are indescribably devastating, their impact lives on in all of us who were lucky enough to know, love and be changed by them.”

In the parking lot outside the stadium, fans stopped to get a peek inside the three race cars that Biffle drove during his career.

Inside, images of the seven who lost their lives are shown on a video board above the makeshift center field and indoor hockey rink. There were seven wreaths on stage as Mitchell, Biffle and former drivers Jeff Burton and Phil Parsons addressed the crowd.

Dylan Zirkle, 28, of Archdale, North Carolina, worked one year for Biffle at Roush Racing as a pit crew while still in high school.

He said Biffle had a bad influence on him, and he felt he had to go there.

“Greg was always a good guy and I enjoyed being around him,” Zirkle said. “You could talk to him anytime and he was a real person. You could talk to him about anything.”

Back home, Zirkle still has model race trucks in his game room labeled by Biffle that he loves.

Zirkle said he did not believe the news of the accident when he heard it.

“It still doesn’t feel real,” Zircle said. “I was watching some of his YouTube videos the other night and it doesn’t seem real at all.”

Tanner Roberts and Jassamin Green made the four-hour drive from Wilmington, North Carolina, with their 7-year-old son Bentley after hearing about the memorial.

“He was a good race car driver and I enjoyed him,” said Roberts. “And he was a good person. I grew up watching him and Dale Earnhardt. Those two were my favorites. They were good people and they loved racing.”

The Cessna C550 carrying the Biffle family and others burst into flames when it crashed shortly after taking off from Statesville Regional Airport, about an hour’s drive north of Charlotte.

The plane crashed while trying to return and went down, authorities said.

The accident that happened the week before Christmas left the NASCAR community reeling and was another tragedy in a long time. Ten days later, on the 52nd wedding anniversary of Denny Hamlin’s parents, the house that the future Hall of Famer built to pay them back for their years of sacrifice burned down. Her father, Dennis, was killed, and Mary Lou Hamlin was rushed to the hospital’s burn area.

Sheriff’s deputies are also investigating an alleged burglary and theft last week at Biffle’s home in Mooresville that netted $30,000 in cash, guns and memorabilia.

As part of the community salute, Mitchell planned to be honored later Friday next to Biffle’s marker along the North Carolina Auto Racing Walk of Fame in Mooresville.

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AP Auto Racing: