Shock and sadness blanketed the racing community Thursday after it was confirmed that NASCAR star Greg Biffle, his wife and two children were among seven people killed in a fiery plane crash in North Carolina. “It reverberated coast to coast in the industry,” said Mark Faber, executive vice p resident and general manager of Texas Motor Speedway. Faber said Biffle will be remembered at the North Texas track as a champion. Biffle claimed two of his 19 Cup Series wins at Texas Motor Speedway. “When he was here, he was the consummate professional, but he was always someone who was friendly to our team and our staff,” Faber said. NASCAR released a statement Thursday night: “NASCAR is devastated by the tragic loss of Greg Biffle, his wife Cristina, daughter Emma, son Ryder, Craig Wadsworth and Dennis and Jack Dutton in a fatal plane crash. Greg was more than a champion driver; he was a beloved member of the NASCAR community, a fierce competitor, and a friend to so many. His passion for racing, his integrity and his commitment to fans and fellow competitors alike made a lasting impact on the sport. On the track, Greg’s talent and tenacity earned him championships in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series, as well as numerous wins and accolades in the NASCAR Cup Series. Beyond his racing career, he gave of himself for the betterment of our community. Most notably, Greg spent countless hours of his time helping the citizens of North Carolina during the disasters that followed Hurricane Helene. His tireless work saved lives. Our thoughts and deepest condolences go out to Greg’s entire family, friends and all who were touched by his life.” The National Transportation Safety Board announced it had a team traveling to the crash site late Thursday. Investigators will work to determine what happened after the plane took off bound for Sarasota. Flight tracking data shows it turned around shortly after takeoff. Beyond racing, Biffle was an experienced pilot. He posted a photo of himself flying the same aircraft in September. After Hurricane Helene devastated western North Carolina last year, Biffle flew helicopter missions to rescue stranded residents and deliver supplies. In July, he announced that his charity would raise funds for those affected by the Central Texas floods. Faber said it’s that humanitarian spirit—more than the race wins—that fans and friends will remember most. “We’re really indebted to him for what he did and he saved so many people and he helped so many people, and that’s why it’s so tragic to us right now thinking about, certainly he was great on the track and in races but also what he meant to numbers of people throughout the United States for his efforts,” Faber said. The NTSB is expected to provide an initial briefing early Friday. Shock and sadness blanketed the racing community Thursday after it was confirmed that NASCAR star Greg Biffle, his wife and two children were among seven killed in a fiery plane crash in North Carolina. “It reverberated coast to coast in the industry,” said Mark Faber. Faber, executive vice president and general manager of Texas Motor Speedway, said Biffle will be remembered at the North Texas track as a champion. Biffle claimed two of his 19 Cup Series wins there. “When he was here, he was the consummate professional, but he was always someone who was friendly to our team and our staff,” he said. NASCAR released a statement: “NASCAR is devastated by the tragic loss of Greg Biffle, his wife Cristina, daughter Emma, son Ryder, Craig Wadsworth and Dennis and Jack Dutton in a fatal plane crash. Greg was more than a champion driver, he was a beloved member of the NASCAR community, a fierce competitor, and a friend to so many. His passion for racing, his integrity, and his commitment to fans and fellow competitors alike made a lasting impact on the sport. On the track, Greg’s talent and tenacity earned him championships in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series, as well as numerous wins and accolades in the NASCAR Cup Series. Beyond his racing career, he gave of himself for the betterment of our community. Most notably, Greg spent countless hours of his time helping the citizens of North Carolina during the disasters that followed Hurricane Helene. His tireless work saved lives. Our thoughts and deepest condolences go out to Greg’s entire family, friends, and all who were touched by his life.” The NTSB announced it had a team traveling to the crash site late Thursday. They’ll work to determine what happened after the plane took off bound for Sarasota. Flight tracking data shows it turning around shortly after. Beyond racing, Biffle was an experienced pilot. He posted a photo of himself flying the same plane back in September.   When Hurricane Helene devastated Western North Carolina last year, Biffle flew helicopter missions to rescue stranded people and fly in supplies. In July, he announced his charity would raise funds for those impacted by the Central Texas floods. It’s that humanitarianism, more than the wins, that Faber says friends and fans will remember most.   “We’re really indebted to him for what he did and he saved so many people and he helped so many people, and that’s why it’s so tragic to us right now thinking about, certainly he was great on the track and in races but also what he meant to numbers of people throughout the United States for his efforts,” he said. The NTSB is expected to provide an initial briefing early Friday. ...read more read less