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  • As grand marshal of Daytona 500, Nate Bargatze has some ideas for NASCAR

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    Comedian and show host Nate Bargatze arrives for the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sept. 14, 2025, at the Peacock Theatre at LA Live in Los Angeles.

    Comedian and show host Nate Bargatze arrives for the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sept. 14, 2025, at the Peacock Theatre at LA Live in Los Angeles.


    PATRICK T. FALLON

    AFP via Getty Images

    DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.

    It’s about five hours before the Daytona 500, in a radio room of the Daytona International Speedway media center, and Nate Bargatze has a question.

    How does anyone get any sleep around here?

    Bargatze, the Grammy Award-winning and Emmy-nominated comedian who is the No. 1 earning comedian in the world according to PollStar, slept in a bus on Saturday evening in the infield. He was woken up by cars being worked on, fellow campers who partied into the morning waking up early, too. He’s awake now, though, no doubt. His silver hair is perfectly kept; his white shoes and watch are mint clean. His Nashville, self-deprecating charm is still intact — which is what vaulted him in the nation’s consciousness a few years ago and has made him a two-time host of Saturday Night Live.

    Comedian and show host Nate Bargatze arrives for the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sept. 14, 2025, at the Peacock Theatre at LA Live in Los Angeles.
    Comedian and show host Nate Bargatze arrives for the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sept. 14, 2025, at the Peacock Theatre at LA Live in Los Angeles. PATRICK T. FALLON AFP via Getty Images

    But his sleep deprivation has him open to sharing some ideas. And he has many of them. And a lot of them are encased in statements that feel like questions — his trademarked kind, ones that you might’ve seen on his Big Dumb Eyes World Tour, which visited Charlotte in November.

    Some of these ideas, even, are about NASCAR. The Tennessee native is a NASCAR fan and is this year’s grand marshal of the Daytona 500, after all — joining a group that has recently included a Pro Football Hall of Famer (Charles Woodson), a global pop icon (Pitbull), Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and President Donald Trump.

    He’s entitled to such opinions and ideas, he said

    He’s entitled to suggestions (!), even, he said.

    “It doesn’t hurt to ask,” Bargatze said. “Grand marshals get nervous to ask.”

    Read up on those opinions and ideas — as well as some insight into his feature film, The Breadwinner, opening in May — in this interview with The Charlotte Observer’s Alex Zietlow. The interview has been edited lightly for brevity. Beware of unrelenting jest.

    Nate Bargatze got some tips from Kevin James

    Zietlow: When did you get to the racetrack today?

    Bargatze: I woke up in the racetrack. I had my tour bus come down, and it was just easy. You want to experience it the best way you can. And you’re grand marshal, you can ask for a few things. So I was like, ‘Can you please put me in the middle of the track?’ So yeah, we woke up there, you open the door, and you’re kind of in it.

    Z: Did you interact with any race fans?

    B: Yeah walking from the bus to here I was able to interact with a few people. So it was cool. I haven’t gotten in the thick-thick of it yet. But just walking a little bit, it’s fun just to see everybody working on cars. We heard a car driving this morning. You get woken up. You’re not going to sleep.

    Z: That’s so true.

    B: That’s what I was thinking. All those people who sleep out there. I’m sure a lot of them have long nights. And then you just wake up to a car going 200 miles an hour.

    Z: Oh by the way, they do not sleep. I’m trying to get out of here at midnight, and they’re doing wheelbarrow races, blasting music. It’s crazy. … You mention being grand marshal. A lot of really interesting people have been grand marshals at the Daytona 500. Anthony Mackie, Captain America. The Rock. Pitbull. Donald Trump. It’s an interesting slate. They all kind of bring their own style to it. Have you studied how they say, “Drivers, start your engines?”

    B: I’ve watched some videos. And Kevin James is one that a lot of people really talk about as his being one of the best. I was with him last week because he came to Nashville. We’re friends. So I was able to talk to him about it a little bit.

    There’s only so much advice they can give you because you’re saying four words. You think it’s going to be this big, ‘OK, here’s what you gotta do.’ But I think it’s all commitment, just go out and do it, and say it. I think people wanna hear the lines. Just do those lines.

    Z: I imagine part of you wants to make people laugh, though, right?

    B: Yes.

    Z: How do you resist that?

    B: They’ve told me it’s only gone bad. I did ask. I was asking. As a comedian, you’re trying to get a joke in somewhere, and then they’re like, ‘Well, you can try, but it’s like, here’s what we’ve seen in the past.’ It’s kind of just best to do the words.

    And I mean, as a NASCAR fan, you’ve seen this your whole life. You’re like, ‘OK, I want to do it and yell that,’ and here those engines start. It’s a pretty crazy moment.

    Growing up a NASCAR fan in Nashville

    Z: Did you ever want to be a driver? Were you a car guy growing up?

    B: I was never a car guy. But I like driving. There are times when I think, ‘Man, I think it would be fun.’ Just last night, I was thinking if I could learn how to race and get into it. So it seems fun. When you’re watching it, and they’re drifting, and their bumpers are touching, and they’re going 200 miles an hour. I love the idea of it all: the slingshot, and all this kind of crazy stuff. Getting to feel that would be pretty unbelievable. But you gotta have full-blown commitment to get into something like that.

    Z: Any opinion on NASCAR coming back to the Nashville Fairgrounds (last hosted a NASCAR race in 1984)?

    B: There were roller coasters over there. What made me nervous about roller coasters: at the fairgrounds, I remember riding it as a kid, and they’d always be working on them. Even when you were riding the roller coaster. Like, ‘Why are these guys working on this roller coaster as it’s going?’ Anyway …

    The fairgrounds. The speedway is beautiful; where it’s at, it’s very accessible. It’s a real big track. Obviously the fairgrounds, it would be nice to have it in Nashville proper. The soccer stadium is over there. So I don’t know. It would be nice if you could switch it up. It’s a smaller track, a different race. Small tracks, they kind of stand out. We have Bristol, also.

    It would be nice if they mixed it up: do the speedway one year, do the fairgrounds one year. I don’t know if I can do this stuff because I’m grand marshal. But that will be one of the things I’ll try.

    Z: You have a lot of power as grand marshal.

    B: Yeah.

    Z: Like, a ton.

    B: Way more than I think. That’s what I’m doing: trying to learn how much power do I have. Just keep pushing the limit.

    NASCAR-centric sketches, ‘The Breadwinner’ and his Daytona 500 pick

    Z: I saw the promotion you did when you became grand marshal. Did you come up with NAYTONA? And do you actually believe you have the power to change some of the elements of the Great American Race?

    B: I do. It doesn’t hurt to ask. Grand marshals get nervous to ask. We talked with the NASCAR team, and I got some comedy writers, so we all just kind of came up with the idea because it was easy to say. So it was just a fun concept to go with. And the day we shot it, it was just fun to play with, T-shirts we made up, acting like we were going to go sell out.

    Z: Do you have any other NASCAR-centric sketches swirling around in your brain? Maybe you get inspiration today?

    B: You know what’s hard? Talladega Nights killed it.

    Z: I know.

    B: That’s what makes it the hardest. There’s stuff they did in that movie where you’re like, ‘Yeah, they did it. It’s unbelievable.’ You’re always looking. You’re always trying to find material, trying to find something to do. I definitely will have my eyes open and see if I see anything. If I do, I need material. I’ve always needed material.

    Z: Wanted to mention your first feature film coming out, The Breadwinner. (Bargatze plays a father with three daughters whose wife goes on Shark Tank, her business takes off, and you keep losing control of a chaotic household.)

    I saw the trailer. I thought it was hilarious. I also thought it was so funny that Kevin O’Leary, after his breakout role in Marty Supreme, is being funny in your movie.

    B: He’s a huge star now. He’s a big problem. (Laughs.)

    Z: Was any of this autobiographical?

    B: A lot of it all comes from truth. I have a joke about not knowing my daughter’s school bus number. It happened. That was just what happened. … I was in PetSmart. I don’t even know what I was getting. Our daughter had a guinea pig. So it all comes from that real thing. And then in the movie, you kind of elevate and exaggerate it even more. … It’s a very fun movie. Everybody can come to it. I think it’s going to appeal to a lot of people.

    Z: Kids are going to laugh at the roof breaking, you falling off the horse, etc.

    B: I would see kids at my show. And it’s like, yeah, when I talk about my wife, and being married, they’re not laughing that much. But when I talk bout a donkey jumping off a high dive, they lighten up a little bit.

    Z: (Laughing.) I probably shouldn’t be laughing this hard. I’m revealing my sophomoric sense of humor.

    B: Yeah, that’s how I get you too. You ignore my wife stuff too. It’s your age to 8-year-olds. You’re going to laugh at more of that than the kids do.

    Z: Thanks so much for your time. And enjoy the race. Oh, by the way, do you have a Daytona 500 winner?

    B: I’m gonna root for Jimmie Johnson. I just love that story.

    Z: It’s his second-to-last Daytona 500.

    B: I saw that. The kid who’s going to three-peat too.

    Z: William Byron! Charlotte guy.

    B: Yeah, that would be pretty wild.

    This story was originally published February 15, 2026 at 11:52 AM.

    Alex Zietlow

    The Charlotte Observer

    Alex Zietlow writes about the Carolina Panthers and the ways in which sports intersect with life for The Charlotte Observer, where he has been a reporter since August 2022. Zietlow’s work has been honored by the Pro Football Writers Association, the N.C. and S.C. Press Associations, as well as the Associated Press Sports Editors (APSE) group. He’s earned six APSE Top 10 distinctions for his coverage on a variety of topics, from billion-dollar stadium renovations to the small moments of triumph that helped a Panthers kicker defy the steepest odds in sports. Zietlow previously wrote for The Herald in Rock Hill (S.C.) from 2019-22.
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  • NASCAR announces new Daytona 500 race time because of threat of bad weather

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    DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.

    The Great American Race’s start time has been moved up an hour.

    NASCAR has announced that the Daytona 500 will now begin at 1:30 p.m. ET Sunday — an hour earlier than its previously scheduled 2:30 p.m. green flag — due to the threat of inclement weather in the Daytona Beach area late Sunday.

    The sanctioning body, thus, is trying to take advantage of a window when they can finish the biggest race on its Cup Series schedule before the rain starts.

    Local forecasts show that heavy thunderstorms could descend on Daytona International Speedway on Sunday evening — which would punctuate a week of exclusively sunny weather. AccuWeather shows that the high on Sunday will be 80 degrees with potential southward wind gusts up to 31 miles per hour.

    Most importantly, that same forecast says that there’s a 55% probability of precipitation — which is expected to begin right around 6 p.m. and carry on into the night.

    The Daytona 500, without any weather stoppages, lasts about 3.5 to four hours long. Moving the start time up is not unprecedented; the sanctioning body did the same thing a year ago.

    The race will still be live by FOX, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

    Here’s the new schedule for fans attending:

    • Parking lots will open at 6 a.m.
    • Gates and hospitality will open at 9 a.m., with the Fan Zone opening at 8:30 a.m.
    • Fans will still see pre-race performances by Miranda Lambert and the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds after the national anthem.

    Alex Zietlow

    The Charlotte Observer

    Alex Zietlow writes about the Carolina Panthers and the ways in which sports intersect with life for The Charlotte Observer, where he has been a reporter since August 2022. Zietlow’s work has been honored by the Pro Football Writers Association, the N.C. and S.C. Press Associations, as well as the Associated Press Sports Editors (APSE) group. He’s earned six APSE Top 10 distinctions for his coverage on a variety of topics, from billion-dollar stadium renovations to the small moments of triumph that helped a Panthers kicker defy the steepest odds in sports. Zietlow previously wrote for The Herald in Rock Hill (S.C.) from 2019-22.
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    Alex Zietlow

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  • Winners and losers from 2026 Daytona Duels: Casey Mears sneaks into Daytona 500

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    Daytona International Speedway saw two Duel races replete with wrecks, passes and drama on Thursday night.

    Check out the winners and losers of the night — and see the starting lineup below, too.

    Winners from Daytona Duels: Casey Mears goes from down a lap to the Daytona 500

    — Casey Mears … what? Can you believe it? Such are appropriate questions after the baffling conclusion to the first Duel race on Thursday night.

    Mears came in as one of the six Open cars vying for one of the two Open slots in the Daytona 500. In order to make that happen, he needed to finish above all other Open cars in Duel No. 1 — and he did just that.

    But how? Through the 60-lap race, Mears’ Ford was up and down, good and bad. He was even a lap down at one point before a caution put him back on the lead lap. But then, with one lap to go and the white flag already out, his Open-car competitor Corey LaJoie spun out, and instead of braking and avoiding the carnage, Mears smashed his foot on the pedal and zoomed ahead of LaJoie before the caution came out. Such a move took guts. And it yielded him a Daytona 500 spot.

    What Mears said postrace: “I got a runner around the outside. I figured I’d stay on the gas no matter what happened. When I saw him spinning, and I missed the first guy, I thought ‘OK, good.’ Then I hit — was it the 9 I hit square? Anyway, I hit somebody square. And I knew when I hit him flat, it didn’t tear up the car too much, and I was going to be able to get back. But I didn’t know who was in front of me still — or whether or not we made it.”

    But he did.

    Casey Mears, driver of the #66 SI Yachts/Gracie Foundation Ford, looks on during qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 11, 2026 in Daytona Beach, Florida.
    Casey Mears, driver of the #66 SI Yachts/Gracie Foundation Ford, looks on during qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 11, 2026 in Daytona Beach, Florida. Kevin C. Cox Getty Images

    — Joey Logano won the first Duel race, marking a mostly good day for Fords. The superspeedway ace and Team Penske as a whole — his teammate, Ryan Blaney, finished second — saw a turbulent-free race.

    “Just a lot of teamwork all the way through,” Logano said. “I think about the 22 team in particular. Nick Hensley, our gas man, did a fantastic job getting us in position out of pit road. Coleman Pressley up on the roof giving us great information. My teammate Ryan Blaney being committed and working together. It’s nice when everything works out the way it’s supposed to.”

    DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 12: Joey Logano, driver of the #22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, celebrates in victory lane after winning Duel 1 for the NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 at Daytona at Daytona International Speedway on February 12, 2026 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)
    Joey Logano, driver of the #22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, celebrates in victory lane after winning Duel 1 for the NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 at Daytona at Daytona International Speedway on February 12, 2026 in Daytona Beach, Florida. James Gilbert Getty Images

    — Chase Elliott. The second Duel race Thursday night was much less eventful than the first. At least, there was a lot less wrecking. Elliott — by virtue of an early and quick pit stop, as well as good blocking down the stretch — won the second Duel race. Elliott also took advantage of some help from Carson Hocevar holding his lane; he also got some help from Kyle Larson, who didn’t break off from single-file racing on the last lap, effectively ensuring his teammate got the Duel win. Elliott is still looking for his first Daytona 500.

    Chase Elliott, driver of the #9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet, celebrates in victory lane after winning Duel 2 for the NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 at Daytona at Daytona International Speedway on February 12, 2026 in Daytona Beach, Florida.
    Chase Elliott, driver of the #9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet, celebrates in victory lane after winning Duel 2 for the NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 at Daytona at Daytona International Speedway on February 12, 2026 in Daytona Beach, Florida. James Gilbert Getty Images

    “A great way to get the blood pumping for sure on a Thursday night,” Elliott told the FOX broadcast postrace. “There was a lot going on those last handful, really ever since we came off of pit road after the cycle, we were getting after it. It was a lot of fun.

    “Had some great support there. Carson did a great job helping me control those lanes, helping get Team Chevy for Victory Lane tonight. Certainly owe him an appreciation for just kind of sticking with it, also pushing me well. It’s real easy to get people out of control. Appreciate that.”

    — Kyle Busch did all his work the night before the Duels — on Wednesday, when he qualified for the Daytona 500 pole on during single-car qualifying. With approximately six laps to go, the two-time Cup Series champion ducked out of the chaos after Duel race No. 1 — and considering the wreckage, that was probably a prudent decision.

    — Anthony Alfredo was the final Open car who notched his spot in the Daytona 500. He did so by running in the Top 2 all day and staying out of trouble. Through tears, Alfredo said: “I’ve only been choked up twice in my life; once when (my daughter) was born and this time for qualifying for the Daytona 500.”

    — In the new postseason format — the 10-race “Chase” playoff— a Duel race pays points. That means that the winner pays 10 points, second place pays 9, etc. The Top 10 in Duel No. 1: Logano, Ryan Blaney, Austin Dillon, Brad Keselowski, John Hunter Nemechek, Shane van Gisbergen, Daniel Suarez, Casey Mears, Ryan Preece, Alex Bowman. The Top 10 in Duel No. 2: Chase Elliott, Carson Hocevar, Kyle Larson, Michael McDowell, Christopher Bell, Josh Berry, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Todd Gilliland, Ty Gibbs, Denny Hamlin.

    Casey Mears, driver of the #66 SI Yachts/Gracie Foundation Ford, exits the infield grass after an on-track incident during Duel 1 for the NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 at Daytona at Daytona International Speedway on February 12, 2026 in Daytona Beach, Florida. That put him down a lap — and was the precursor to a remarkable comeback.
    Casey Mears, driver of the #66 SI Yachts/Gracie Foundation Ford, exits the infield grass after an on-track incident during Duel 1 for the NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 at Daytona at Daytona International Speedway on February 12, 2026 in Daytona Beach, Florida. That put him down a lap — and was the precursor to a remarkable comeback. Kevin C. Cox Getty Images

    Losers from Daytona Duels: RFK Racing’s day started so promising

    — All of RFK Racing had a rough day after the first Duel race. And that’s a rough reality considering how well they were situated with five laps to go in Duel race No. 1.

    With just under 10 laps to go, Corey LaJoie (RFK’s Open car entry) was running right behind Brad Keselowski, who was passing cars and controlling the lines like the superspeedway ace could. But then, after the final restart, that Mears chaos erupted and yielded damage to Chris Buescher and Ryan Preece; it resulted in LaJoie’s elimination; and it left Keselowski (who’s also a co-owner in RFK) as the lone RFK driver in the Top 5.

    Just let Keselowski explain it for himself: “We did everything we said we were going to do. Got all four cars to the front. Ran a pretty good pit cycle. All hell broke loose. Things kind of got separated. Ryan Preece got shuffled. Couldn’t keep the bottom lane super tight the way I wanted to. There was a wreck down the backstretch. That got the 17 car.

    “At the end I’m not really sure what happened. Somebody got in the back of Corey. Just really disappointing. We were in a spot to get him in the race. To go from having four cars in control of the race to three of them torn up and only one of them in the Top 5 is quintessential Daytona.”

    — The four Open cars that did not qualify for the Daytona 500: Corey LaJoie, Chandler Smith, BJ McLeod and JJ Yeley, Justin Allgaier and Corey Heim qualified into the Daytona 500 on speed Wednesday; Mears and Alfredo did so during the Duels on Thursday.

    — Bubba Wallace in Duel race No. 1 had his bumper pushed and thereafter spun out from the front, foiling his day.

    Kyle Busch, driver of the #8 zone Jalapeno Lime Chevrolet, Ryan Blaney, driver of the #12 Menards/Peak Ford, John H. Nemechek, driver of the #42 Dollar Tree Toyota, and Joey Logano, driver of the #22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, race during Duel 1 for the NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 at Daytona at Daytona International Speedway on February 12, 2026 in Daytona Beach, Florida.
    Kyle Busch, driver of the #8 zone Jalapeno Lime Chevrolet, Ryan Blaney, driver of the #12 Menards/Peak Ford, John H. Nemechek, driver of the #42 Dollar Tree Toyota, and Joey Logano, driver of the #22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, race during Duel 1 for the NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 at Daytona at Daytona International Speedway on February 12, 2026 in Daytona Beach, Florida. Jeff Curry Getty Images

    Daytona 500 starting lineup

    *Open car that qualified into the Daytona 500.

    **Open Exemption Provisional.

    POSITION DRIVER CAR NUMBER
    Pole Kyle Busch 8
    2 Chase Briscoe 19
    3 Joey Logano 22
    4 Chase Elliott 9
    5 Ryan Blaney 12
    6 Carson Hocevar 77
    7 Austin Dillon 3
    8 Kyle Larson 5
    9 Brad Keselowski 6
    10 Michael McDowell 71
    11 John Hunter Nemechek 42
    12 Christopher Bell 20
    13 Shane van Gisbergen 97
    14 Josh Berry 21
    15 Daniel Suarez 7
    16 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. 47
    17 Casey Mears* 66
    18 Todd Gilliland 34
    19 Ryan Preece 60
    20 Ty Gibbs 54
    21 Alex Bowman 48
    22 Denny Hamlin 11
    23 Cole Custer 41
    24 Erik Jones 43
    25 Noah Gragson 4
    26 Tyler Reddick 45
    27 Bubba Wallace 23
    28 Riley Herbst 35
    29 Corey Heim* 67
    30 Zane Smith 38
    31 Jimmie Johnson** 84
    32 Connor Zilisch 88
    33 Cody Ware 51
    34 Ty Dillon 10
    35 AJ Allmendinger 16
    36 Austin Cindric 2
    37 Ross Chastain 1
    38 Anthony Alfredo* 62
    39 William Byron 24
    40 Justin Allgaier* 40
    41 Chris Buescher 41

    Alex Zietlow

    The Charlotte Observer

    Alex Zietlow writes about the Carolina Panthers and the ways in which sports intersect with life for The Charlotte Observer, where he has been a reporter since August 2022. Zietlow’s work has been honored by the Pro Football Writers Association, the N.C. and S.C. Press Associations, as well as the Associated Press Sports Editors (APSE) group. He’s earned six APSE Top 10 distinctions for his coverage on a variety of topics, from billion-dollar stadium renovations to the small moments of triumph that helped a Panthers kicker defy the steepest odds in sports. Zietlow previously wrote for The Herald in Rock Hill (S.C.) from 2019-22.
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  • NASCAR’s Cook Out Clash pushed back to Wednesday

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    WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — The Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem has been pushed back to Wednesday. It was originally scheduled for Sunday, then pushed back to Monday before being postponed again due to snow. 

    What You Need To Know

    • The Cook Out Clash will be held on Wednesday

    • Parking lots open at 11:30 a.m., gates open at 12:30 p.m.

    • Practice and qualifying starts at 1:30 p.m. 

    • The last chance qualifier is at 4:30 p.m., and Clash starts at 6:30 p.m. 


    “We felt that this was the right call on the right move, and we feel very confident in our ability to execute this event,” said Justin Swilling, project lead for the NASCAR Cook Out Clash.

    The Cook Out Clash is being pushed back once more. NASCAR made a collaborative decision with the City of Winston-Salem, N.C. Department of Transportation and other community stakeholders to move the race to Wednesday due to safety and cleanup efforts.

    On Sunday, crews spent the day cleaning up snow on the track, the stands and areas around the stadium after a winter storm dropped several inches of snow Saturday.  

    “The condition of the facility now is continually improving while the temperatures remain below freezing,” Swilling said. “The sunlight has helped us tremendously.

    Over 40 truck loads of snow and ice have since been removed from the property. Officials say, fortunately, a lot of ticket buyers for the nearly sold out event live nearby.

    “Whoever shows up at Bowman Gray Stadium, we’re ready to find a seat for them and put on one heck of a show,” Swilling said.

    “We got really lucky last year with the weather,” said Burt Myers, who will race in the No. 50, Team AmeriVet, Chevrolet. “I kept saying this time of year, we can handle the cold if we can just dodge the snow and the ice, and it bit us this year.”

    Myers is one of the dozens of drivers waiting to compete in the Clash. Myers along with his family have made a name for themselves racing in the modified summer series at the historic track, where he’s won numerous titles. Myers is looking forward to another chance competing for a victory at the place known as “The Madhouse.”

    “Typically we’re used to just getting ready for racing season [this time of the year],” Myers said. “To throw a race in, it gives us a chance to kick start a little early and it’s a Cup car, so who wouldn’t be excited about that, right?”

    Parking lots are set to open at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday. Off-site shuttles will start running at noon with gates opening at 12:30 p.m.

    Follow us on Instagram at spectrumnews1nc for news and other happenings across North Carolina.

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    Zach Tucker

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  • NASCAR’s Greg Biffle wasn’t flying his plane before crash that killed him and 6 others: NTSB

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    WASHINGTON — Retired NASCAR driver Greg Biffle was not flying his own jet when it crashed last month, killing him and six others, according to a Friday report from federal safety officials who also concluded that while an experienced pilot was at the controls, no one else on board was qualified to be the required copilot.

    The preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board said that Biffle and the retired airline pilot at the controls, Dennis Dutton, and his son Jack, who were all licensed pilots, noticed problems with gauges malfunctioning on the Cessna C550 before it crashed while trying to return to the Statesville Regional Airport in North Carolina.

    The plane erupted into a large fire when it hit the ground about a third of a mile (550 meters) from the airport’s runway.

    The NTSB made clear that Jack Dutton was sitting in the copilot seat. Neither Jack Dutton nor Biffle had the right endorsement on their pilot’s licenses to serve as a copilot on that plane, but it’s not clear whether the experience of the copilot played any role in the crash. The report said that a thrust reverser indicator light wasn’t working before takeoff, but after the plane got into the air, the pilot’s altimeter and some other instruments weren’t working.

    The nature of the problems with the plane isn’t clear at this stage in the investigation, partly because the cockpit voice recorder cut out at times and NTSB experts have only just begun to dig into what caused the crash. Over the radio, Jack Dutton announced, “we’re having some problems here” and the cockpit recorder captured part of the conversation between the three pilots about the issues with the plane.

    SEE ALSO: NASCAR community mourns Greg Biffle and family at memorial service in Charlotte

    Biffle’s wife, Cristina, and children Ryder, 5, and Emma, 14, were killed in the crash along with his friend, Craig Wadsworth.

    Biffle, 55, won more than 50 races across NASCAR’s three circuits, including 19 at the Cup Series level. He also won the Trucks Series championship in 2000 and the Xfinity Series title in 2002.

    In 2024, Biffle was honored for his humanitarian efforts after Hurricane Helene struck the U.S., even using his personal helicopter to deliver aid to flooded, remote western North Carolina.

    Hundreds of people in the NASCAR community gathered at an arena in Charlotte earlier this month to honor Biffle at a public memorial service.

    The jet had departed Statesville Regional Airport, about 45 miles (72 kilometers) north of Charlotte about 10 minutes before it crashed while trying to return and land.

    The plane’s speed and altitude fluctuated significantly during the brief flight. At one point, the plane quickly soared from 1,800 feet (550 meters) up to 4,000 feet (1,220 meters) before descending again. Just before the crash, it was only a couple of hundred feet off the ground. Experts said its path was consistent with a flight crew that experienced an issue and needed to return quickly.

    The video in the player above is from an earlier report.

    Copyright © 2026 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

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    AP

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  • Report: Plane lacked qualified co-pilot before crash that killed 7

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    Retired NASCAR driver Greg Biffle was not flying his own jet when it crashed last month, killing him and six others, according to a Friday report from federal safety officials who also concluded that while an experienced pilot was at the controls, no one else on board was qualified to be the required copilot.

    What You Need To Know

    • Federal safety officials have found that retired NASCAR driver Greg Biffle was not flying his jet when it crashed last month, killing him and six others

    • The National Transportation Safety Board released a preliminary report Friday

    • It states that while an experienced pilot was at the controls, no one on board was qualified to serve as copilot, which was required

    • An aviation safety consultant who used to investigate crashes for the NTSB and Federal Aviation Administration says the lack of an experienced copilot may have been a key factor in the crash

    The preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board said that Biffle and the retired airline pilot at the controls, Dennis Dutton, and his son Jack, who were all licensed pilots, noticed problems with gauges malfunctioning on the Cessna C550 before it crashed while trying to return to the Statesville Regional Airport in North Carolina.

    First responders tend to the scene of a plane crash at a regional airport in Statesville, N.C., Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025. (AP File Photo/Matt Kelley)

    The plane erupted into a large fire when it hit the ground about a third of a mile from the airport’s runway.

    The NTSB made clear that Jack Dutton was sitting in the copilot seat. Neither Jack Dutton nor Biffle had the right endorsement on their pilot’s licenses to serve as a copilot on that plane. Aviation safety consultant Jeff Guzzetti, who used to investigate crashes for both the NTSB and Federal Aviation Administration, said he believes the lack of an experienced copilot may have been a key factor in the crash.

    “This airplane requires two trained pilots, and if things go wrong and you don’t have a trained pilot, then bad things can happen,” Guzzetti said. “The airplane might have been able to be landed safely if there were two qualified pilots up front.”

    The report said that a thrust reverser indicator light wasn’t working before takeoff, but after the plane got into the air, the pilot’s altimeter and some other instruments weren’t working.

    The nature of the problems with the plane isn’t clear at this stage in the investigation, partly because the cockpit voice recorder cut out at times and NTSB experts have only just begun to dig into what caused the crash. Over the radio, Jack Dutton announced, “we’re having some problems here” and the cockpit recorder captured part of the conversation between the three pilots about the issues with the plane.

    But the report indicates that the pilots were able to resolve the problems with the gauges before they tried to land back at the airport. It’s not clear why the plane came in so low and slow.

    Biffle’s wife, Cristina, and children Ryder, 5, and Emma, 14, were killed in the crash along with his friend, Craig Wadsworth.

    Biffle, 55, won more than 50 races across NASCAR’s three circuits, including 19 at the Cup Series level. He also won the Trucks Series championship in 2000 and the Xfinity Series title in 2002.

    In 2024, Biffle was honored for his humanitarian efforts after Hurricane Helene struck the U.S., even using his personal helicopter to deliver aid to flooded, remote western North Carolina.

    Hundreds of people in the NASCAR community gathered at an arena in Charlotte earlier this month to honor Biffle at a public memorial service.

    The jet had departed Statesville Regional Airport, about 45 miles north of Charlotte, about 10 minutes before it crashed while trying to return and land. Every indication is that the plane needed to land quickly because of the problems, so it wouldn’t have been a good option to fly to Charlotte.

    The plane’s speed and altitude fluctuated significantly during the brief flight. At one point, the plane quickly soared from 1,800 feet up to 4,000 feet before descending again. Just before the crash, it was only a couple of hundred feet off the ground.

    An unqualified copilot in that seat is a violation of FAA rules that could have led to suspended licenses for both the pilot in charge and the unqualified copilot if the agency had discovered it under normal circumstances. But the FAA might not have known about that unless someone reported it.

    Follow us on Instagram at spectrumnews1nc for news and other happenings across North Carolina.

    (National Transportation Safety Board)

    (National Transportation Safety Board)

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    Daniel Gray, Associated Press

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  • After 7 lives were lost in the Biffle plane crash, a chance to heal in Charlotte

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    Even now, 29 days later, it is an almost unimaginable tragedy.

    On Dec. 18, 2025, seven lives were lost in a plane crash in Statesville, 40 miles north of Charlotte. We still don’t know why.

    We do know who, though, and hundreds of people came together Friday morning at Bojangles Coliseum in Charlotte for a memorial service to remember the seven people killed in Statesville. Everyone was there to celebrate the lives of former NASCAR racer Greg Biffle, his wife, Cristina; his children Emma and Ryder, his best friend Craig Wadsworth, and Jack and Dennis Dutton, who were father and son.

    Michael Clinton of Cherryville walks beside one of former NASCAR driver Greg Biffle’s race cars parked outside Bojangles Coliseum on Friday in Charlotte. Three of Biffle’s old race cars were displayed outside prior to a service to remember the seven people killed in a plane crash on Dec. 18, 2025, in Statesville. Biffle, his wife and his two children all lost their lives in the crash.
    Michael Clinton of Cherryville walks beside one of former NASCAR driver Greg Biffle’s race cars parked outside Bojangles Coliseum on Friday in Charlotte. Three of Biffle’s old race cars were displayed outside prior to a service to remember the seven people killed in a plane crash on Dec. 18, 2025, in Statesville. Biffle, his wife and his two children all lost their lives in the crash. JEFF SINER jsiner@charlotteobserver.com

    The 85-minute service came in front of a crowd of about 600 people. It was open to the public, and so it drew a wide range of mourners. There were men and women in black suits. There were whole families wearing boots, jeans and hoodies. Many of the mourners kept their coats on — it’s hockey season at Bojangles Coliseum, home of the Charlotte Checkers, and the temperature inside wasn’t a whole lot different than the frigid January air they walked through outside.

    But people forgot the temperature as they listened to NASCAR luminaries including Jeff Burton and Phil Parsons eulogize the seven. Other speakers included Greg Biffle’s niece Jordyn Biffle, and his close friend Garrett Mitchell (also known as the YouTube star Cleetus McFarland).

    “He lived life fast and fully, and he loved to make people smile,” Jordyn Biffle said at the service. She was talking about her uncle Greg at that point, but the comment could have been made about any of the seven who died, really. They all were fans of things that went fast — planes, four-wheelers and automobiles.

    Jordyn Biffle, niece of former NASCAR driver Greg Biffle, speaks during a memorial service Friday morning at Bojangles Coliseum in Charlotte.
    Jordyn Biffle, niece of former NASCAR driver Greg Biffle, speaks during a memorial service Friday morning at Bojangles Coliseum in Charlotte. JEFF SINER jsiner@charlotteobserver.com

    And the smiling part?

    They were all good at that, too. Photos and videos shown on the scoreboard at the service depicted one family after another — both biological ones and racing ones — grinning widely at the camera, and at each other.

    It was Greg Biffle who was the most well-known of the seven, of course, due to his NASCAR championships and, later, his rescue efforts after Hurricane Helene in western North Carolina. It turned out Biffle was quite a prankster, too, as a number of stories revealed from the podium illustrated Friday.

    I had known a little of this already, having asked racer Dale Earnhardt Jr. about Biffle earlier in the week. Dale Jr., it turns out, had once gotten a boxer puppy from Biffle (Dale named the dog Killer). Later, they would tie their boats up together on Lake Norman and shoot the breeze. After they stopped competing on different race teams, they found out they actually had a lot in common.

    “He was a super dude,” Earnhardt told me, “once you got to know him. And man, did he ever like to mess with people.”

    That Biffle did, from a very early age. “The Biff” pranked people and didn’t mind getting pranked himself.

    Former NASCAR driver Jeff Burton speaks during a memorial service Friday morning at Bojangles Coliseum in Charlotte. The ceremony was held to honor the lives lost in the Dec. 18, 2025 plane crash in Statesville that included former NASCAR driver Greg Biffle.
    Former NASCAR driver Jeff Burton speaks during a memorial service Friday morning at Bojangles Coliseum in Charlotte. The ceremony was held to honor the lives lost in the Dec. 18, 2025 plane crash in Statesville that included former NASCAR driver Greg Biffle. JEFF SINER jsiner@charlotteobserver.com

    The speakers at the service Friday told stories about a high school-aged Biffle doing burnouts in front of his school and getting suspended; of climbing on a closed waterslide and sliding down in the middle of the night as an adult and getting caught; of racing with a broken arm that he and his team tried to hide from his car owner; of losing a bet and having to go sleeveless on a ski trip. And, of course, there was all the humanitarian work Biffle did — under all those high jinks, there was an enormous heart.

    Photos of the seven people who died in a plane crash in Statesville, North Carolina, on Dec. 18, 2025, are displayed during a memorial service at Bojangles Coliseum in Charlotte on Friday.
    Photos of the seven people who died in a plane crash in Statesville, North Carolina, on Dec. 18, 2025, are displayed during a memorial service at Bojangles Coliseum in Charlotte on Friday. JEFF SINER jsiner@charlotteobserver.com

    As NASCAR president Steve O’Donnell told me earlier this week: “If you asked me who a NASCAR driver is that everyone would want to aspire to be, it’s Greg Biffle. And I don’t mean that just from on track, but just a good guy who was involved in so many things, cared about family and made friends immediately. … That’s why it’s such a huge loss. That’s why you’re seeing this outpouring. Greg reflects the kind of guy a lot of people want to be. If we could have more Greg Biffles in the world and in our garage area, it’d be a great thing for the sport.”

    Garrett Mitchell wipes tears from his eyes as he speaks about his close friend, the late Greg Biffle, on Friday in Charlotte.
    Garrett Mitchell wipes tears from his eyes as he speaks about his close friend, the late Greg Biffle, on Friday in Charlotte. JEFF SINER jsiner@charlotteobserver.com

    While this memorial service represented closure in some ways, in other ways this wound remains fresh. In one of those acts that makes you lose some faith in the human race, Biffle’s house was reported to have been burglarized Jan. 8, just three weeks after the plane crash. The incident report said $30,000 in cash and a backpack were stolen, along with guns and memorabilia.

    But more than anything else, the mystery of the crash looms.

    We still don’t know what caused it. The National Transportation Safety Board, which is investigating the crash, has yet to say who was piloting the plane at the time of the crash (three people on board had pilot licenses).

    Any day now, though, the NTSB will release its preliminary findings. That report will give everyone a sense as to why that plane left Statesville on a Thursday morning, then immediately turned around and tried to return to the same airport before striking trees and light stanchions, crashing and bursting into flame only 10 minutes after takeoff.

    Jordyn Biffle, niece of former NASCAR driver Greg Biffle, exits the stage after speaking Friday at a remembrance ceremony at Bojangles Coliseum in Charlotte.
    Jordyn Biffle, niece of former NASCAR driver Greg Biffle, exits the stage after speaking Friday at a remembrance ceremony at Bojangles Coliseum in Charlotte. JEFF SINER jsiner@charlotteobserver.com

    “It’s just such a tragedy,” NASCAR hall of famer Mark Martin told me earlier this week. Martin was a teammate of Biffle on the racetrack and a pilot who has flown Cessnas himself. “And it’s more than Greg. It’s an entire family, and a father and son, and Greg’s friend — such a huge loss. And as a pilot, it’s additionally tough. … Pilots have a pretty good idea of what sort of issues there can be. … And then, of course, my dad and his wife and his daughter died in a plane crash. So it’s a real sore spot for me.”

    Yes, Mark Martin lost three family members in a separate plane crash back in 1998. That is one of a series of plane crashes that have taken the lives of people who were central to NASCAR, or family members of someone who was.

    That is another story for another time, though.

    Friday was about trying to heal and to remember the seven people who died on Dec. 18, 2025. They didn’t deserve what happened. But they were remembered well and fully, on a cold January day in Charlotte.

    This story was originally published January 16, 2026 at 3:33 PM.

    Scott Fowler

    The Charlotte Observer

    Columnist Scott Fowler has written for The Charlotte Observer since 1994. He has earned 24 national APSE sportswriting awards and hosted The Observer’s podcast “Carruth,” which Sports Illustrated once named “Podcast of the Year.” Fowler hosts the online series and podcast “Sports Legends of the Carolinas,” which features 1-on-1 interviews with NC and SC sports icons. He also writes occasionally about non-sports subjects, such as the 5-part series “9/11/74,” which chronicled the plane crash of Eastern Air Lines Flight 212 in Charlotte in 1974.
    Support my work with a digital subscription

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    Scott Fowler

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  • NASCAR Community Mourns Driver Greg Biffle, 6 Others Killed In Plane Crash At Memorial Service – KXL

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

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

    Driver/influencer 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 have all been saying, ‘Be like Biff,’ since we lost our hero,” said Mitchell, who befriended Biffle later in his life. “What does that mean? That means to take opportunities when you see them. Whether you are taking opportunity to pass somebody on the track or getting off your couch to chase a dream you have only 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 being generous whenever you can and helping other humans when they’re down. That is what it means to be like Biff,” Mitchell added.

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

    He drew headlines last year for his tireless humanitarian efforts as a helicopter pilot supplying aid in the devastation left behind by Hurricane Helene.

    Biffle’s niece, Jordyn Biffle, told stories about Ryder’s hero being his father, Emma’s laughter and Cristina’s loving nature.

    She said the Biffle family “lived fully, loved deeply and gave freely.”

    “Their lives remind us that what matters isn’t how long we are here, but how we use the time we are given and how fiercely we love while we are here,” Biffle added. “And while this loss is devastating beyond words, their impact remains etched into all of us that were lucky enough to have known them, loved them and be changed by them.”

    In the parking lot outside of the coliseum, fans paused to peer inside three racecars Biffle drove during his career.

    Inside, the pictures of the seven who lost their lives where shown on a videoboard above the makeshift platform in the center of the covered hockey rink. There were seven wreaths on the stage where 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 support employee while he was in high school.

    He said Biffle made a lasting impact on him, and felt he needed to attend.

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

    Back home, Zirkle still has model racing trucks in his gameroom autographed by Biffle that he cherishes.

    Zirkle said he didn’t believe the news of the crash 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 just doesn’t seem real at all.”

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

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

    The Cessna C550 carrying the Biffle family and the others erupted in flames when it hit the ground shortly after it had departed Statesville Regional Airport, about an hour’s drive north of Charlotte.

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

    The crash a week before Christmas left the NASCAR community shaken and was another blow in a long offseason. Ten days later, on the 52nd wedding anniversary of Denny Hamlin’s parents, the house the future Hall of Famer built to repay them for their years of sacrifice burned down. His father, Dennis, was killed, and Mary Lou Hamlin was rushed to a hospital burn unit.

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

    As part of the public tribute, Mitchell planned to do a burnout later Friday near Biffle’s marker along the North Carolina Auto Racing Walk of Fame in Mooresville.

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    Jordan Vawter

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  • In Charlotte, untold stories flow about NASCAR star Greg Biffle and his family

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    Seven weeks before his first NASCAR Cup Series win — a win that would propel the driver to rookie of the year honors and put him on the fast track to becoming one of the sport’s superstars — Greg Biffle was in trouble.

    He’d broken his arm doing something rookies shouldn’t do. And no one could know that he’d done it.

    “Now, Greg broke his arm by” — air quotes — “climbing in the motor home, which just so happened to be out in the sand dunes, where there are sand rails and 1,000-horse-power cars and four-wheelers,” said Jeff Burton, Biffle’s longtime teammate at Roush Fenway Racing, chuckling as he recalled the story.

    “He’d concocted a plan and needed (his PR manager) Patrick (Clay Rogers) to play along with it,” Burton said. “He’s not going to tell anybody about the broken arm. Because when you’re a rookie, you can’t go out and have fun and break your arm and show up at the racetrack. That’s a good way to lose your job.”

    Former NASCAR driver Jeff Burton speaks during a Gathering in Remembrance ceremony at Bojangles Coliseum on Friday in Charlotte. The ceremony was held to honor the lives lost in the Dec. 18, 2025 plane crash in Statesville that included former NASCAR driver Greg Biffle.
    Former NASCAR driver Jeff Burton speaks during a Gathering in Remembrance ceremony at Bojangles Coliseum on Friday in Charlotte. The ceremony was held to honor the lives lost in the Dec. 18, 2025 plane crash in Statesville that included former NASCAR driver Greg Biffle. JEFF SINER jsiner@charlotteobserver.com

    That 2003 race was in Fontana, California. Pushing 118 degrees. Biffle, the gregarious type who’d show up early on race days, showed up just in time for practice, Burton remembered — and in a winter coat to cover his bulky cast.

    The practice session would go fine. So would qualifying. Biffle spun out once on an early restart during the actual race, then put together a dignified run that yielded 18th place.

    “And a bit of humility from me: I finished 19th without a broken arm,” Burton said. “And seven races later, Greg Biffle went on to win his first Cup race at Daytona. That’s Greg. We have a problem, we’re going to deal with it. We’re going to figure it out.”

    Greg Biffle, the former NASCAR driver and Hall of Fame nominee whose work during Hurricane Helene saved countless lives across western North Carolina, died in a Statesville plane crash on Dec. 18, 2025. He was 55 years old.
    Greg Biffle, the former NASCAR driver and Hall of Fame nominee whose work during Hurricane Helene saved countless lives across western North Carolina, died in a Statesville plane crash on Dec. 18, 2025. He was 55 years old. Sarah Crabill Getty Images

    Burton shared this never-publicly-told story about Biffle on Friday in Bojangles Coliseum in Charlotte, standing on a stage in front of seven wreaths cloaked in white roses. Those wreaths represented the seven people who died in a plane crash last month at a regional airport in Statesville. The deceased: Greg Biffle; his wife, Cristina; his daughter, Emma; his son, Ryder; his best friend, Craig Wadsworth; a pilot, Dennis Dutton; and Dennis’s son, Jack.

    Photos of the seven people who died in a plane crash in Statesville on Dec. 18, 2025, are displayed during a Gathering in Remembrance ceremony Friday at Bojangles Coliseum in Charlotte. Among the people killed was former NASCAR driver Greg Biffle.
    Photos of the seven people who died in a plane crash in Statesville on Dec. 18, 2025, are displayed during a Gathering in Remembrance ceremony Friday at Bojangles Coliseum in Charlotte. Among the people killed was former NASCAR driver Greg Biffle. JEFF SINER jsiner@charlotteobserver.com

    It was a morning of stories that flowed like milk and honey and motor oil. Phil Parsons, the brother of Benny Parsons, retold the story of how Benny introduced Biffle to Jack Roush and got him into NASCAR. That career, of course, led to 19 wins over 515 starts and a NASCAR Hall of Fame nomination — all of which the 600 mourners in the crowd had been reminded of a lot over the past 29 days.

    Burton had wells of details about Biffle’s life on and off the track. Off the track, after all, is where Biffle truly became a North Carolina hero, using his personal helicopter to deliver supplies to hard-to-reach areas of Western North Carolina that were ravaged by the deadly Hurricane Helene.

    Two of former NASCAR driver Greg Biffle’s race cars and a truck series truck sit outside Bojangles Coliseum on Friday during a Gathering in Remembrance in Charlotte to honor the lives lost in the Dec. 18, 2025 plane crash in Statesville that included Biffle.
    Two of former NASCAR driver Greg Biffle’s race cars and a truck series truck sit outside Bojangles Coliseum on Friday during a Gathering in Remembrance in Charlotte to honor the lives lost in the Dec. 18, 2025 plane crash in Statesville that included Biffle. JEFF SINER jsiner@charlotteobserver.com

    Jordyn Biffle, Greg’s niece, spoke of Greg but also the rest of the Biffle family including most of all Cristina, someone she considered her best friend.

    The memorial concluded with a prayer, immediately preceded by a live, acoustic rendition of Carly Pearce’s “Show Me Around” — sung beautifully by Lindsay Bowman as photos of flashed on the arena’s jumbotron: of a 5-year-old Ryder smiling with a mini-fire-suit on; of Wadsworth holding a large bass he plucked from the ocean; of a high-school Emma taking prom photos with her mother.

    Jordyn Biffle, niece of former NASCAR driver Greg Biffle exits the stage after speaking at a Gathering in Remembrance ceremony on Friday at Bojangles Coliseum in Charlotte. The ceremony, Gathering in Remembrance was held for the seven people who died in a plane crash on Dec. 18, 2025, in Statesville. Among the group was former NASCAR driver Greg Biffle.
    Jordyn Biffle, niece of former NASCAR driver Greg Biffle exits the stage after speaking at a Gathering in Remembrance ceremony on Friday at Bojangles Coliseum in Charlotte. The ceremony, Gathering in Remembrance was held for the seven people who died in a plane crash on Dec. 18, 2025, in Statesville. Among the group was former NASCAR driver Greg Biffle. JEFF SINER jsiner@charlotteobserver.com

    “They lived fully, loved deeply and gave freely,” Jordyn said. “Their lives remind us that what matters isn’t how long we’re here, but how we use the time we’re given, and how fiercely we love while we’re here.”

    Jordyn Biffle, niece of former NASCAR driver Greg Biffle speaks during a Gathering in Remembrance ceremony at Bojangles Coliseum on Friday in Charlotte. The ceremony, Gathering in Remembrance was held for the seven people who died in a plane crash on Dec. 18, 2025 in Statesville, NC. Among the group was former NASCAR driver Greg Biffle.
    Jordyn Biffle, niece of former NASCAR driver Greg Biffle speaks during a Gathering in Remembrance ceremony at Bojangles Coliseum on Friday in Charlotte. The ceremony, Gathering in Remembrance was held for the seven people who died in a plane crash on Dec. 18, 2025 in Statesville, NC. Among the group was former NASCAR driver Greg Biffle. JEFF SINER jsiner@charlotteobserver.com

    Garrett Mitchell was the final speaker on the stage before the prayer and song and final goodbye. Mitchell, a famous YouTuber who goes by the name Cleetus McFarland, wouldn’t go as far to say he was Greg’s best friend; that title belonged to Wadsworth, whose “no drama,” white-bearded, pure-hearted soul accompanied Biffle everywhere, Mitchell said.

    But Mitchell had stories. Unending amounts of them. They not only made him laugh and recentered his focus through a tough, 23-minute testimony — “Can I have a napkin?” he asked his wife midway through to wipe his face of tears — but they also underscored or highlighted many stories that’s been shared over the month since the tragedy.

    Garrett Mitchell wipes tears from his eyes as he speaks during a Gathering in Remembrance ceremony at Bojangles Coliseum in Charlotte, NC on Friday, January 16, 2026. The ceremony, Gathering in Remembrance was held for the seven people who died in a plane crash on Thursday, December 18, 2025 in Statesville, NC. Among the group was former NASCAR driver Greg Biffle. Mitchell was a close friend of Biffles.
    Garrett Mitchell wipes tears from his eyes as he speaks during Friday’s Gathering in Remembrance ceremony at Bojangles Coliseum in Charlotte. The ceremony, Gathering in Remembrance was held for the seven people who died in a plane crash on Dec. 18, 2025, in Statesville. Among the group was former NASCAR driver Greg Biffle. Mitchell was a close friend of Biffle. JEFF SINER jsiner@charlotteobserver.com

    There was the story of the time Biffle — Mitchell and their friend group called him “Mr. The Biff” — invited Mitchell to his home in Lake Norman. Mitchell was flying his helicopter in, and Biffle set ablaze an acre of grass to offer Mitchell a smoke signal of where Biffle’s house was: “That was really nice of him,” Mitchell said. He then laughed: “But it was also the same spot he wanted me to land. I was like, ‘Brother, how can we land while the LZ (landing zone) is on fire?!”

    There were other stories Mitchell experienced first-hand: of Biffle losing a bet and having to not wear sleeves for a whole month (he lived up to the bet even on ski slopes); of Biffle, endearingly but unfailingly, forgetting his wife’s drink every time they ventured to a bar together.

    Longtime NASCAR executive Mike Helton, center, attends a Gathering in Remembrance ceremony at Bojangles Coliseum on Friday in Charlotte. The ceremony was held to honor the lives lost in the Dec. 18, 2025 plane crash in Statesville that included former NASCAR driver Greg Biffle.
    Longtime NASCAR executive Mike Helton, center, attends a Gathering in Remembrance ceremony at Bojangles Coliseum on Friday in Charlotte. The ceremony was held to honor the lives lost in the Dec. 18, 2025 plane crash in Statesville that included former NASCAR driver Greg Biffle. JEFF SINER jsiner@charlotteobserver.com

    There were also stories Mitchell shared that he’d heard from earlier in Biffle’s life. That included the story of Biffle somehow maneuvering his yellow Pontiac and performing a burnout inside the gymnasium of Camas High School in his Camas, Washington, hometown for his friends and classmates — an action that caused, understandably, an expulsion as well as his father impounding his car.

    The one that might speak most about Biffle was the one Mitchell told about Biffle’s son, Ryder.

    “Staying at Biff’s house meant you were going for an evening trail ride with Ryder,” Mitchell said. “He loved leading myself and all of our guys here on his dirt bike trails. And I’m honored to be one of the few people to get in a racing incident with Ryder Biffle.”

    By racing, of course, Mitchell meant down a driveway that slalomed through trees.

    “Actually, I think I got a little heavy on the breaks into the turn, and Ryder was a little behind on the breaks,” Mitchell continued. “But anyhow, there we were, grinding to a halt on the asphalt. Now, I’m thinking, ‘This kid is going to be crying big-time here.’ But as I looked at him, he was actually smiling, and laughing, and insisted on racing again.

    “Luckily it was dark out, so I don’t think his wounds showed as he passed his mom and dad. … Ryder hid it, and we kept on racing.”

    Greg Biffle's North Carolina Auto Racing Walk of Fame marker is turned in a memorial on Dec. 19, 2025, on North Main Street in Mooresville.
    Greg Biffle’s North Carolina Auto Racing Walk of Fame marker is turned in a memorial on Dec. 19, 2025, on North Main Street in Mooresville. KHADEJEH NIKOUYEH Knikouyeh@charlotteobserver.com

    Ryder didn’t know his father had done the same thing decades earlier, in a heavy winter jacket in Fontana at Cup race — the kind of race that springboarded Biffle into the nation’s consciousness, that opened other avenues for Biffle’s support and aid during Helene, that made him who he was.

    Ryder simply shared Greg’s fearlessness, his heart, his mind. And he offered Greg the simplest but most powerful compliment a son could offer a father.

    Said Jordyn Biffle: “Ryder had really big dreams of being just like his dad.”

    This story was originally published January 16, 2026 at 3:18 PM.

    Alex Zietlow

    The Charlotte Observer

    Alex Zietlow writes about the Carolina Panthers and the ways in which sports intersect with life for The Charlotte Observer, where he has been a reporter since August 2022. Zietlow’s work has been honored by the Pro Football Writers Association, the N.C. and S.C. Press Associations, as well as the Associated Press Sports Editors (APSE) group. He’s earned six APSE Top 10 distinctions for his coverage on a variety of topics, from billion-dollar stadium renovations to the small moments of triumph that helped a Panthers kicker defy the steepest odds in sports. Zietlow previously wrote for The Herald in Rock Hill (S.C.) from 2019-22.
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    Alex Zietlow

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  • NASCAR community mourns Greg Biffle and family at memorial in Charlotte

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

    What You Need To Know

    • Hundreds from the NASCAR community gathered at Charlotte’s Bojangles Coliseum for a memorial service honoring former driver Greg Biffle, his family, and others killed in a plane crash last month

    • Biffle, his wife Cristina, and their children were among the seven victims

    • Garrett Mitchell, a close friend, spoke at the service, urging people to “Be Like Biff” by taking opportunities and helping others

    • The crash left the NASCAR community shaken, adding to a difficult offseason


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

    A memorial song opened the ceremony before speakers began to reflect on the victims.

    “We remember and celebrate Dennis, Jack, Craig, Emma, Ryder, Christina and Greg. What makes it meaningful is that we will all share together. Laughter and tears,” said Billy Mauldin, chaplain for Motor Racing Outreach.

    Driver/influencer 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.

    You can watch the service here:


    “We have all been saying, ‘Be Like Biff,’ since we lost our hero,” said Mitchell, who befriended Biffle later in his life. “What does that mean? That means to take opportunities when you see them. Whether you are taking opportunity to pass somebody on the track or getting off your couch to chase a dream you have only 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 being generous whenever you can and helping other humans when they’re down. That is what it means to be like Biff,” Mitchell added.

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

    He drew headlines last year for his tireless humanitarian efforts as a helicopter pilot supplying aid in the devastation left behind by Hurricane Helene.

    Biffle’s niece, Jordyn Biffle, told stories about Ryder’s hero being his father, Emma’s laughter and Cristina’s loving nature.

    She said the Biffle family “lived fully, loved deeply and gave freely.”

    “Their lives remind us that what matters isn’t how long we are here, but how we use the time we are given and how fiercely we love while we are here,” Biffle added. “And while this loss is devastating beyond words, their impact remains etched into all of us that were lucky enough to have known them, loved them and be changed by them.”

    Speakers also painted a fuller picture of Biffle beyond the racetrack… recalling his rebellious younger years, including a burnout in front of his high school that led to his expulsion and even having his car impounded by his own father.

    In the parking lot outside of the coliseum, fans paused to peer inside three racecars Biffle drove during his career.

    Inside, the pictures of the seven who lost their lives where shown on a videoboard above the makeshift platform in the center of the covered hockey rink. There were seven wreaths on the stage where 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 support employee while he was in high school.

    He said Biffle made a lasting impact on him, and felt he needed to attend.

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

    Chaplain Billy Mauldin speaks during the NASCAR Plane Crash Memorial memorial in Charlotte, N.C., Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)

    Back home, Zirkle still has model racing trucks in his gameroom autographed by Biffle that he cherishes.

    Zirkle said he didn’t believe the news of the crash 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 just doesn’t seem real at all.”

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

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

    The Cessna C550 carrying the Biffle family and the others erupted in flames when it hit the ground shortly after it had departed Statesville Regional Airport, about an hour’s drive north of Charlotte.

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

    The crash a week before Christmas left the NASCAR community shaken and was another blow in a long offseason. Ten days later, on the 52nd wedding anniversary of Denny Hamlin’s parents, the house the future Hall of Famer built to repay them for their years of sacrifice burned down. His father, Dennis, was killed, and Mary Lou Hamlin was rushed to a hospital burn unit.

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

    As part of the public tribute, Mitchell planned to do a burnout later Friday near Biffle’s marker along the North Carolina Auto Racing Walk of Fame in Mooresville.

    The victims’ families requested that, in lieu of flowers, people consider donating to charities that held special meaning to those lost in the crash, including the Davidson Day Fund, the American Red Cross, Lake Norman Humane and Ebenezer Christian Children’s Home.

    Follow us on Instagram at spectrumnews1nc for news and other happenings across North Carolina.

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  • Another NASCAR race returns to North Wilkesboro Speedway

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    NORTH WILKESBORO, N.C. — The hills are alive with the sound of racing. Several NASCAR Cup Series teams tested a new engine package at North Wilkesboro Speedway on Tuesday afternoon.

    What You Need To Know

    • Window World 450 at North Wilkesboro Speedway on July 19

    • Testing on a new 750-horsepower package at the racetrack happened on Tuesday

    • Hundreds of racing fans attended the test

    • Single-day tickets for the race are now available online


    “I’d like to maybe try to get a ticket for this,” said Collin Welborn, a racing fan from High Point.

    Fans came out in numbers to secure their tickets for the Window World 450 on July 19. It’ll be the first NASCAR Cup Series points race at North Wilkesboro since 1996.

    Some fans say they have gotten tickets to every race held at the historic speedway and see the upcoming event as a chance to carry on the exciting tradition.

    Not only was it the first day fans could buy tickets for the race at the box office, but it was also the first time fans got to see NASCAR’s new 750-horsepower package in person. The new package will be used during select races this season, and fans say they are excited to see the difference in speed. 

    “It’s not just having it. It’s knowing how to use it,” said Bobby Mills, a racing fan from Winston-Salem. “You can’t just mash the gas and go. You’ve got all the power you need for this place now.”

    Fans say the corners of the track are tight coming in, so the extra horsepower on the straightaways could help pick up a little of the difference from having to lift off so far back.

    The Speedway hosted the NASCAR All-Star Race from 2023-2025 after sitting empty for decades following the infamous 1996 race.

    Fans say they are glad to see action back on the track. 

    “The atmosphere here is unbelievable,” Welborn said. “Fans come from all across the world just to see the best of the best come here and tackle this track that’s been here since 1949.”

    “I think it takes talent to get around this track with 30 or 40 other cars on the track, versus some other tracks that have more wider grooves,” Mills said. “I think this track makes you show your talent.”

    Single-day tickets for the Window World 450 will be available online starting Wednesday morning, Jan. 14.

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    Zach Tucker

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  • NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin’s father dies after Sunday night house fire

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    GASTON COUNTY, N.C. — A house fire in North Carolina on Sunday has claimed the life of NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin’s father and left his mother critically injured, authorities said Monday evening. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Officials say the father of NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin died and his mother was critically injured after a weekend fire heavily damaged the North Carolina home where they lived

    • Gaston County officials said Monday that firefighters arrived Sunday night at a two-story house near Stanley that was mostly engulfed in fire, with flames showing through the attic

    • Officials say 75-year-old Dennis Hamlin and 69-year-old Mary Lou Hamlin were found outside the house suffering catastrophic injuries

    • Dennis Hamlin died from his injuries at a hospital and Mary Lou Hamlin was being treated at a burn center, officials said

    Dennis Hamlin, 75, who supported his son’s rise to stardom in the stock car racing series, died from injuries he suffered in the fire Sunday, NASCAR said Monday. 

    Mary Lou Hamlin, 69, Denny Hamlin’s mother and wife of Dennis Hamlin, was being treated for her injuries at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Burn Center in Winston-Salem, Gaston County Emergency Services said Monday evening. 

    Firefighters arrived at the house on Blacksnake Road in Gaston County, about 20 miles from Charlotte, about 6:27 p.m. Sunday to find it mostly engulfed, with flames emerging from the attic, Gaston County officials said. 

    Dennis and Mary Lou Hamlin escaped the flames but suffered what were described as “catastrophic injuries,” officials said.

    Mary Lou Hamlin pulled her husband out of the fire, Lucia Riverbend Fire Department Chief David Toomey said. 

    They were taken to CaroMont Regional Medical Center, where Dennis Hamlin succumbed to his injuries.

    “NASCAR extends its deepest condolences to Denny Hamlin and the entire Hamlin family,” the stock car series said in a statement. “Dennis Hamlin instilled a love of racing in his son, and sacrificed greatly to develop Denny into a world-class talent in the sport. We also continue to offer our thoughts and prayers to Denny’s mother, Mary Lou, and hope for her full recovery.”

    Firefighters managed to save NASCAR memorabilia that was in the back of the house and at least six cars in the garage. 

    Dennis Hamlin had been in declining health, Denny Hamlin said as this year’s season was nearing its finish, according to NASCAR. Denny Hamlin dedicated his October victory at Las Vegas Motor Speedway to his father. 

    Property records show the house is registered to Won One Real Estate LLC, which state records show is owned by Denny Hamlin. 

    Denny Hamlin is one of the marquee drivers in NASCAR’s top circuit, having won 60 NASCAR Cup Series races, including the Daytona 500 three times.

    The 45-year-old driver for Joe Gibbs Racing has yet to win a Cup points championship. He fell short of the title during this season’s final race in Arizona last month.

    The cause of the fire is under investigation.

    Follow us on Instagram at spectrumnews1nc for news and other happenings across North Carolina.

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    Daniel Gray, Associated Press

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  • 2 hurt in fire at NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin’s parents’ home in Gaston County

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    Two people were hospitalized in a fire at a Gaston County home belonging to the parents of NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin. 

    WCNC Charlotte reported that the fire happened at a home on Blacksnake Road northeast of Stanley late Sunday night. Two people were taken to the hospital from the scene, and WCNC has not received updates on their conditions as of 6:40 a.m. Monday. 

    The fire resulted in the complete loss of the home, according to the Lucia-Riverbend Fire Department. It took around two hours to put out the fire due to a lack of water in the area.

    The fire chief said the home belongs to the parents of NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin.

    Read the full story on WCNC.

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  • Donald Trump remembers NASCAR driver Greg Biffle at NC rally. ‘Great young man.’

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    In Rocky Mount Friday night, President Donald Trump remembered NASCAR driver Greg Biffle.

    Biffle died in a plane crash at Statesville Regional Airport Thursday along with his wife, their two children and three others.

    “I also want to express my condolences to the people of this state and the loved ones of NASCAR legend Greg Biffle, who perished yesterday, had a tragic plane crash with his family in Statesville,” Trump said at a rally.

    A fan visits Greg Biffle’s marker at the North Carolina Auto Racing Walk of Fame on Friday, Dec. 19, 2025.
    A fan visits Greg Biffle’s marker at the North Carolina Auto Racing Walk of Fame on Friday, Dec. 19, 2025. KHADEJEH NIKOUYEH

    ‘Pay our condolences, our love’

    The president told the crowd he twice met Biffle, who lived on Lake Norman in Mooresville with his family.

    “He was a great young man, and what a tragedy that is with his whole family,” Trump said. “So I just want to pay our condolences, our love. North Carolina will never forget them.”

    On Friday, National Transportation Safety Board officials held a news conference providing preliminary information on the crash. Between 10:05 a.m. and 10:15 a.m., the plane left the airport about 45 miles north of Charlotte, returned for an unknown reason and crashed before the runway entrance, NTSB member Michael Graham said.

    Greg Biffle, center, is regarded as one of NASCAR’s top 75 drivers of all time. He and his family died on Dec. 18 after his plane crashed at Statesville Regional Airport, which is about 45 miles north of Charlotte.
    Greg Biffle, center, is regarded as one of NASCAR’s top 75 drivers of all time. He and his family died on Dec. 18 after his plane crashed at Statesville Regional Airport, which is about 45 miles north of Charlotte. Courtesy of Lake Norman Humane

    The 44-year-old Cessna 550 jet was in the air for about five minutes before it started to return, Investigator-In-Charge Dan Baker said. The jet left Statesville at about 10:05 a.m. It made a left turn toward the west followed by a left turn to the east, which led the aircraft back to the airport.

    The airplane made initial impact with a runaway light about 1,800 feet from the runway, Baker said. It later hit trees, two other lights and the airport perimeter fence short of the runway before coming to a stop on the runway, Baker said.

    The Cessna 550 jet was destroyed in the crash and subsequent fire, the Federal Aviation Administration said.

    Witnesses noted on social media the plane cut a path through a wooded area near the airport, and left a smoking trail carved in the grass before it came to a stop. Graham added that when the plane was returning to the airport, witnesses noted that it returned at a low height.

    The NTSB has scheduled another news conference regarding the crash for 11 a.m. Saturday.

    This story was originally published December 20, 2025 at 8:38 AM.

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    Joe Marusak

    The Charlotte Observer

    Joe Marusak has been a reporter for The Charlotte Observer since 1989 covering the people, municipalities and major news events of the region, and was a news bureau editor for the paper. He currently reports on breaking news.
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  • Legacy of a hero: The racing world mourns Greg Biffle and family

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    READ MORE

    Greg Biffle, 6 others killed in NC plane crash

    A plane crashed early Thursday at Statesville Regional Airport, killing seven people, including NASCAR star Greg Biffle, his wife and two children, and three other people. Biffle, who flew aircraft in WNC to help victims of Hurricane Helene, owned the Cessna that crashed mid-morning north of Charlotte.

    Expand All

    In the wake of the devastating plane crash at Statesville Regional Airport on Thursday, Dec. 18, the initial shock has transitioned into a profound period of reflection across the racing community and the state of North Carolina. As more details emerge regarding the investigation into the Cessna C550, the focus has turned toward honoring the lives of the seven victims and the unique legacy left behind by Greg Biffle.

    The humanitarian behind the helmet While the record books will always remember Biffle as a 19-time Cup Series winner and a two-time national series champion, the tributes pouring in Friday highlight a man whose greatest impact was felt off the track. Following the destruction of Hurricane Helene in late 2024, Biffle became a beacon of hope, flying his personal helicopter into the most isolated parts of the Appalachian Mountains to deliver life-saving supplies.

    CONCORD, NORTH CAROLINA - OCTOBER 13: Honorary Starter, former NASCAR Cup Series driver, Greg Biffle poses with the green flag in the flagstand prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Bank of America ROVAL 400 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on October 13, 2024 in Concord, North Carolina. (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images)
    Honorary starter and former NASCAR Cup Series driver, Greg Biffle poses with the green flag prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Bank of America ROVAL 400 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on October 13, 2024 in Concord, N.C. Meg Oliphant Getty Images

    Governor Josh Stein and other state leaders have spent the last 24 hours reminding the public of Biffle’s “courage and compassion,” noting that he stepped up for North Carolinians when they needed it most. For many, Biffle will be remembered not for his speed on the asphalt, but for the selfless hours spent in the air serving those in crisis.

    Remembering the families lost The grief extends far beyond the racing world as the community mourns the loss of seven individuals. Among the victims were Biffle’s wife, Cristina, and their young children, Ryder and Emma. Also lost in the crash were Dennis Dutton and his son, Jack, along with NASCAR community staple Craig Wadsworth.

    Greg Biffle, center, is regarded as one of NASCAR’s top 75 drivers of all time. He and his family died on Dec. 18 after his plane crashed at Statesville Regional Airport, which is about 45 miles north of Charlotte.
    Greg Biffle, center, is regarded as one of NASCAR’s top 75 drivers of all time. He and his family died on Dec. 18 after his plane crashed at Statesville Regional Airport, which is about 45 miles north of Charlotte. Courtesy of Lake Norman Humane

    Statements from family and friends describe a group bound by deep ties and a shared love for the community. Garrett Mitchell, the YouTuber known as Cleetus McFarland, shared the heartbreak of many, revealing that the Biffles were en route to Florida for a long-planned family visit when the tragedy occurred.

    Investigation and legacy The NTSB and FAA continue their work on the ground in Statesville, focusing on why the 1981 Cessna turned back toward the airport just five minutes after takeoff. While the technical findings may take months to finalize, the narrative of “The Biff” is already set. He was a fierce competitor who transformed into a state hero, leaving a void that fellow drivers say will be impossible to fill.

    As the ninth hole of Lakewood Golf Club, where the aircraft came to rest, remains a site of investigation, the rest of the state remains a site of mourning for a champion who gave his all to the place he called home.

    This roundup was curated with the help of AI.

    Greg Biffle’s marker at the North Carolina Auto Racing Walk of Fame in Mooresville on Friday, Dec. 19, 2025.
    Greg Biffle’s marker at the North Carolina Auto Racing Walk of Fame in Mooresville on Friday, Dec. 19, 2025. KHADEJEH NIKOUYEH

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  • Greg Biffle’s wife texted “we’re in trouble” moments before fiery plane crash, her mother says

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    One day after retired NASCAR driver Greg Biffle and his family died in a private plane crash in North Carolina, his mother-in-law said the family doesn’t know how they’re going to fill the “huge hole” left behind. 

    Biffle, his wife, Christina Grossu Biffle, their son Ryder and Biffle’s daughter Emma were among the seven people killed when a Cessna C550 crashed while landing at Statesville Regional Airport in North Carolina on Thursday morning. The other three people aboard the flight were identified as Craig Wadsworth and Dennis and Jack Dutton.  

    Cathy Grossu said she and her daughter were texting “all day long,” including during the flight. 

    “Then she said something like ‘We’re in trouble, emergency landing.’ And I texted back, ‘What’s wrong with the plane?’” Grossu told CBS News. “Then the next thing was (the SOS alert) that you get from your automatic Apple phones when you have an accident or something. And so I knew that something was wrong.” 

    Greg and Christina Biffle with Ryder, Emma and Cathy Grossu. 

    Cathy Grossu


    Grossu called the airport. She said she was told there was a fire. 

    “That’s when we knew that they crashed,” Grossu said. 

    A picture of the plane shows the craft engulfed in flames. Debris fell along a nearby golf course, witnesses said. 

    A flight path available on the tracking website FlightAware appears to show that the plane departed, then looped back toward the airport. North Carolina State Highway Patrol confirmed that the plane had departed and was returning to the airport on reapproach, but did not say why. 

    The cause of the crash has not been determined. The National Transportation Safety Board said Friday it was able to recover a cockpit voice recorder that’s on its way to Washington, D.C., to be examined. Officials said they weren’t aware of any mayday call being made, and that they don’t know who was piloting at the time. The NTSB said three people on the plane had licenses. 

    Grossu said she had last seen the family on the day before the crash, but didn’t remember what her final words to them had been. 

    “It’s a cliche, people say to say ‘I love you’ to your loved ones all the time, and to embrace them and everything else. And that’s the other regret I have, is I know when we said goodbye on Wednesday, we hugged. I don’t know what my last words were,” Grossu said, through tears. “Maybe it was ‘I love you.’ I don’t know. I don’t remember.” 

    Grossu remembered the family as “good people” who “lived life to the fullest.” 

    “It was way too soon for all of them to lose their lives, but they didn’t hold back and they were always giving,” Grossu said. 

    Grossu said 14-year-old Emma, whom Biffle shared with her mother Nicole Lunders, was a “good girl.” Ryder, 5, was a “bundle of energy” who called his grandparents Mimi and Baba. He was at Grossu’s house all the time, she said. He dreamed of being an F1 driver. 

    img-7110.jpg

    Cathy Grossu and her grandson Ryder Biffle.

    Cathy Grossu


    “All of his presents under the tree were in that regard. And he asked me on Wednesday, he said, ‘Mimi, can I open up one of my presents?’ And I said ‘No, you gotta wait till Christmas,’” Grossu said. “And I regret that, saying that, every hour since this happened, why I didn’t let him open one present. I didn’t, and I feel so badly about that.” 

    Tributes from the racing community and beyond have been pouring in since the family’s deaths were confirmed. NASCAR remembered Biffle as “more than a champion driver” and a “friend to so many.” North Carolina Rep. Richard Hudson wrote on X that Biffle was a “great NASCAR champion” and “extraordinary person as well.” A family statement called Biffle and his wife devoted parents who built their lives around their children. The statement also said Dennis Dutton and his son Jack were “deeply loved,” and that Craig Wadsworth was “beloved by many” in the NASCAR community. 

    “It’s hard. We’re devastated,” Grossu said. 

    “We’re just taking it one minute at a time,” Grossu continued. “I can’t talk about it without bawling. I try not to, but it’s impossible.” 

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  • Multiple Deaths Reported In North Carolina Crash Of Business Jet Connected To Retired NASCAR Driver – KXL

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    First responders tend to the scene of a reported plane crash at a regional airport in Statesville, N.C., Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Matt Kelley)

    STATESVILLE, N.C. (AP) — A business jet with six people aboard crashed Thursday at a regional airport in North Carolina used by NASCAR teams and Fortune 500 companies, erupting in a large fire and killing multiple people, authorities said.

    Flight records show the plane was registered to a company run by retired NASCAR driver Greg Biffle.

    There were six people on the Cessna C550 that crashed while landing at Statesville Regional Airport, about 45 miles (72 kilometers) north of Charlotte, the Federal Aviation Administration said.

    “I can confirm there were fatalities,” Iredell County Sheriff Darren Campbell said.

    Golfers playing next to the airport were shocked as they witnessed the disaster, even dropping to the ground at the Lakewood Golf Club while the plane was overhead. The ninth hole was covered with debris.

    “We were like, ‘Oh my gosh! That’s way too low,’” said Joshua Green of Mooresville. “It was scary.”

    The National Transportation Safety Board and the FAA were investigating. AccuWeather says there was some drizzle and clouds at the time of the crash.

    The plane took off from the airport shortly after 10 a.m. but then returned and was attempting to land there, according to tracking data posted by FlightAware.com.

    The plane had planned to fly later from Sarasota, Florida, to Treasure Cay International Airport in the Bahamas before returning to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and then to Statesville by evening, data showed.

    Video from WSOC-TV showed first responders rushing onto the runway as flames burned near scattered wreckage from the plane. The airport’s website states that it offers corporate aviation facilities for Fortune 500 companies and several NASCAR teams.

    With 2025 almost over, there have been 1,331 U.S. crashes this year investigated by the NTSB, from two-seat planes to commercial aircraft, compared to a total of 1,482 in 2024.

    Major air disasters around the world in 2025 include the plane-helicopter collision that killed 67 in Washington, the Air India crash that killed 260 in India, and a crash in Russia’s Far East that claimed 48 lives. Fourteen people, including 11 on the ground, died in a UPS cargo plane crash in Kentucky.

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  • Multiple deaths reported in crash of business jet connected to retired NASCAR driver Greg Biffle

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    A business jet with six people aboard crashed Thursday at a regional airport in North Carolina used by NASCAR teams and Fortune 500 companies, erupting in a large fire and killing multiple people, authorities said.

    Flight records show the plane was registered to a company run by retired NASCAR driver Greg Biffle.

    There were six people on the Cessna C550 that crashed while landing at Statesville Regional Airport, about 45 miles north of Charlotte, the Federal Aviation Administration said.

    “I can confirm there were fatalities,” Iredell County Sheriff Darren Campbell said.

    Golfers playing next to the airport were shocked as they witnessed the disaster, even dropping to the ground at the Lakewood Golf Club while the plane was overhead. The ninth hole was covered with debris.

    “We were like, ‘Oh, my gosh! That’s way too low,’” said Joshua Green of Mooresville. “It was scary.”

    The National Transportation Safety Board and the FAA were investigating. AccuWeather says there was some drizzle and clouds at the time of the crash.

    The plane took off from the airport shortly after 10 a.m. but then returned and was attempting to land there, according to tracking data posted by FlightAware.com.

    The plane had planned to fly later from Sarasota, Florida, to Treasure Cay International Airport in the Bahamas before returning to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and then to Statesville by evening, data showed.

    Video from WSOC-TV showed first responders rushing onto the runway as flames burned near scattered wreckage from the plane.

    The airport’s website states that it offers corporate aviation facilities for Fortune 500 companies and several NASCAR teams.

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    Gary D. Robertson

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  • Former NASCAR driver, family among dead in business jet crash at Iredell County airport

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    A business jet crashed Thursday at a regional airport in North Carolina used by NASCAR teams and Fortune 500 companies, erupting in a large fire and killing multiple people, authorities said.

    “I can confirm there were fatalities,” Iredell County Sheriff Darren Campbell said, though he declined to say how many.

    Garrett Mitchell, known online as YouTube star “Cleetus McFarland,” confirmed on Facebook that former NASCAR driver and philanthropist Greg Biffle, his wife and two children were among those killed in a plane crash in Iredell County. 

    Mitchell said on Facebook that the family was on the way to spend the afternoon with him. 

    Public FAA registration records confirm that the plane belonged to a company owned by GB Aviation Leasing, a company owned by Biffle. 

    The Cessna C550 crashed while landing at Statesville Regional Airport, about 45 miles (72 kilometers) north of Charlotte, the Federal Aviation Administration said. They added that six people were aboard the plane. 

    Golfers playing next to the airport were shocked as they witnessed the disaster, even dropping to the ground at the Lakewood Golf Club while the plane was overhead. The ninth hole was covered with debris.

    “We were like, ‘Oh my gosh! That’s way too low,’” said Joshua Green of Mooresville. “It was scary.”

    The National Transportation Safety Board and the FAA were investigating. AccuWeather says there was some drizzle and clouds at the time of the crash.

    The plane took off from the airport shortly after 10 a.m. but then returned and was attempting to land there, according to tracking data posted by FlightAware.com.

    The plane had planned to fly later from Sarasota, Florida, to Treasure Cay International Airport in the Bahamas before returning to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and then to Statesville by evening, data showed.

    The airport’s website states that it offers corporate aviation facilities for Fortune 500 companies and several NASCAR teams.

    ___

    This story corrects the sheriff’s first name to Darren, not Grant.

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  • Settlement announced in Michael Jordan’s antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR

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    CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — NASCAR has reached a settlement of the bruising antitrust lawsuit filed against it by two of its race teams, including one co-owned by NBA great Michael Jordan.

    The Thursday settlement was announced following a lengthy delay on the ninth day of the trial in federal court. Details were not immediately released.

    U.S. District Judge Kenneth Bell opened the day preparing the hear motions but called an hour-long sidebar. Jeffrey Kessler, attorney for 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports, emerged from a conference room at the end of the hour to inform a court clerk “we’re ready.” Kessler then led Jordan and 23XI co-owner Denny Hamlin, as well as Front Row owner Bob Jenkins, out of the courtroom to another room for more talks.

    23XI and Front Row filed suit last year after refusing to sign agreements on the new charter offers NASCAR presented to teams in September 2024. Teams had until end of day to sign the 112-page document and 13 of 15 organizations reluctantly agreed. Jordan and Jenkins sued instead and raced the bulk of 2025 uncharted.

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    Spectrum News Staff, Associated Press

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