NASCAR driver Greg Biffle has been a major name in the sport since the 1990s. News broke on Thursday, December 18, that a plane belonging to Biffle crashed and burst into flames shortly after takeoff at the Statesville Regional Airport in North Carolina. "At approximately 10:15 am, an aircraft crashed while landing," airport officials told The Charlotte Observer in a statement on Thursday. "Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is en route and will investigate the incident." The Iredell County Sheriff's Office confirmed that there were fatalities from the crash but did not reveal any further details. Biffle's family friend took to Facebook on Thursday's and revealed that the athlete, his wife and two kids was on the plane when it crashed. "Unfortunately, I can confirm Greg Biffle, his wife Cristina, daughter Emma and son Ryder were on that plane ... because they were on their way to spend the afternoon with us," Garrett Mitchell shared. "We are devastated. I'm so sorry to share this." NASCAR Star Who Went to School With Taylor Swift Shades Travis Kelce North Carolina Congressman Richard Hudson confirmed that Biffle, along with his wife and two kids, had died in the crash. "I am devastated by the loss of Greg, Cristina, and their children, and my heart is with all who loved them," he wrote, in part, on X. "Our prayers are with their family, friends, and everyone grieving this unimaginable loss." Biffle made his racing debut in the 1995-1996 Winter Heat Series before joining Jack Roush's Roush Racing team. By 1997, he was awarded the Most Popular Driver Award after competing in NASCAR's former Northwest Series. After more than 500 races in the motorsport, Biffle semi-retired from racing in 2016, after competing in his last Cup Series as a full-time driver. However, he has made several part-time returns over the years. Keep scrolling for everything to know about Biffle: 1. Greg Biffle Was a Decorated Driver After making his racing debut, Biffle was quick to make a name for himself in the sport. He has a total of 56 race wins across all three NASCAR series - the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series and NASCAR Cup Series. He most recently raced in the 2022 GEICO 500, which took place in Talladega. Daniel Shirey/Getty Images 2. Greg Biffle Also Raced Trucks Aside from his car racing career, Biffle has a history of racing Stadium Super Trucks. His first truck race took place in 2018 and he took part in several races until 2021. He was honored with the prestigious Myers Brothers Award in 2024, awarded by the National Motorsports Press Association to an individual who "have provided outstanding contributions to the sport of stock car racing." 3. Greg Biffle Was a Father of 2 Biffle and his ex-wife, Nicole Lunders, whom he was married to from 2007 to 2016, share daughter Emma Elizabeth, who was born in July 2011. The athlete and his current wife, Cristina Grossu, whom he has been married to since January 2023, share son Ryder Jack, who was born in September 2020. Frankie Muniz Announces Plans to Be a Full-Time NASCAR Driver 4. He Had a Complicated Relationship With His Ex Biffle's ex-wife, Lunders, and ex-mother-in-law previously filed a civil suit against the driver for invasion of privacy. They alleged that Biffle had placed secret security cameras within their home. Biffle claimed that the cameras were installed because he believed that their housekeepers were stealing from the home, according to court documents obtained by ESPN. (There were accusations of infidelity from both parties.) In 2018, a jury found Biffle guilty for invasion of privacy and he was ordered to pay Lunders $250,000. 5. Greg Biffle Was an Avid Flyer Prior to the plane crash, Biffle often shared photos of himself in the cockpit of his aircraft on social media. "Excited to get back flying again," he captioned a September Instagram post.