North Carolina is hurting deeply this week. On Thursday, December 18, 2025, a plane crash took the lives of former NASCAR driver Greg Biffle, his caring wife Cristina, and their two young children, Emma (14) and Ryder (5). The family was flying out of Statesville Regional Airport when the accident happened.
Greg Biffle was a real American hero, especially in the tough days after Hurricane Helene struck Western North Carolina in 2024. The storm was brutal. It wiped out roads, bridges, and homes. People in the mountains were stuck, with no help in sight. They had no clean water to drink. No food to eat. No shelter from the cold rain. Many lost everything—their houses, their things, their sense of safety. Nights were freezing with no heat, and families felt forgotten and scared.
From day one, Governor Roy Cooper and President Biden failed to respond. Supplies didn't get to where they were needed. Rescue teams were slow. Remote towns waited in desperation. But in that heartache, when elected officials failed, American heroes came forth. People like Greg Biffle didn't sit back. They stepped up because it was the right thing to do.
Greg wasn't called by fame or prestige— he already had that. He acted because his neighbors were hurting badly. As a skilled pilot, he used his own helicopter and paid out of his own pocket to fly into those hard-to-reach spots. He didn't wait for anyone to ask. He saw the pain and jumped in.
Day after day, he risked his life in rough weather and over tough land. He brought food to feed the hungry, water to quench thirst, medicine for the sick, baby formula for infants, generators for power and warmth, chainsaws to cut through debris, and hundreds of Starlink devices so people could connect and call for more aid. His efforts weren't for show.
They were simple acts of kindness from a man who couldn't ignore suffering. For this, he got the Myers Brothers Award from the National Motorsports Press Association. He worked with his friend Garrett Mitchell, better known as YouTube star Cleetus McFarland, to help even more folks. Together, they made their aircraft into tools of hope for communities on the edge.
Nick Sortor, who was on the ground helping and covering the disaster, shared this about Greg: "Biffle was an absolute HERO, and I personally worked with him in Western NC after Helene as he risked his own life using his personal helicopter to save COUNTLESS lives. He delivered chainsaws, EpiPens, baby formula, fuel, and food to stranded families in inaccessible places surrounded by flood water, and asked for nothing from anybody. This is a tremendous loss for our country. I’m so sick to my stomach over this."
Cristina was always with Greg, a kind real estate professional who touched lives with her warmth. She stood by him through it all, and they raised Emma and Ryder in a home of love and giving. Losing this family breaks hearts—the kids had so much ahead, full of wonder and joy.
It was an honor for the North Carolina Faith & Freedom Coalition—of which I serve as an Ambassador—to recognize Greg at the 2025 Salt & Light Conference for his brave work during Helene. He lived out what it means to help others with a quiet, faithful heart.
Greg also had a strong NASCAR career. He won championships in the Truck Series in 2000 and the Xfinity Series in 2002. He took 19 Cup Series wins at places like Daytona, Darlington, and Michigan. But racing was just one side. He stayed true to his humble start.
By all standards, Greg Biffle achieved the American Dream, but he never forgot his roots. When Hurricane Helene left people without water, food, shelter, or heat—having lost it all—he acted fast. He did what Governor Cooper and President Biden failed to do from the very first day. He heard the calls officials refused and answered them. He gave his time, his money, his skills. He took risks flying into danger. He sacrificed without thinking twice. He led by doing, showing others how to step up. These type of men aren’t easily replaced.
We thank Greg and Cristina Biffle for their brief time with us and for all they gave. Life is so short—like a vapor that vanishes. Hug your families tight. Love them every day. Make every moment count, because tomorrow isn't promised.
Greg, Cristina, Emma, and Ryder are missed, but their kindness and courage will live on. Rest in peace.
