During Sunday’s NFL matchup between the Carolina Panthers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina, FOX Sports briefly paused its broadcast to air an emotional tribute to the late NASCAR legend Greg Biffle.
Veteran announcer Chris Myers delivered the on-air moment, highlighting Biffle’s remarkable racing career—which included 19 Cup Series victories, championships in the Truck and Xfinity Series, and a runner-up finish in the 2005 Cup championship—as well as his profound humanitarian contributions.
The tribute served as a poignant reminder of the tragedy that struck just days earlier, when Biffle, at the age of 55, perished in a plane crash at Statesville Regional Airport. His wife, Cristina, and their two young children were among seven people killed when their private jet crashed in a fireball.
Greg Biffle tragedy
The Cessna Citation 550, registered to Greg Biffle, had taken off but attempted an emergency return, ultimately crashing short of the runway amid reported low visibility and rain. His wife’s mother revealed that she received a heartbreaking last text from her daughter.
“We’re in trouble,” it read.
The NASCAR community and North Carolina residents continue to mourn the devastating loss, with memorials forming at Biffle’s plaque on the North Carolina Auto Racing Walk of Fame in Mooresville.
FOX’s gesture, widely shared across social media, underscored Biffle’s enduring legacy as a fierce competitor on the track and a selfless hero off it, leaving an indelible mark on both motorsports and the sporting world at large.
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Died a hero and legend
Greg Biffle earned universal praise amongst the sporting community for his Hurricane Helene rescue efforts last year. Hurricane Helene, a formidable Category 4 storm when it made landfall in Florida’s Big Bend region, left a path of destruction stretching through Georgia, the Carolinas, and beyond.
The hurricane’s aftermath created flooded streets, destroyed homes and whole towns, and left entire communities cut off from essential services.
Biffle, a licensed pilot, had previously been honored with the 2024 Myers Brothers Award for his extensive efforts flying supplies to victims of Hurricane Helene using his personal aircraft.
His efforts prompted ESPN analyst Marty Smith to demand that he be awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Biffle is a prominent figure in NASCAR history. The Vancouver, Washington native won the NASCAR Truck Series championship in 2000 and the Xfinity Series title in 2002, becoming the first driver to claim championships in both series.
In the Cup Series, he recorded 19 victories over 515 starts from 2002 to 2016, with a career-best second-place finish in the 2005 standings. Biffle, named one of NASCAR’s 75 Greatest Drivers, had been semi-retired in recent years.