Christmas cards mailed by NASCAR legend Greg Biffle and his family have begun arriving in mailboxes this week, delivering a heartbreaking reminder of the lives lost days before the holiday.
Biffle died tragically along with his wife and their two children when their private jet crashed in North Carolina last week. Friends and loved ones said they started receiving the cards, sent in early December.
‘I received this in the mail today,’ Ron Herbert, a North Carolina restaurateur and longtime friend of the racing community, wrote in a social media post. ‘My words can’t say enough about the family.’
Herbert, who owns Red Rocks Cafe in Huntersville and has grown close to many NASCAR drivers over the years, shared an image of the card showing Biffle smiling alongside his wife, Cristina, their 14-year-old daughter Emma, and their 5-year-old son Ryder.
The family is pictured in matching white shirts and jeans, standing in front of a bunch Christmas trees, laughing.
The message inside reads: ‘We hope that you are able to slow down and enjoy the magic and joy that this season has to offer. We hope you have a great New Year! Sending love, Greg, Cristina, Emma & Ryder.’
All four members of the Biffle family were killed on Thursday morning when their private plane crashed while attempting to land at Statesville Regional Airport, roughly 45 miles north of Charlotte.
The Cessna C550 business jet had taken off shortly after 10am bound for Florida but turned back toward the airport for reasons that remain unclear.
Holiday cards mailed by Greg Biffle and his family before their deaths are now arriving in mailboxes across the country
Friends say opening the Christmas card felt like receiving a final, unintended goodbye from the Biffle family
Authorities said the aircraft went down roughly 15 minutes after takeoff, exploding into flames on impact.
Three others on board, pilot Dennis Dutton, his son Jack, and Craig Wadsworth, a longtime NASCAR motorhome driver and family friend were also killed.
‘It’s impossible to put into words what this feels like,’ one friend said privately. ‘You open the mailbox expecting bills or junk – and instead you’re holding their smiles.’
The National Transportation Safety Board confirmed it is continuing to investigate the crash and provide support to grieving families.
‘Our representative with the National Transportation Safety Board disaster assistance division is continuing to work with the family members and loved ones of those who lost their lives in this accident,’ NTSB board member Michael Graham said at a press conference.
‘And I want to thank the family members who have been assisting our team during this terrible time.’
Graham said investigators are focused on understanding why the plane returned to the airport so soon after departure.
‘We do not know the circumstances that led the aircraft to return to the airport,’ he said.
The card shows Greg Biffle, his wife Cristina, and their two children smiling in matching outfits in front of Christmas trees. The family are seen here on a different occasion
Biffle, a NASCAR champion, was traveling with his wife and children when the private jet crashed while attempting to land
NASCAR described Biffle as a beloved figure whose impact on the sport extended far beyond the racetrack
‘Early indications from multiple sources indicate that the airplane was stable on approach, configured for landing with the landing lights on, but the aircraft was coming in low.’
It remains unclear who was piloting the plane at the time of the crash.
Federal Aviation Administration records show Biffle was rated to fly helicopters and single- and multi-engine aircraft.
Dan Rose, a former military pilot and aviation attorney, said crash investigations can take considerable time.
‘I would say the default from the [National Transportation Safety Board] is probably close to two years with a final report coming out,’ Rose told Us Weekly.
‘The NTSB is pretty good about getting out what’s called a preliminary report in the first few weeks. But it’s very cursory, generally.’
Rose added that while the high-profile nature of the crash could accelerate certain steps, a final determination is unlikely to made quickly.
‘This is certainly a terrible tragedy and it’s high profile,’ he said. ‘But I would be surprised if there was a final report within a year.’
Biffle, 55, was one of NASCAR’s most accomplished drivers, winning more than 50 races across the sport’s three national series, including 19 Cup Series victories.
He captured championships in the Truck Series in 2000 and the Xfinity Series in 2002.
Greg Biffle is seen celebrating a victory after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Kansas Speedway in 2010 in Kansas City, Kansas
It emerged there were three pilots on board including Dennis Dutton (left) and son Jack Dutton
The plane crashed and exploded as it was attempting to land at at Statesville Regional Airport
National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigators are seen viewing the wreckage of a Greg Biffle’s Cessna 550 business jet following the crash
NASCAR said the sport was ‘devastated’ by the loss.
‘Greg was more than a champion driver; he was a beloved member of the NASCAR community, a fierce competitor, and a friend to so many,’ the organization said.
‘His passion for racing, his integrity, and his commitment to fans and fellow competitors alike made a lasting impact on the sport.’
In a joint family statement released after the crash, loved ones spoke of the profound loss.
‘Each of them meant everything to us, and their absence leaves an immeasurable void in our lives,’ the statement said.
