Greg Biffle's career highlights from two decades in NASCAR racing

NASCAR lost of one its most decorated and beloved drivers Dec. 18. Greg Biffle, his wife and two children were among those who died in a plane crash in Statesville, North Carolina.

The 55-year-old Biffle and his family were in a Cessna C550 which crashed about 10:15 a.m. local time during landing at Statesville Regional Airport north of Charlotte. Members of the Biffle family confirmed the loss in a joint statement.

Biffle spent nearly two decades at the highest level of stock car racing in the U.S. A native of Vancouver, Washington, Biffle started like many of the best drivers of his day by racing in regional stock car series. He got his big break in the NASCAR Winter Heat Series, a stock car racing series in the 1990s that showcased late model racing during the offseason for NASCAR’s top series.

Biffle won the inaugural championship in the 1995-1996 season and caught the eye of Jack Roush, owner of Roush Racing (now RFK Racing).

Roush brought Biffle on to his team in NASCAR’s third tier of racing, the Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series (now the Craftsman Truck Series). Biffle earned Rookie of the Year honors in 1998 despite not winning a race. He took a record four pole positions out of 27 races.

That was the start of a long and storied career for the man known as “the Biff.” Here are some of the top highlights:

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See highlights from Greg Biffle’s NASCAR career

Greg Biffle, driver of the #44 Grambling State University Chevrolet, waits in the garage area during practice for NASCAR Cup Series 64th Annual Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on Feb 19, 2022 in Daytona Beach, Fla.

Greg Biffle after winning the Nascar Nextel Cup Series MBNA RacePoints 400 Sunday, June 5, 2005 at the Dover International Speedway in Dover, Del. This was the fourth victory for Biffle this season. (Photo by Drew Hallowell/Getty Images)

Greg Biffle, driver of the #16 3M Ford celebrates after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Camping World RV 400 at Dover International Speedway on Sept. 21, 2008 in Dover, Del.

Greg Biffle, driver of the #16 3M Ford, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Price Chopper 400 on Oct. 3, 2010 in Kansas City, Kansas.

Greg Biffle, driver of the #44 Grambling State University Chevrolet, poses for a photo on the grid during qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series 64th Annual Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on Feb. 16, 2022 in Daytona Beach, Fla.

Former NASCAR Cup Series driver, Greg Biffle waves to fans as he walks onstage during pre-race ceremonies prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway on Aug. 31, 2025 in Darlington, S.C.

President Donald Trump takes a selfie with former NASCAR Cup series driver, Greg Biffle (R) and NASCAR Hall of Famer, Richard Petty prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on Feb. 16, 2025 in Daytona Beach, Fla.

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 Oct. 13, 2024 in Concord, N.C.

Nov 22, 2024; Charlotte, NC, USA; Greg Biffle receives Myers Brothers award for his service to Hurricane Helene victims during the NASCAR Awards Banquet at Charlotte Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

Republican vice presidential nominee, Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH) (L) poses with Honorary Starter, former NASCAR Cup Series driver, Greg Biffle and his daughter Emma Elizabeth Biffle during the drivers meeting prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Bank of America ROVAL 400 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Oct. 13, 2024 in Concord, N.C.

NASCAR Chairman and CEO Jim France (L) congratulates former NASCAR Series Cup driver Greg Biffle on selection to NASCAR’s 75 Greatest Drivers list prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Goodyear 400 at Darlington Raceway on May 14, 2023 in Darlington, S.C.

Greg Biffle, driver of the #44 Grambling State University Chevrolet, waves to fans onstage during driver intros prior to the NASCAR Cup Series 64th Annual Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 20, 2022 in Daytona Beach, Fla.

Greg Biffle, driver of the #51 Toyota Toyota, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series SpeedyCash.com 400 at Texas Motor Speedway on June 07, 2019 in Fort Worth, Texas.

Jul 2, 2016; Daytona Beach, FL, USA; NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Greg Biffle (16) leads Martin Truex Jr. (78) and Brad Keselowski (2) during the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

Feb 21, 2016; Daytona Beach, FL, USA; NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Danica Patrick (10) and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Greg Biffle (16) during the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

May 15, 2016; Dover, DE, USA; NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Greg Biffle carries his daughter Emma Biffle prior to the AAA 400 Drive For Autism at Dover International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O’Haren-USA TODAY Sports

Jun 16, 2013; Brooklyn, MI, USA; NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Greg Biffle (16) after winning the Quicken Loans 400 at Michigan International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports

Oct. 3, 2010; Kansas City, KS, USA; NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Greg Biffle (right) celebrates alongside car owner Jack Roush (left) after winning the Price Chopper 400 at Kansas Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Greg Biffle, driver of the #16 3M Ford, poses during NASCAR media day at Daytona International Speedway on Feb. 4, 2010 in Daytona Beach, Fla.

Oct. 3, 2009; Kansas City, KS, USA; NASCAR Nationwide Series driver Greg Biffle (16) goes low as Patrick Sheltra (81) spins during the Kansas Lottery 300 at Kansas Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Actor John C. Reilly (R) talks with NASCAR driver Greg Biffle (L) during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Pepsi 500 at Auto Club Speedway on Oct. 10, 2009 in Fontana, Calif.

May 27, 2006; Charlotte, NC, USA; Nascar Nextel Cup driver Greg Biffle (16) during practice for the Coca Cola 600 at Lowes Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports Copyright © 2006 Mark J. Rebilas

Apr 21, 2006; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Nascar Busch Grand National driver Greg Biffle of the (16) Ameriquest Ford Fusion during qualifying for the Bashas Supermarkets 200 at Phoenix International Raceway. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports Copyright © 2006 Mark J. Rebilas

Greg Biffle, driver of the #16 3M Ford, poses during NASCAR media day at Daytona International Speedway on February 5, 2009 in Daytona, Fla.

Nov. 4, 2000; Avondale, AZ, USA; NASCAR Busch Series driver Greg Biffle (left) with team owner Jack Roush during the Outback Steakhouse 200 at Phoenix International Raceway. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Greg Biffle career highlights

2000: First NASCAR championship

Biffle repaid Roush’s faith in him with the team owner’s first championship in the third-tier series. Biffle won five races with 18 top-10 finishes, including fifth in Fontana to secure the title. He won that year’s championship over future Cup Series champion Kurt Busch.

2002: Historic second championship

Roush Racing didn’t waste time promoting Biffle up the ranks. The team brought him up a level to NASCAR’s second tier in 2001 following his title victory.

As he did in the third tier, Biffle won Rookie of the Year honors ahead of a title-winning season. He overcame a slow start to win four races and finish in the top 10 in nine of the last 11 races and secure the championship. In doing so, Biffle became the first driver to win a championship in both NASCAR’s third- and second-tier series.

2003: A thrilling first Cup Series win

Daytona International Speedway is a place in which every NASCAR driver wants to win. It’s an iconic place to get your first Cup Series victory – as a rookie, no less.

Biffle did so in 2003 in an unusual race at Daytona. It was marked by just two yellow periods for a total of 10 laps; a remarkably clean race considering the high speeds at the superspeedway. Biffle notched the upset win for Roush Racing after leader Bobby Labonte ran out of gas in the closing stage of the race.

2005: Cup Series contender

This time it took Biffle two years to truly get up to speed in a new series. The 2005 season featured a dominant campaign by Tony Stewart, but Biffle was his closest competitor. He was an early favorite thanks to five wins by the halfway point in the season. Stewart pulled away down the stretch but won the title by just 35 points over Biffle.

2013: A final Cup Series victory

Almost a decade on from his near-title campaign in 2005, Biffle hadn’t made good on the promise from that runner-up finish. He had the unfortunate timing of reaching the top level of NASCAR racing just as one of the best drivers of all time, Jimmie Johnson, did the same.

Biffle continued to be a fixture at the top of the standings but never won that elusive Cup Series championship. The 2013 featured his final Cup Series win of his career at Michigan in the Quicken Loans 400.

He’d race another three years in the Cup Series and make a few spot appearances after that.

When he called it a career, Biffle had notched 515 Cup Series races over 16 years. He’d earned 19 wins, 13 pole positions and 175 top-10 results. That earned him the honor of being named one of NASCAR’s 75 greatest drivers ever in 2023.

A popular paddock figure

In addition to his prolific performances on the track, a theme throughout Biffle’s career was how well-liked he was across the paddock when his helmet was off.

The now-defunct NASCAR Northwest Series named him the Most Popular Driver in 1997, an honor he’d receive in the Craftsman Truck Series in 2000 and the Busch Series in 2002.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Greg Biffle career highlights: Top moments from NASCAR great

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