The holiday season is often a time for joy and togetherness, but for the family and friends of NASCAR legend Greg Biffle, this year brings a somber reminder of a recent tragedy. A heartfelt holiday card from Biffle and his family has reached the mailboxes of loved ones, arriving just days after the family perished in a tragic plane crash.

Ron Herbert, who is well-acquainted with Biffle through the NASCAR community, shared his emotional response upon receiving the card. “I received this in the mail today,” he expressed on Instagram, overwhelmed with sadness. “My words can’t say enough about the family 🙏🙏 🥲🥲.” Herbert, the owner of Red Rocks Cafe in Huntersville, North Carolina, has developed close bonds with several NASCAR drivers over the years, including Biffle.

The holiday card captures a joyful moment frozen in time, featuring Biffle alongside his wife Cristina, their 14-year-old daughter Emma, and 5-year-old son Ryder, all smiling and full of life. This image of happiness now serves as a poignant tribute to a family that meant so much to so many.

The devastating plane crash last week took the lives of Greg Biffle, 55, his wife, and their two children. The crash occurred when Biffle’s plane burst into flames after making an emergency landing, leaving an entire community in mourning and grappling with the sudden loss.

As friends and family receive these holiday greetings, they are left with a bittersweet reminder of the Biffles. While the season is typically one of celebration, for those who knew the family, it is a time to reflect on cherished memories and the enduring impact they left behind.

The holiday card read: “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.”

Biffle and his entire family were killed when his airplane crashed upon landing at Statesville Regional Airport in North Carolina on Thursday, December 18. 

The Biffles’ plane crashed roughly 15 minutes after takeoff. The aircraft had turned around and was attempting to land back at the Statesville airport for unknown reasons. 

Three other passengers on board — pilot Dennis Dutton, his son, Jack, and NASCAR motorhome driver Craig Wadsworth — also died upon impact. 

It is not clear who was piloting the plane at the time of the crash. 

The National Transportation Safety Board issued an update about their investigation on Saturday, December 20. 

“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 in a press conference. “And I want to thank the family members who have been assisting our team during this terrible time.”

Graham added, “We do not know the circumstances that led the aircraft … to return to the airport but that is the focus of our investigation. 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.”

Dan Rose, a former military pilot and aviation attorney, exclusively told Us Weekly that the results of the NTSB’s investigation could take years. 

Update 12/22/25 at 11:30 a.m.: The National Transportation Safety Board has confirmed that at least one emergency text message was sent by an individual on board former NASCAR driver Greg Biffle’s plane before a fatal crash on Thursday, December 18. NTSB board member Michael Graham said a passenger sent a text message to a family […]

“I would say the default from the [National Transportation Safety Board] is probably close to two years with a final report coming out,” Rose said. “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 continued, “As somebody who looks at these all the time, you can read between the lines and see generally which way the investigation is going. Is it going mechanical? Is it going pilot error? Is it going weather? That kind of thing.”

However, Rose did indicate that Biffle’s fame might help speed up the process of the investigation.

“This is certainly a terrible tragedy and it’s high profile, so those tend to be kicked up the hierarchy a little bit in terms of how quickly they get resolved,” Rose said. “But I would be surprised if there was a final report within a year.”