Jordyn Biffle, niece of late NASCAR legend Greg Biffle, remembered her uncle as someone who “loved to make people smile” in an emotional eulogy at his memorial on Friday, January 16 at Bojangle’s Coliseum in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Greg, who was 55, along with his wife, Cristina, son Ryder and daughter Emma were among the victims when a plane that the motorsports icon owned crashed while trying to land at Statesville Regional Airport in Statesville, North Carolina on December 18. Motorhome driver Craig Wadsworth, pilot Dennis Dutton and his son Jack Dutton were also killed in the accident.
“He was humble, kind, fun and incredibly smart,” Jordyn, 31, said. “Cristina and Greg were destined to find each other. They complimented one another in a way that I’ve rarely seen. They were both big dreamers, tireless workers and deeply committed to supporting their friends, their family and even complete strangers.”
Greg retired in 2022, and since driving his last race, became known for his philanthropy. At the time of his death, he was in the middle of his annual “Biffmas” giveaway, having gifted a Corvette to a fan less than a week before the plane crash.
“Giving back was part of who they were,” Jordyn said of Greg and Cristina.
She also recalled her uncle’s response to Hurricane Helene in 2024, when he helped neighbors escape the devastation, delivered supplies to the community as a helicopter pilot and assisted in the cleanup.
“Hurricane Helene wasn’t the beginning of their giving, and it certainly wasn’t the end,” she said.
Jordyn also spoke about the Biffle children. Greg and Cristina shared Ryder, who was just five years old, while Greg shared Emma, who was 14, with ex-wife Nicole Lunders.
“Ryder had had really big dreams of being just like his dad, not because he was ever pushed to talk about it, but because he genuinely thought Greg was the coolest person that he had ever known,” Jordyn said. “And I really don’t disagree with him at all.”
She said of Emma, “At her core, Emma was the gentlest soul. She cared deeply about the people around her and wanted everyone to feel happy and safe. She was thoughtful, careful with others’ feelings, and that kindness showed up in everything she did.”
The cause of the crash is still unknown and the investigation is ongoing. It occurred approximately 10 minutes after takeoff after the plane had turned around and attempted to return to the airport.
Cristina’s mother, Cathy Grossu, told People in December that in the moments before the crash, her daughter sent her a text message, letting her know there was a problem onboard.
“She texted me from the plane and she said, ‘We’re in trouble.’ And that was it,” she said. “So, we’re devastated. We’re brokenhearted.”
Jordyn closed her eulogy by saying that Greg, Cristina, Ryder and Emma “lived fully, loved deeply and gave freely.”
“Their lives remind us that what matters isn’t how long we’re here,” she said,“but how we use the time we’re given, and how fiercely we love while we’re here.
